54 A Soldiers Oath (2/2)

”That doesn't make sense...”

”I know... that's why it's risky. You're asking the fates to consider their oath to us more important than the one they previously swore to the Scarlet Moon...”

I looked worriedly at Aura.

”What happens if they promised something more?”

Aura shook her head.

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My mind reeled. I'd forgotten one of the most important principles in the Fayne—the stupid law that Aura and I debated that night we met. I couldn't believe she didn't take it into account either. She was always so adamant about following it. But maybe there was a way to save the twins.

I let go of Aura's hand and dashed toward the writhing forms of the Mccord brothers.

I heard Aura and Luca yell my name but I didn't stop. This was my snafu. I needed to fix it or I sacrificed two lives for nothing.

”What do I do...” I pondered as I stood over them. ”Think, Dean... think.”

”Muddamit! What are you up to, Dean?” Qwipps asked from his spot in front of the twins.

I ignored him and continued pondering the situation.

If their new oath was stronger than the one previously made, then the arcane powers that dictate the laws of the Fayne could accept this new pact. If that was really the case, then I just had to make their oath more powerful, and if I was right, then all I needed to do was add an oath of my own—a strengthening of bonds between them and the Foolhardies.

I pulled out my dagger and cut my palm on it. Then I dabbed each of their backs with the blood from my palm. I may not be a fairy magician, but I do recall reading that blood magic was very powerful.

”These two viseres now serve me and in exchange for the service they provide, I will ensure that mine will be the hands that end the Scarlet Moon clan... so please, give them a shot...” I pleaded.

There was no greater promise I could give than the demise of one of the most bloody, traitorous clans of the Fayne. Also, it tied into the brothers' old oaths, so I was hoping my declaration was enough.

Apparently, whoever was listening to these oaths liked the exchange I offered because the Mccord twins stopped convulsing in pain. In return, I felt a huge weight suddenly drag my bloody hand down as if iron manacles had clamped onto my wrist and some invisible hand had pulled on it. The feeling lasted only a moment, but I knew I'd somehow locked myself into an agreement with something I couldn't begin to fathom.

There was no time to think about it, however, as my thoughts were interrupted by the burst of blue light shining atop the heads of the brothers who both sat up at the same time. The Fool symbol of the Trickster Pavilion, the same one I saw in my mind's eye whenever I called on the power of Fool's Insight, appeared above their heads. They had been accepted.

After the ordeal was done, I reminded the brothers that once they returned to Mudgard they would tell no one of their new allegiance to the Trickster Pavilion.

”No one's going to know unless you guys act too suspiciously,” I said.

Both brothers nodded. They looked at me differently now than when we first met and I could swear there was a little more respect in their eyes than before. Maybe it had something to do with me risking my own butt to save them.

”You'll report to me every Friday afternoon at Edward's Chocolate Bar on 5th Avenue unless I send a sprite to you immediate info,” I instructed.

”That's in Midtown... why can't we meet somewhere in Southside?” Connor asked.

”Yeah... it'll be suspicious if two Southies dropped by midtown territory,” Collin added.

”I don't care. Try to act inconspicuously,” I answered heatedly. I had enough of them for one night.

After Edo took the twins back to their wagon to be embedded with the other blindfolded prisoners, Luca spent a full ten minutes lecturing me for doing something irrational again.

”Blood magic?! Seriously? What if it backfired and you'd gotten yourself killed?” he asked for the nth time. ”How do you even know it would work?”

I didn't. I hoped it would. I'd read enough confidential tomes in Fort Darah to know that blood was a powerful conduit in the arcane arts. I just didn't want to admit that to Luca and extend the lecture by another ten minutes.

”Dean... this was my fault...” Aura approached us after Luca's ranting died down. She had the fingers of her right hand holding onto her left arm while she spoke. In body language terms that was a sign of distress. ”I didn't even consider that they might have made different oaths... I didn't... think...”

I patted her shoulder with one arm and sent the other one to Luca's shoulder.

”Guys, I'm fine...” I lied. I didn't really feel fine. Just more tired and responsible for even more lives now. ”That new promise I made... it's the same thing I promised you, Aura. It just means we'll need to deal with the Scarlet Moon ourselves and not have another clan attack them like I planned.”

A grin played on my face despite the trouble seeping into my heart. It was the first time I saw Aura do something to make me doubt her. And I wondered if the possibility of two spies inside the nest of her hated enemies was more important to her than the two human lives we almost sacrificed.

Despite this feeling of unease, I decided now was not the time to ask. I wasn't sure I wanted the answers anyway.

”Alright... let's pack up and head back,” I ordered. ”We've got a war to fight.”