Rhylan nodded.
“Couldn’t you have just said that from the beginning? Of course I will!”
The next hour found me in my allocated seat, scanning the clouds and thinking about what Rhylan had told me, while he took the time to enjoy the air hostesses. I didn’t even want to think what they were doing in the changing room, especially since one of the women came out to make sure I didn’t need anything until we landed.
Go Rhylan, I huffed. At least someone is having fun.
I did not care what he did back there, although it did irritate me that he suddenly started to give orders and act like the plane belonged to him. But, according to the deal he proposed, it would, if I was to accept.
I had less than ninety minutes until landing, to make a life-changing decision, and even though I already had the answer, it proved difficult to make the deal and I wanted to take advantage of my time until the last possible second.
Turns out a deal with a fireling is life binding, that is if either of us don’t keep our end of the bargain, the energy that inhabits us fades away and we die. Apparently, that is what happened to my brother. What we call a soul left his body, summoned by a siren called Muhryn and Rhylan had been there to witness it.
So many thoughts invaded my mind and no matter how hard I struggled to piece them together, I could not. I wanted to cry, to shout, to kick something, to go back in time and keep Ansgar safe, to ask Erik why he wanted me to go to Evigt.
According to Rhylan, my brother knew about the tears of the goddesses and that Catalina’s held the most power since she lived the purest life and did not rebel against Belgarath. The one that would help the owner find the others. And Erik had sent me to Evigt to find it.
I did not know what to believe, confusion roamed over me like a never-ending dark cloud that I had no power to escape.
And Rhylan needed an answer by the time we landed.
His deal did not only consist of me leaving with him and finding Ansgar. The bastard had a list of claims, which he presented to me on a parchment of some sort. I caressed Ansgar’s lock of hair, thenread Rhylan’s demands yet again.
In the present note, Fear Gorta of the Fire Kingdom, also known as Rhylan Gordon is listing the terms of the proposal to Miss Anwen Odstar, mortal of origin and resident of the Human Realm.
For the terms to be met by both parties, the undersigned and holder of the deal offering will provide the below:
1. Safe passage into the Fire Kingdom, as dictated by laws and timings, to be granted to one traveller - signed below - only in the company of the aforementioned
Safe stay within the Fire Kingdom and protection from all residents and inhabitants, consisting but not restricted to royals, commanders, soldiers, court members, slaves
The opportunity to engage in conversation and/or other activities as seen fit by the aforementioned with a forced resident of the Fire Kingdom known as Prince Ansgar of the Earth Kingdom
Any other requests need to be presented in writing and in advance. These will only be granted if the deal holder will note a positive representation of their party
In exchange, Miss Anwen Odstar will need to fulfil the below requests in a timely manner and towards the favour of the deal offerer.
1.To not engage in harmful activities towards the aforementioned at any point from the acceptance of this contract until its nullity.
2.To receive the aforementioned into her human life and grant him family treatment until the visit into the Fire Kingdom is arranged
3.To protect and mentor the aforementioned in any required activities that involved human customs and rights and to accompany them until the travel into the Fire Kingdom is organised
4.To protect the aforementioned’s privacy and identity
5.To not rebel or plan to break the contract without the aforementioned’s permission. This involves but is not limited to plotting, trapping, shaming, lying, weapon or verbal violence, potions, alliances, etc.
The breach of the contract will lead to the guilty party’s complete loss of energy by the end of a moon cycle. This deal is irreversible and cannot be claimed by a third party unless agreed beforehand by both parties involved.
I remembered how, just a year ago, I found myself signing another binding document that granted me access into Evigt and the queen’s mansion and how my hand shook while doing so. The determination towards finding Erik’s reasons and discovering why he had sent me into such a place overpowered reason, all I wanted to do was sign and teleport myself there. Be close to my brother and find that missing piece of him.
Rhylan’s story about Erik did not offer a clearer resolution, and even though it did make sense for my brother to want me to find the tear of the goddess — and it was not just another one of Rhylan’s machinations to complete his deal — I could not be convinced.
The contract I held did acknowledge the presence of energy in a human, Rhylan had explained that it is what we call a soul and once it disappears, the body will go along with it. Scientifically, we are made of matter and energy.But Vikram had told me I couldn’t be Ansgar’s matebecauseI did not have energy of my own so it couldn’t bind us.
I massaged my temples with my fingers and leaned my elbow against the small window, trying to calm my mind enough and be able to see with clarity.
No matter how much I fought or hated the fact that Rhylan wanted to live it up on my family’s fortune and enjoy life, while I boiled with anger and expectation until he decided he had enough and took me to see my mate, I knew I had no choice.
