Terms in Fire

    “Alright, fetch!” Sean threw a bloody scrap of cloth into the suite’s closet. A white blur chased it into the small space right before Flick slammed the door shut.

    There was some squawking from inside, but it quickly settled down.

    “No risk of him winging off into the city from in there, lad.” Flick said, turning her attention to Sean. “I wonder what kept him with us through the city?”

    Sean shrugged, “Who knows? Maybe Corvane’s still in there somewhere, or maybe the raven could smell the blood on my breath and was just waiting for an easy meal. Either way it’s a mystery that can wait until we leave.”

    “Aye,” Flick agreed, “and we have more pressing matters to attend to. That cough of yours isn’t just a tickle from the smoke, is it?”

    He shook his head, “No, and it’s not just the cough. I can actually feel different parts of me failing.” He held up his right hand, showing her the last two fingers curling sharply into his palm. “I can’t even feel them, not since we came into the room.”

    He was surprised to notice that the admission came without any real fear attached to it. In the week or so since he’d arrived on Aiane he’d had a few episodes, but this wasn’t triggering one. The realization drew out a low chuckle as he waved his clawing hand back and forth.

    Flick looked at him with concern, but he waved her off. “Don’t worry, Flick, I haven’t cracked. I’m just marveling at what a person can get used to.”

    She came and sat next to him on the bed. “I think I understand. What can I do to help?”

    Sean thought for a moment. “I’m going to see if the Chain has any information that might help. It’s a long shot, considering who’s sworn to me so far, but I might get lucky.”

    He laid himself down on the sinfully soft mattress. “Keep an eye out for Aster while I’m distracted. I don’t think it would be a good idea to show weakness when he’s around.”

    “Agreed. I’ll stand guard outside, just shout if you need me.”

    Closing his eyes, Sean heard the soft click of the door close. As Corvane had taught, he began by shutting out external distractions. The molasses feeling in his chest, his concerns about Aster, his fascination at how closely their suite mimicked a modern hotel – he pushed it all away, ready to immerse himself in the Chain’s links.

    His consciousness expanded to accommodate the data rich web of connections, only to find… nothing.

    No kingdom to monitor, no villages to guide, and no people to rule.

    He cast around for anything to anchor himself in the unexpected void. In the never-ending darkness, his mind’s eye caught a flicker in the black, a red ember burning on the horizon.

    His awareness zoomed towards it. The ember became a flame, growing and growing in his vision until it became an inferno, a towering menhir of fire. He could feel the heat of its condemnation on his skin as words blazed white across its surface.

        “The land does not feel your tread.
        The people’s supplications fall upon deaf ears.
        The throne lies empty, the crown lies unworn.
        You swore to guard the realm and yet,
        The Chain finds no realm to bind you to.
        Abandonment is flight. Flight is failure. Failure is Death.”

    The menhir exploded, engulfing Sean. His skin blackened and cracked. He could feel his eyes sizzling in their sockets, popping as they cooked. He heard someone screaming.

    Suddenly he was back in the room. Flick was shaking him, the scream still echoing in his ears. Sean realized it was coming from him as it died in his throat.

    “Ladies preserve me, lad, hearing that shriek through the door nearly made me hair go white!” She moved her hand to his brow, it was cold on his skin. “You’re burning up, lad, what happened?”

    Sean couldn’t answer her at first, his mind frantically trying to make sense of his situation. She waited with him, occasionally shooting nervous glances to the suite’s door. He opened his mouth - to ask for help or reassure her, he wasn’t sure himself – but just breathing in made him gag. The phantom smell of his own burnt flesh was still too strong in his nose.

    With a concerned look, Flick picked the rag from earlier back up and went to wet it again. In the time it took her, Sean ran his hands across his body. It was all smooth and whole, hot but unburnt.

    I always thought it would be horrible to burn to death. He thought. I suppose now I know that’s true. No one deserves to die like that. He knew he’d have nightmares about that vision for the rest of his life, no matter how long that life might be.

    Flick returned quickly, gently wiping the sweat off his face once more. Eventually he worked up the nerve to speak.

    “This city we’ve come to, Flick, it’s severed my connection to Aiane.” He looked towards the closet, where the captive raven had begun to scrabble against the back of the door. “Given Corvane’s condition, I’d hazard to guess even the Goddesses can’t see us here. The Chain thinks I’ve broken my oath to them, it’s killing me.”

    “That’s daft! Can you take the damned thing off?”

    Sean half-heartedly tugged at the Chain. It held fast to his neck, constricting to prevent removal. The pain of the links digging into his flesh told him that a more concerted effort would be unwise.

    “I suppose I didn’t actually expect that to work.” He said, with a coughing sigh. “It must be some sort of failsafe in case I find a way to flee my responsibilities.”

    “We’ve got to get back to Aiane then. We’ll just tell that monster in white to choke on his task and take us home. The bird’s oath isn’t worth your life.”

    “We both know that won’t work, Flick.”

    His head came up, looking sharply at his companion. Something she’d said had started gears turning in his head, gears that started to spin with an anxious speed.

    “What if I founded a new kingdom here? Or something like it at least.” He asked, excited.

    She looked at him, uncomprehending. “What do you mean, lad? I doubt Aster is going to grant you a bit of land here in Thairis no matter what you do for him.”

    “No, no, of course not, but think about it: a kingdom is its people, as much as it is the land they live on. Nomadic cultures have been around for ages, and no one says they don’t have proper kings!”

    The words started to tumble out of him. “What if you swear to me as my subject rather than just my companion? Mightn’t the Chain consider me to be bound again?”

    Flick averted her eyes. “I can’t.”

    “It wouldn’t be permanent, of course. It might not even work!” Sean made a placating gesture. “I'd release you as soon as we're back, it would just be until we finish Aster’s task and get out of here.”

    She got up from her seat on the bedside, nervously inching away from him. “Sean…”

    He held out his pendant, oblivious. “I’ll even swear my own oath if that would make you more comfortable. I’m sure the Ladies will hold me to it if I swear on their name.”

    “I said I can’t!” She barked.

    The outburst startled Sean out of his rant. The loud noise set Corvane off in the closet, his sharp claws scratching away at the wood. Sean’s gaze met Flick’s, and he realized just how far she’d moved towards the door.

    “I can’t.” She repeated again, so low he could barely hear her. “I’m sorry, but you’ve already got as much from me as I can give.”

    “Ah,” he breathed, deflating. "No, Flick, I’m sorry. I was already asking for more than I should have. Hell, you don’t even know me all that well and here I am…” He rubbed the back of his neck, worrying at the dimpled skin around the Chain. “Don't worry, Flick, we'll think of something else."

    A heavy silence settled over the room. Sean started to apologize, but it died in his throat as a sudden knocking impacted against the door. He scrambled to his feet, his chest shaking with the effort as his lungs rebelled.

    Flick warily placed her hand on the handle as the pounding shook the door once more.