Free The Havoc Chronicles (Book II): Unbound by Brant Williams

without a hint of emotion. She nodded to me, but did not speak.
    Mallika, however, stood up and gave me a hug. “It’s good to see you again, Madison. Between your play and training, I don’t see nearly enough of you.” She gave me a warm, reassuring smile and then gestured at an empty chair. “Please have a seat.”
    I sat in one of the overstuffed chairs and for several moments no one spoke. The entire situation felt extremely uncomfortable, and just being in the company of these women made me feel like a preschooler sitting in on a college lecture.
    Naki let out a laugh, which was so unexpected that it made me jump. I caught sight of Sunee and noticed the corners of her lips twitch. Was that a smile? I felt really confused about what was going on here.
    “This is far too formal,” said Naki, a large grin making her eyes crinkle. She stood up and reached out a hand to me, helping me out of the deep cushioning of my overstuffed chair. “Let’s adjourn to the kitchen and make this more casual.”
    We sat around the large oak table off to the side of the kitchen. Naki placed a hand on Kara’s and gave it a small squeeze. “Kara, dear, would you please make us something to drink? I would like some tea, and,” she peered closely at me, “perhaps some hot cocoa for Madison.”
    Kara immediately stood up and began making preparations. It was the most obedient I had ever seen her. What was it about these two that made people want to obey them?
    “Neat trick,” I said. “How did you know I liked cocoa?”
    Naki gave me a knowing smile. “I make it my business to know about the Binders, Madison,” she said.
    “And I mentioned it to her earlier when we discussed possible refreshments,” Mallika added.
    “Oh, stop giving away an old woman’s secrets.” Naki smiled and there was something in the way she looked at Mallika that made me think she was much more serious than she was letting on.
    We spent the next few minutes on small talk, until Kara had brought over the tea and cocoa. That seemed to be Naki’s cue to get down to business.
    “The Sarolt stone is the method we use to identify Binders and Berserkers,” she said. “We rarely need it for Berserkers since it is generally quite obvious whether one can Berserk or not – that glow is a bit of a giveaway, isn’t it?”
    I nodded. That was very true – ‘zerking was rather distinctive.
    “Sunee here is the keeper of the stone, and has brought it with her so that we can test you.” Naki nodded at Sunee, who reached into a pocket and pulled out a small wooden box painted with bright blue, gold, and red symbols.
    She opened the box to reveal an oblong shaped stone, roughly cut with hard angles and edges. The stone was the opposite of shiny – it actually sucked in the light around it, creating a strange, shadowy, aura.
    “This is the Sarolt stone,” said Sunee, speaking for the first time. Her voice was high and melodious, a contrast from what I had expected given her apparently dour nature. “This stone has been passed down from Binder to Binder since the great beginning. It is our greatest treasure.”
    I stared at the stone, transfixed. There was something about its inky blackness and the way it seemed to swallow the ambient light that both fascinated and repulsed me. I had the overwhelming desire to touch it.
    Seemingly of its own accord, my hand lifted from the table and reached out towards the stone. Immediately, Sunee pulled the box back and snapped it shut, jarring me out of my reverie.
    “Do not touch,” she said, giving me an accusatory glare, as if I had just tried to spray graffiti on a priceless piece of art.
    Only after both my hands were back in my lap did Sunee open the box again and set it on the table. Obviously, she took the protection of this stone very seriously. The word fanatical came to mind. 
    “I believe our first order of business,” said Naki, “is to see if you are indeed a Binder. Mallika has told us about your