The Oath

It had been three days since the night of the shooting stars. Mina still remembered the purple flashes in the sky, some faint and distant, some striking close, with a thunderous crack, like a bolt of lightning. Her neighbors in Elwood had been talking about nothing else since that night. And that was for the better, lest they realized she had been sheltering a wounded sorcerer under her roof.

She thought he might be one of Einhart’s men, but he didn’t even speak her language. She thought he might be one of the foreign emissaries caught up in the revolt. Afraid that his presence would draw the attention of the Brotherhood of Righteousness, the Inquisition or some other enforcers serving the Faith of the Blessed, Mina had done her best to speed up the youth’s recovery and urged him to leave the village for his own safety. Fortunately for her, he was clearly even more eager for departure.

That night Mina gave the sorcerer some provisions and drafted a rough map of the area so he could find his way back from whence he came, wherever that place might have been. He seemed a smart youth, maybe fifteen or sixteen years of age, with an astute look in his eyes which were the color of a thunder cloud.

Hiding in the shadows, she took him outside the village and bid him goodbye, hoping he would find his way. The night was dark and moonless, with only some flashes of lightning in the distance.

A storm’s brewing – Mina thought.

When she returned to her house, her little daughter, Satine, was still awake.

“Mom, where did the magician go?” – she asked innocently.

“Back home, sweetheart. Now it’s time to go to sleep.”

As soon as she finished speaking, they heard a loud explosion outside and the entire house quaked. Mina looked through the window and saw one of the other cabins on fire, the panicked neighbors running out in amok. Just outside the village there was a squad of armed men chasing a pair of sorcerers, who were casting fireballs left and right, trying to fend them off.

“Stay home!” – she cried and burst out of the house, taking her sword from the hook on the wall.

I will not have my village demolished!

Closing the distance with a lightning speed, Mina charged at the closest sorcerer and swung her sword with all her might. Before the surprised mage could react, his arm flew off chopped clean at the shoulder blade. He fell dead on the spot.

Having spotted the unexpected threat, the second foe turned his attention to Mina and cast a spread of firebolts at her. She swiftly dodged between them and moved in to engage him in melee.

In the meantime the witch hunters moved in as well and together they encircled the sorcerer. He looked around, startled, with a wild glimpse in his eye, like a cornered animal. When they were just a few steps away from him, he smiled deceptively. He stomped his foot, releasing a powerful shockwave which threw everyone off their feet.

Taking advantage of the opening, the sorcerer escaped the ring of hunters and cast a wave of lightning at them. Only Mina and one of the witch hunters were quick-witted enough to roll out of its way. The rest was incapacitated by the blast. Having evaded the attack, both stood up and gave chase after the man.

“Didn’t expect to find you here” – said the witch hunter.

Even though half of his face was hidden under a mask, Mina recognized his piercing eyes, as well as worn out chainmail and dark cloak.

“What the hell are you doing here, Krag?” – she asked, surprised.

“The only thing I’m good at. Hunting vermin.”

“These are people!”

“No time for nuances. You go right, I go left, we cut him off.”

Mina nodded. She had never liked Kragavald’s contempt for the objects of their hunting, but she had to agree that the enemy’s precise classification was irrelevant now. She caught a glimpse of the fires in the village that had started from stray fireballs.

I hope none had it our house… Should I come back? No, the sorcerer has to be taken down first. Satine will be fine. She’s a smart girl.

Racing through the forest, they managed to cut his way of escape and forced him to stop. Kragavald raised his sword and struck first, but the sorcerer dodged the attack and kicked him in the leg, tripping him on the ground. Mina charged, hoping to land a strike before the mage can recover, but he was faster. He grappled her by the waist, hoisted her above his head and threw her at Kragavald, sending them both on the ground.

When Mina regained her composure, she saw the mage’s menacing gaze and sparks already jumping between his fingers. He was about to fry them both with a thunderbolt. She knew it was too late and closed her eyes.

“Nooooo!” – they heard a desperate cry of a child and before they knew it, a fireball struck the sorcerer square in the chest, killing him on the spot.

Mina looked around and saw Satine, crying, with her hands still smoking.

“Satine!” – she got up and hugged her. – “I told you to stay home.”

“I’m sorry… But it was on fire…”

“Oh, sweetheart…”

“So she’s his child, isn’t she?” – Kragavald said with a grim voice.

“Yes… why?” – Mina asked anxiously.

“Little one, look here for a moment” – he patted the girl on the arm, and when she looked over, he showed her a small silver mirror, whispering a formula. As soon as she laid eyes on the mirror, she fell unconscious.

“What are you doing?!”

“I’m under orders to detain any magic sensitive children.”

“She’s not…” – Mina’s voice broke. – “I thought she was not gifted. She could not do that before. It’s the first time I saw her casting a spell.”

“It matters not. She’s a sorceress now.”

“You don’t mean you’ll take her away from me, do you?”

“She’s a threat. To you and to the realm if he comes back for her. You’ll be executed if the Brotherhood finds out you’re sheltering a spellcaster.”

“She’s my daughter! I will never abandon her” – she proclaimed, pressing Satine’s head to her chest.

“Is that your final answer?”

“That is my only answer.”

“Then you leave me no choice, Mina” – Kragavald said, drawing his sword.

Mina picked up her sword from the ground and struck first with the ferocity of a lioness defending her cub. Kragavald deflected the blow and went for a quick counter. She parried it, but not without some effort. While she had been the better fencer back in the days when they adventured together, it was clear that Kragavald had closed the gap since. As they exchanged blows, she realized every move that used to work on him was now easily countered.

“You’ve lost your touch” – he said mockingly.

“You’re about to lose your fingers” – she replied, trying to slash his hand, but instead, he redirected her strike, and grappled her blade with his free hand. Before she could jerk it free, he spun swiftly, ripping the weapon out of her grip. The sword flew away and stuck in the dirt upright.

Mina tried to escape and fetch her weapon, but Kragavald’s blade was already on her neck.

“Give her up, Mina.”

“You’ll have to kill me first.”

For a few seconds they stood in tense silence, looking each other in the eye. Finally, Kragavald spoke first:

“If I let you off the hook, how will you protect her from the Brotherhood and how will you protect the realm from her?”

Mina thought intensely, desperate to seize their chance of survival.

“There’s a female monastic order far in the south-east, in Inelin province. We can both live there, away from the Brotherhood and the rebellion.”

“And if her father comes back looking for her?”

“He won’t… He… abandoned us.”

“Sounds like him, indeed. But I think it would be better if the girl believed her parents to have died, just to be safe.”

“You’d have me estranged from my own daughter?”

“You don’t set conditions here, Mina. And you clearly underestimate the danger of her reuniting with him.”

“But she will remember I’m her mother. And she will remember casting the spell.”

“I can make her forget all of this.”

A few tears dripped down Mina’s face as she looked at Satine laying on the ground.

“Have her wear this” – he handed her a necklace with a bright green gemstone.

“What is this?”

“Catharite. It will make her not even realize she’s magic sensitive.”

Mina said nothing, and just snuffled quietly.

“Do we have a deal?”

She hesitated for a few seconds, but finally she said:

“We do…”

“Swear to me that you will both enter the order and she will never know she’s a sorceress. And as an assurance, swear to me you will never bear arms ever again.”

That was humiliating, but Mina knew she had little choice. She was at Kragavald’s mercy, both now and in the future. Should he decide to betray their secret, there would be nothing she could do. Her lips spoke as if on their own volition:

“I swear it.”

***

“Why didn’t you tell me?” – Satine asked with reproach.

“As Einhart’s war dragged on and claimed more lives, I became increasingly convinced that keeping you out of it was more important, for your own safety.”

“But then the war came to us. Why didn’t you tell me then?”

“I didn’t want you to start second guessing yourself, knowing that you’re what you’re fighting against. Letting you fight kept the Brotherhood off our backs, and with the Brotherhood away you were safer.”

“And now that the Brotherhood is here?”

“You must escape. That’s why I’m telling you all of this now.”

“And what about my sisters? My oath? The order?”

“Those things don’t matter now. I am your mother first, and I want you to be safe.”

“Why didn’t you tell me at least that? You could have just said you’re my real mother long ago, and leave the magic part unsaid.”

“We already were like mother and daughter. Would it have changed anything if I had told you I had given birth to you?”

“Yes! It would give me closure.”

Mina bowed her head in silence. After a moment, she spoke softly:

“You’re right, Satine. I’m sorry.”

“And what about my father? Is he alive?”

“He is, but I must warn you…”

“Tell me!”

Mina hesitated for a moment.

“Einhart is your father…”

Satine was thunderstruck. She stumbled a few steps back and leaned against a crate, barely able to stand.

No… No… I don’t believe it!

“You’re not being serious…” – she muttered.

“I am. Me, Kragavald and Einhart used to be a party of monster hunters. After our adventurous youth, I settled down with Einhart and then gave birth to you. But Einhart had always yearned for action, that’s why he enlisted as a battlemage.”

“He’s that person dear to you who became consumed by violence.”

“Yes… yes, that is him.”

She gently pulled Satine’s arm and led her further into the basement, where she found a tunnel. A weak streak of light was coming in from the other end. It was just enough to see the path.

“You should go now, Satine. This is your way out.”

“You’re not coming with me?”

“Someone has to delay the Brotherhood. It’s the least I can do for you now.”

“Will we see each other again?” – Satine asked.

“I hope so, my daughter. I hope so…” – Mina said, and they both hugged. – “Now go!”

Satine ran off into the tunnel, swallowing her tears. Her quick steps echoed through the twilight, bouncing off from the mossy brick walls. Soon, she found the exit. An old door, even more rusty and rotten than the one leading to the basement. The light was sipping in through the cracks. Satine unlocked the bolt and pushed on the door. It fell off the hinges.

She found herself in the old, ruined part of the monastery, outside the walls. It lacked a roof and was mostly reduced to piles of rubble. When her eyes got used to the light, she realized she was surrounded by the Brotherhood men-at-arms. In the middle of them stood Taevine, smirking mockingly.

“I knew the old hag would try to smuggle you out.”