[ She glances at him. She could let him go, but... he is not of these woods. He would likely not survive and she has not means to get him back where he belongs, not without some arrangements being made. Besides. She wants him, in that deep and hungry way of the witch, she wants to keep him, even if she has to kill him to stop his complaining. He'd be just as lovely mounted on a pin. A sigh. Then she rises and comes to sit and the desk in front of him, the small rose pendant around her neck hanging in his view. A fae kissed thing that did not wither. ]
Of course, you would think that death is worse than having one's freedom stripped away.
[ A sullenness to his voice, which would be all the more irritating if he had no right to bemoan said fate. Once she joins him at the desk, he sees the pendant, and curiosity flares with a little bit of anger. He does not think she it should be around her neck, like a fae's magic belongs in this horrible house. ]
[ The flicker of his wings is reluctant, offended. He pettily wishes he could cast a spell to make her hush, but she has a gentle voice and manner of speaking. To a creature as vain as Kaevyn, that is a way of easing him into giving her the honor of his attention. For now. ]
My family has been murdered, fair envoy. My cousin has slain them, he has broken the laws of our blood.
[ Her hand curls into a fist. ]
Only I remain to bring the Kindly Ones down upon him.
[ A euphemism for vengeance, but if she could bring the Furies here to hear her complaints of vows broken, she would. She would even settle for a harpy. ]
The magus has come to this place to pick for spoils for his masters, and for himself. There are enough trinkets here that a sallow necromancer might sneak away with to make himself grander. [ Disgust seeps into her voice. ] It is a game to him: which will look more favorably upon him, protect him and reward him. The witch of the demon.
[ Kaevyn knows not of the Furies, creatures made for humans to call upon, not the fae. They take care of their own business, as he was certain witches did as well - at the expense of others, no doubt. Now Kaevyn has necromancers to add to his list of treacherous foes, even worse than the wretched magic manipulators, for the magus had toyed with his trust as well.
Were he inclined, he would bring down the Kindly Ones upon him and his masters. ]
And you allow this? Are you so powerless, witch? Sink a snake's fangs into the magus' throat as he sleeps; such treachery ought to come easily to your kind.
[ As though offering her true advice, a rare gift from a fae. ]
[ A soft hissing sound, she doesn't need to be reminded of what magic costs, ]
I could not go to them and rule the House. And then who would take it? The necromancer and his kind. Do I avenge my sisters and leave the House to be looted, or do I find another way.
[ A rhetorical question. She bits her lip and looks at nothing for a long moment before she answers the other question, ]
[ A conundrum indeed. A thousand little thoughts speed through the fae's brain, and like specks of sand in a gust of wind, they are scattered and forgotten about in the next instant. Kaevyn's wings fold and flutter with the movement of his arms, thoughtful and immersed. When he looks back up at the witch, he blinks without hostility. ]
[ Her eyes widen, and her hair stirs as if a cyclone of wind has stirred up around her. She can feel it, like bubbles in lungs, rising, the taste of soap in her mouth. Her heart beats a million miles an hour. Faerie magic rustling in her veins, through her thoughts. The creature has been wronged, betrayed, in the face of all true fae pacts and she-- She is beholden to avenge. ]
Yes.
[ She gulps it out. There is no other word to say, her tongue will not allow it, and before she knows what she is doing she has bitten into her hand, almost a spasmodic gesture.
Blood promise from a blood witch.
As the drops encircle Kaevyn in his jar, the pressure in her lungs begins to recede. Her eyes refocusing.
But she is bound. ]
Yes... [ A whisper, exhausted from the possession. ] I promise.
[ There is a little perk in how he lifts his head. Faeries should not blink, yet there is the sense of that in his features, bug-like eyes locked on the witch. A promise will not be taken lightly by those of magic, no matter how deceitful they may be. ]
A blood promise?
[ Truly, she cannot escape this, now. ]
Then I will remain quiet, and listen to you, for the night.
[ Still breathless she says nothing for a long moment. She had known, always, that dealing so closely with the faeries in the woods would have consequences, but with the House so barren she had not cared and she had sought their comfort all the same. Laid down and dreamt in their fields, danced in their halls in her dreams, ate their berries, drank their wine, kissed their lords and ladies. She had known, but she had hoped...
She had hoped it would not be like this. That it would not interfere with the matters of the House, but what other business was there to meddle with? This tomb was her life.
[ Surprised, his gaze drifts up to where the bottle had enclosed him. There's a moment of doubt, but small hands climb up and away, until his wings have enough room to buzz and lifts his feet off any solid ground. ]
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You live yet, your fate is not so dreadful.
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[ A sullenness to his voice, which would be all the more irritating if he had no right to bemoan said fate. Once she joins him at the desk, he sees the pendant, and curiosity flares with a little bit of anger. He does not think she it should be around her neck, like a fae's magic belongs in this horrible house. ]
What shall you do to me, witch?
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[ Airy and dismissive of his theatrics. ]
I told you true, you will owe me a fortnight and if I displease you still, I will owe you a way home.
[ She drums her fingertips on the table. ]
But first you must hear the truth of things before you decide.
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Very well. Speak of it, and I shall listen.
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[ Her hand curls into a fist. ]
Only I remain to bring the Kindly Ones down upon him.
[ A euphemism for vengeance, but if she could bring the Furies here to hear her complaints of vows broken, she would. She would even settle for a harpy. ]
The magus has come to this place to pick for spoils for his masters, and for himself. There are enough trinkets here that a sallow necromancer might sneak away with to make himself grander. [ Disgust seeps into her voice. ] It is a game to him: which will look more favorably upon him, protect him and reward him. The witch of the demon.
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Were he inclined, he would bring down the Kindly Ones upon him and his masters. ]
And you allow this? Are you so powerless, witch? Sink a snake's fangs into the magus' throat as he sleeps; such treachery ought to come easily to your kind.
[ As though offering her true advice, a rare gift from a fae. ]
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[ She says snappishly. ]
The hellspawn overpowers me, it is no mere fluke that he slaughtered my coven.
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But you have protection as well, do you not? A fae has gifted you, though their magic is unlike mine.
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[ Softly. ]
They live in the mists, but I... [ Fists clenched, resisting a pull unseen. ] Their assistance would not come without a price.
[ She could not remain as she is, loyal to what she is, and accept their magic in to her. ]
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[ Witches were not generous, at all. Merciful at best, and that was a rare gem in itself. ]
What are you to do with me?
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I could not go to them and rule the House. And then who would take it? The necromancer and his kind. Do I avenge my sisters and leave the House to be looted, or do I find another way.
[ A rhetorical question. She bits her lip and looks at nothing for a long moment before she answers the other question, ]
You are safe with me.
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Will you exact revenge on the collector, for me?
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Yes.
[ She gulps it out. There is no other word to say, her tongue will not allow it, and before she knows what she is doing she has bitten into her hand, almost a spasmodic gesture.
Blood promise from a blood witch.
As the drops encircle Kaevyn in his jar, the pressure in her lungs begins to recede. Her eyes refocusing.
But she is bound. ]
Yes... [ A whisper, exhausted from the possession. ] I promise.
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A blood promise?
[ Truly, she cannot escape this, now. ]
Then I will remain quiet, and listen to you, for the night.
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She had hoped it would not be like this. That it would not interfere with the matters of the House, but what other business was there to meddle with? This tomb was her life.
She wipes the blood from her lower lip.
And then she reaches out and open Kaevyn's jar. ]
You may be free here in my quarters.
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You are strangely giving. This confuses me.
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There's nowhere else for you to go, you will never leave the mountains alive on your own.
[ Just in case you forgot she was a witch. ]
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[ Which, safe to say... was everything. ]