“Whoa there, no need for hostilities.”

“Put that down, boy. Don’t play with things meant for adults.”

Their voices were cold with an eerie whistling quality. I kept the knife at my side, fear helping to diminish the pain. The friendlier one was massive, probably 7 or 8 foot tall when standing. His broad shoulders more threatening than most beasts. The other one was short and thin. Besides her scarecrow shape and flat chest, I strongly disliked her patronizing attitude. There was a strange energy in the air, exuding power and menace.

I quickly mulled over my options, and cursed. Even if they didn’t kill me, they’d still be taking everything. Gods, they’ll take the lamia vials too! Attack, wait for them to attack, or beg for mercy? Bad, terrible, suicidal… Were I a highwayman I would be sure to kill the first person who begged for their life. The whimpering would piss me off more than them trying to fight back. Have some Godsdamn pride in your death…

“Please, be at ease. I assure you; we mean you no harm,” the larger one said, the whistling a bit friendlier.

“Speak for yourself.”

“We agreed, we would talk with him fir…”

“Look at him! He is weak and crippled. Let us be done with him!”

The shorter one rose, an old jagged ivory blade appearing from under her robe. She jumped towards me, only to fall harshly onto her back. The larger one had forcefully yanked her to the ground by the back of her cloak.

“The council tasked us with finding ones of value, not obtaining trinkets. WE TALK.”

“Bastard,” she mumbled pulling herself from the ground and dusting off her cloak.

We looked at each other in a moment of silence. I sheathed my blade, grabbing two skewers in either hand. The woman growled at my offer while the man nodded, taking them both. I listened to the odd clacking as he chewed the tough, coal black meat from one. While he was occupied, I stumbled over to my pack and retrieved the bottle of wine along with my and Kevin’s cups.

Buying time was stupid (there would be no last-minute saviors out here). Buying a bit more cordiality on his part, priceless.

I poured his glass first; he took it graciously. I filled mine and we clinked a toast. We both finished in one gulp, him swallowing without sound. I refilled the glasses now set on the ground between us before sitting cross legged to face him.

“So what is it you wish to talk to me about?”

“All in good time. I see you have had quite the eventide,” he pointed to the lamia corpse.

“That? Just a small annoyance, easily dispatched.”

“Really? Strange, your dormant friend’s body, and even your own,” motioning to my well bloodied shirt, “Indicate otherwise.”

“Ah, ha, ha! Looks can be deceiving. My friend fought long and hard, so he’s merely enjoying a repose. The blood on my shirt isn’t even mine, it’s…”

“LIES DO NOT BECOME US.”

His tone made clear my foolishness.

“I, I, I apologize…”

He sat, staring at me in silence. He raised his hand, palm up, pointing his fingers at me, beckoning me to continue.

“Hoo… Yeah, the lamia nearly ripped my friend apart and seriously wounded me before I managed to strike it down.”

He nodded in approval. He took his cup and motioned to me. We toasted again, draining them. I filled them up with what remained of the wine.

“And how are your wounds?”

“Healing, I managed to use a healing potion befo… After, being injured.”

His immense frame tensed upon the start of my lie. Best to tell the truth and hopefully omit the parts I didn’t want him knowing.

“The wound was not fatal, was it?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but failed to find the words. What the hell kind of question is that? We’re talking face to face, of course it bloody well wasn’t fatal. Though…

There was the darkness, and most of my heart had been destroyed. Lying, my go to, wasn’t going to work on this man. Even worse, to ask such a question, he knows what happened, maybe even more than I do.

“I blacked out for a few seconds, but I came back to.”

“Why did you return? Was the darkness so fearsome?”

“No, the opposite. It was soothing, everything melted away, it was like the end of a long struggle” He nodded sympathetically, “There were, are, things I’ve yet to finish.”

“What would those be?”

“C, could I possibly ask a few que…”

“NO,” his voice absolute, “Not until you have answered mine.”

I nodded sullenly before continuing, “There are several acquaintances who tried to take my life, I intend upon paying them back in full.”

“AND?”

“And, maybe…I…Plan...On killing every tree and plant.”

Ugh, that didn’t sound nearly as crazy in my head. I was getting a knife to the abdomen for sure.

“Yes, they have come for you, have they not? Poison, insects, treants, the barks, and...”

“HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW!? Wait, wait, what’s a bark?”

He waves his hand, “You will encounter them soon enough. We know your afflictions because we too suffer them. How long?”

“Several months.”

He nods again, “And where are you headed? Provided you still have the resilience.”

“The Commoner’s Mage Spire.”

“Why?”

Bah, he wasn’t allowing me to omit anything.

“I’ve been ordered by my regiment to report there to train as a battle mage.”

“And that is the only reason?”

I paused, glaring at him. I cursed his clairvoyance over and over again in my head.

I debated on attempting another lie, it would be safer. Sure, the two of them might rip off my head, but telling others your motivations was equally tantamount to suicide. Once you knew what someone was after, it became infinitely more easy to manipulate them or thwart their plans. The hardest enemy to stop is the one whose goal you can’t even fathom.

He slowly clenched one hand into a fist. The knuckles popped with surprising menace. Gods why?

“I want to train to find the power to wipe the bastards out. EVERY…SINGLE…ONE…”

“GOOD. I was afraid your foundation matched your countenance, weak and fallible.”

That was good right? I mean, he said, “good,” but what followed that with had me worried.

Maybe now I could chance a question?

“NO. Pathetic is the word that more accurately represents what you currently are.”

Nope, not the best time. This was a scarier version of the commandant. Keep your mouth shut and listen, best to be able to repeat verbatim just how worthless you were. Thank you army, “See the kingdom, save damsels in distress (who would beg you to ravish them), become a paragon of might.” Never once did they mention dressing downs or, whatever the hell my current situation was. Orc shit propaganda…

“But you have potential. I have a proposition for you. Your interests align with ours. I offer you what you lack, knowledge and strength, for an insignificant price.”

He stopped, allowing me to absorb his words. He seemed strong, and I could do with strength. But the crux of the matter was, what did they want (and more importantly, why)?

“Why is nature attacking me, uh, us?”

“Nature abhors the aberration, which we are, and you are becoming.”

Well, that told me nothing.

“What is your purpose?”

“We seek the true natural through the unnatural. Duty over inclination.”

Helpful by no means… Wait, those words…

“Do you fight…” I swallowed before what may be my last words, “The abominations?”

The wind blew cold.

“YES. How is it you know of them?”

“I will not say,” I regretted my words even before uttering them.

Both fists closed with that frightful popping. I made an vow, one more important than my own life. I sighed (a bad habit I just can’t quit with all my rotten luck). Some hills you have no choice but to die upon…

“I WILL NOT SAY.”

The woman took a step towards me before a massive hand raised before her. She cursed, but demurred.

“Humor me, dear host. WHY?”

“Unto death, we keep the oath.”

These words, the only comfort, the only thing that I could trust in this world.

“WE? Ah, there are more… Hmm, unexpected, but a boon nonetheless. Very well. Let me propose our collaboration.”

He took something from his cloak and tossed it to me. I failed to catch it. It hit my chest before falling into my lap. I clutched my chest with my right hand, the feelings of pain quickly returning. My left hand picked up the small object, a black ring encrusted with a large, round, sapphire. Whatever magic was in the ring emanated an ominous power. Engraved on the outside was the saying, “One Oath to Shackle Us, One Duty to Bind Us.”

“I offer two things you require, for the now, mercy. We will give you the means to reach the Spire. Thereafter, the power to overcome your foes, both nature and the abominations.”

“Are they working together?”

“Yes, and no. Their purposes often cross, and then so to their vehemence. They do not yet fully know of your existence. As you grow, they will become more aware, and eventually seek your end”

Sounds like them.

“How did you happen upon us?”

“We feel others who manifest our ability, particularly when used to such a high degree. Be cautious, nature assuredly noticed it too.”

Well that’s just peachy…

“What is this power you offer?”

“The power to fulfill your desires.”

Details, details, where are the details?! Ugh, his patience was not inexhaustible. Best to ask more pertinent elements.

I gulped, “What will this cost me?”

“Fidelity to the council, and the cause.”

Not promising, “cause” was codeword for some stupid strife that would never be settled.

“Which is?”

“Only the initiated are gifted such knowledge.”

Well isn’t that grand… No way in hell was I agreeing to join something I didn’t understand. Any oath made to this figure seemed like an oath you really wanted to keep. He discerned my apprehension and there was a series of quiet, rapid clattering. The quick staccato clattering rang louder as the hooded face turned to the sky. He’s laughing, that ungodly ruckus is his laugh! He slapped his thigh, abruptly ceasing his mirth. Two yellow flames stared at me intensely from inside the hood.

“How about a choice?”

“I thought it was death or join you?”

“In my previous life, I enjoyed but one love; gambling. It has been years since an odd wager such as yourself happened by. If you agree to a bet, I will add two more choices.”

Three choices, but I had a feeling. Bad, terrible, and suicidal. Godsdamn everything.

“I agree,” I could always fall on my blade later.

“Once you put on the ring, you accept an oath and a curse. Should you prove strong enough, you may break the oath with no consequences. You merely need to become skilled enough to dispel the curse on the ring.”

Famous healers were not particularly known for breaking tough curses…

“Should you fail, I will break the curse, and you shall serve the council. We fight the same enemies you do, I think you will come to see it as your best choice.”

“Alternatively, the curse the ring bears can be broken by fulfilling its oath. To do so, you would need only satisfy the requirement.”

“Being?”

“Marry one of the lineage that the ring was intended for.”

That sounded a bit too easy.

“There is but one descendent remaining. Naturally she must approve of you. She despises the weak and cowardly, and your looks are middling at best, so it would behoove you to better yourself before considering that path.”

“Interesting.”

It actually was. Two of the choices involved my proving my mettle and grit, the other was basically admitting I was a failure. He wanted me to become stronger, that was obvious. This was an enlistment. Well, might as well see what the terms fully were.

“How long do I have to improve?”

“As long as required, though if you cannot demonstrate that you are improving, you will be in breach of the oath.”

“How much do I need to improve?”

“You must display at least one unique power or skill, of adequate strength. A demonstration once a month shall suffice.”

“Define adequate.”

There was an annoyed murmur from the woman.

“By the Gods! You are not in a position to haggle!”

“And yet here I sit. I don’t mind making the wager, but I won’t lose due to a technicality.”

I steadied my nerves, best not to let them see me shaking.

“Speed it up, fools. They are beginning to form,” the woman hissed, staring into the forest.

“We, YOU, are out of time. We will use the terms mentioned before, with one addendum to ease your mind. If you say my assessment of your improvement is faulty, then we shall use your word. If you honestly tell me you have significantly improved, I will accept that.”

He raised his glass, I followed suit acknowledging him with a motion of the cup. We finished the last of the wine.

He beckoned to me, “Bear the ring to make our gamble.”

I nodded my assent and slid it on my left ring finger. There was a low sizzling sound and the ring emitted a black aura. A burning sensation occurred in my partial heart. I screamed unexpectedly.

“Aaaahhhhhhh!”

“Baby.”

I really hated that woman.

----------------------------------

Nature abhors its better. The abomination abhors duty. Both outweigh our might. Seek out others of our ilk, find the most lustrous. We grow not without the influx of the new, while our enemies multiply without end. Persuade others to join, fail not your duty. Those who decline or are without a glint of potential, take their very soul.

-The Council of _______.