Morrigan's Bidding

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “You slew that one with an axe, sheared it clean in two,” Darragh said as he set his cup down.

  “Lucky strike,” Sean said levelly.

  “Luck is what a person makes of it,” Darragh said. “Sean, I won’t press you for answers, but I feel you’re more than you’re letting on. I have to ask, though, were you brought here by someone connected to Fate?”

  “I’m not sure I should answer that, Darragh.”

  “Very well. Might I inquire what you’ve thought of us?”

  “I have had pleasant interactions with everyone but most of the hunters. Myna was quite pleasant to train with.”

  “You learned of her heritage, she tells me,” Darragh’s blind eyes seemed to pin Sean in place. “She said you treated her well, much as you have Fiona and Misa. I will remind you that such actions are outside the norm. You’ll invite attention to yourself if you continue to act in a similar manner. Keep that in mind when you go to town tomorrow. You’ll see many things you might object to. Those who are Life Bonded are not free to talk to those who are not, for instance.”

  “How do you tell if someone is Life Bonded?” Sean asked.

  Misa placed both of her arms on the table. The light of the single lamp above the table glittered off her yellow and black scales. “Look at my wrissstsss and neck,” Misa hissed softly.

  Inch wide black bands encircled Misa’s wrists and throat. “So black bands on the wrists and neck indicate someone who’s Life Bonded?”

  “Yes,” Darragh said. “Lesser Bonds encircle one or both wrists.”

  “Being Life Bonded is a type of slavery?” Sean asked.

  “Yesss,” Misa replied, “but voluntary.”

  “Huh?”

  “To be Bonded at all, one must agree to it,” Darragh said. “It is said the Queens can Bond people against their wills, but I’ve never met anyone who could, or would, verify that.”

  “Why Bond to anyone?” Sean asked, trying to process what he was being told.

  “There are... benefits,” Darragh said, his lips creasing into a smile. “At the time of Bonding, rules can be set about what benefits are granted to each other.” Taking a deep breath, Darragh paused. “I have a small bit of sight due to Misa being Life Bonded to me. I should be completely blind, but I can see a very faint shape where you are. I have also been able to learn magic from her.”

  “I have increased physssical abilitiesss. I am now much deadlier than I wasss,” Misa said.

  Sitting back and sipping his tea, Sean looked thoughtful. “Are there other benefits? What are the downsides?”

  “Bonding can last as little as one day, one’s entire life, or anything in between,” Darragh explained. “For anything short of a Life Bond, the percentage of energy and Talents that are given to the Bond Holder are Agreed upon. The Holder can take as little, or as much, of that as they wish at any given time. They can also give the same in return. Flooding someone with too much energy can damage them in various ways.” Reaching out to gently touch Misa, Darragh continued, “Life Bonded give up everything they are to their Holder, and their soul becomes tied to the Holder’s soul. If I die, Misa will not survive a single day. Life Bonded are special in other ways, as well, but that’s personal.”

  “Interesting,” Sean said as he stood up, feeling the awkward tension that suddenly filled the room. “I do need to go. I promised to help Fiona finish with her work so we can get some rest tonight.”

  “Sean,” Darragh said, “do you think you can best Whelan, when he challenges you?”

  “We’ll find out,” Sean said with a grim smile. “I don’t like bullies. Why did you even pick a man so ill-fitted to the rest of you?”

  Darragh sighed, “I owed an old friend a favor, and that resulted in Whelan and the others in my village as hunters. Myna is different. I owed a favor to her mother. She asked me to bring Myna with me, to spare her some of the pain she was experiencing in the town she lived in.”

  “I see. I’ll see you in the morning for breakfast.”

  “No,” Misa shook her head and darted into the kitchen, returning shortly with a small sling bag. “Travel food for tomorrow. No need to come to breakfassst.”

  “Very well,” Sean chuckled as he took the bag, placing it over his shoulder. “We’ll see you when we return.”

  “I have grown to like that one,” Misa’s voice was soft as Sean left, but he still heard her words.

  “He’s destined for a harsh life, full of decisions that have no good answer,” Darragh replied, equally softly. “Do you think we have time for…”

  Sean left the area quickly, not wanting to know what Darragh was about to ask Misa. It was bad enough just listening to the somewhat muffled sounds from behind the curtain that led to Darragh’s room at night. Fiona sat beside the logs, Shaping a chair. She smiled as he drew closer. “Evening, Fiona,” Sean said as he sat down beside her. “What do we need to finish tonight?”

  “Chairs for everyone, so they have places to sit in their own homes.”

  “Okay,” Sean settled in by another section of log and started Shaping a chair to match the one Fiona was working on.

  “What did you converse with Darragh about tonight?”

  “Mage Sight and Bonding,” Sean said. “I was wondering if he had any ideas how to teach the Talent to another. He only knew of one way,” Sean focused on the chair.

  “Bonding,” Fiona said. “It’s a drastic option to share Talents. There is even a rumor that says the Queens’ personal guards are all Bonded to them, which is why they’re so feared. They share the Queens’ abilities.”

  “The bodyguards that travel with the Queens?”

  “Yes,” Fiona said, her hands gliding over the wood she was Shaping.

  “I’m still trying to think of ways to share Mage Sight with you,” Sean told her, his hands mirroring hers.

  “We haven’t agreed on a price for you to teach it to me,” Fiona uttered softly.

  “Everything in this world is bargained for, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is as the Queens have decreed. There are no free gifts, all exchanges must be balanced.”

  “Hmm,” Sean muttered as he mulled over her words. “That explains why Myna was hesitant to make an Agreement about learning Mage Sight from me.”

  “Of course. Mage Sight is very rare, so the price needed to balance the scales would be enormous,” Fiona said as her hands slowed.

  “Huh. But if I can’t teach it, the point is moot,” Sean muttered.

  “That is true,” Fiona agreed.

  “I thought we’d Agreed on me teaching you already,” Sean said after a moment.

  “No, the Agreement was for you to try to teach me, which you already did,” Fiona replied, setting the chair aside and beginning to Shape another section of the log.

  “Can’t I just gift you the knowledge?”

  “No. You can offset the cost to a degree, but only those who are married, or children of the one gifting, are exempt from needing to bargain.”

  “The more I learn of this world, the odder it seems,” Sean sighed.

  “I would probably feel the same on your old world,” Fiona said.

  “Fair enough,” Sean chuckled. “Shall we finish this up so we can get some sleep? We’ve got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Fiona agreed.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Sean heard Fiona’s soft snores coming from her cot when he woke the next morning. Sitting up from his spot on the floor, he glanced over and saw her face relaxed in sleep. A smile creased his lips as he got to his feet. Opening the kettle on the table, he saw it was empty, and focused on what he was about to do. Getting his body into position, he began to softly sing the song he used to conjure hot water. As he poured water into the kettle, he felt Fiona’s eyes on him and his cheeks heated. Once the kettle was full, he stopped the spell and looked over at her.

  “You use a child’s song to conjure water?” Fiona asked.
/>   “Yeah,” Sean said as he looked around. “Where are the leaves for the tea?”

  “I need to heat it first,” Fiona said, gathering her blanket around herself while getting out of bed.

  “It’s already steaming,” Sean said, looking away from her.

  “Really?” With a soft giggle, Fiona shook her head. “Why am I surprised when it’s you? You always seem to do things differently.” Changing direction, she retrieved a tin from under her bed and brought it over to the table. “Take three leaves and crumble them into the water. I’ll get dressed, so we can get going.”

  “Sure,” Sean said, taking the tin and making tea. While it brewed, he pulled bread and jerky out of the bag Misa had given him. Glancing over, he watched as Fiona pulled a jerkin over her head. Her body was at an angle to him, but gave him a decent view of one of her firm, high breasts, the mithril gleaming in the little bit of light that leaked in around the shuttered window. Quickly looking away, he felt his mouth go dry as his body reminded him just how long he had gone without being near a naked woman. Closing his eyes, he rubbed at his face and tried to think about something else as the image of her danced before his eyes.

  “And breakfast as well,” Fiona said from behind him. “Misa was nice to us, indeed.”

  “Tea should be good,” Sean managed, though his words were strangled.

  Raising a brow, she walked around him to her chair, her eyes on him the whole time. “Did you peek while I dressed?”

  “I didn’t mean to,” Sean said, not looking at her as he took the other chair available. “I was going to tell you it was ready, and… you hadn’t quite gotten your top on yet.”

  “Ahh,” her cheeks pinked slightly. “I’m sorry for causing you discomfort. I tried to make it quick.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Sean quickly told her. “I shouldn’t have assumed you were done.”

  “It was my left side, wasn’t it?” Fiona asked, pouring the tea.

  “Yeah,” Sean said, taking the cup she offered him. His hand shook lightly, causing some to splash from the cup. “I’m sorry.”

  “I—” Fiona began, then shook her head. “I know it’s not something that men want to think about. That half of my body is no longer flesh,” she looked at the cup in her hands.

  “No,” Sean exclaimed. Coughing, he met her heterochromatic eyes, “It’s not that, it’s just not normal for men to see women naked on my old world if they’re in a relationship.”

  Lips turning up, Fiona giggled. “It’s a good thing we aren’t joining the others for bathing, then.”

  Nibbling his bread, Sean frowned. “Why?”

  “Everyone bathes in the stream together,” Fiona said, her smile fading as pain filled her eyes. “In the cities and towns, there are public bath houses for the masses, and every inn has a washroom. Only nobles have the luxury of personal baths.”

  “I…” Sean paused, then pressed on, “I thought your body was amazing. The detail, and the way your body moves, is beautiful.” Holding a tight smile as he said the words, he waited for her rebuke but felt the need to tell her.

  Her cheeks flushed at his words, and she looked away from him. “So strange,” Fiona mumbled. “We’ll have to bathe at the inn later today,” she said a little louder. “Maybe I’ll ask you to wash my back, since my body doesn’t repulse you.”

  “I’m not sure if that’s the best idea in the world,” Sean said as he swallowed the last of his jerky.

  “Oh? I didn’t mean—” Fiona began.

  “It’s like putting a steak before a starving man. Self-control only goes so far,” Sean interrupted.

  “Oh,” the single word was full of something Sean couldn’t decipher. “Once we finish, we’ll head out. Can I ask you to tell me about your world while we walk?”

  “Of course,” Sean said, grateful for the change of subject. “I’d like to hear any story you wish to share in exchange,” Sean said, popping the last of the bread into his mouth.

  Fiona nodded, eyes full of hope. “I agree.”

  Finishing up, Fiona gathered a few things into a messenger bag that she slung over her neck and shoulder. Sean stepped outside as she gathered her things, pulling a length of wood from one of the logs and making a walking staff for himself. Fiona came out with a bounce to her step and a broad smile.

  “Sean,” a voice called out to him as they turned to start walking.

  Pausing, he turned to find Myna jogging towards him, “What’s up Myna?”

  “Will you grant me a small request, since you are going to town?”

  “Sure, what is it?”

  “Drop this letter at the general store. It is for my mother,” Myna said, holding out a small scroll tube. “I have an account with them, so it will cost you nothing.”

  “No problem,” Sean said, taking the case and tucking it into his belt.

  “In exchange, I will give you this,” Myna said, her voice lowering as she stepped closer to him. Before he realized what she might be up to, she kissed his cheek. “I look forward to working with you when you get back.”

  “Right,” Sean coughed as he stepped back from her. “Until later.”

  He missed the narrow-eyed gaze Fiona shot him and Myna. Myna didn’t, her lips twisting into a smirk as she met Fiona’s gaze. “Take your time,” Myna said, “and thank you again.”

  “We need to get going,” Fiona said, starting down the road.

  “Later,” Sean said again and hurried to catch up to Fiona.

  The two walked in uncomfortable silence for a bit. Eventually, Sean decided to speak up, “You wanted to hear stories, right?”

  Looking at him out of the corner of her eye, she nodded. “I do. I was wondering though, when you were training with Myna, did she do anything else like that?”

  “Nope. That was straight out of left field,” Sean said.

  “I see,” Fiona mumbled. “Please talk to me, then. Tell me something of your old world.”

  “I’ll tell you a story about my friend James, the friend I left behind. We’d known each other for years, met at the shooting range...” as Sean spoke, he couldn’t help but smile and wonder again about his friend. He did offer some small thanks that both of his parents had already passed, as his dying would have been too much for them to handle.

  The walk was pleasant, even with the weather on the chill side as winter approached. Sean found himself explaining the idea of cell phones and cars to Fiona, some of which could be found in this world, with magic as the base instead of electricity or internal combustion engines. Such things tended to be in the hands of the rich and powerful, the way the Queens liked it. Fiona, for her part, told Sean about her early life before her Shame. Sean was interested to hear about the Academy that trained those with Talents to excel at them. It was where many nobles found those that they would eventually employ. Fiona avoided any stories of her graduation or her family, and he didn’t ask.

  Sean was in the middle of telling a story of how James had gotten them both shot down by a bartender a few years before, when the town came into view as they walked around a bend in the road. Faltering in his telling of the story, Sean took in the sight. An eight-foot-tall wooden palisade surrounded it on three sides, with the fourth side bordered by a lake of beautiful blue water. A couple of small islands were visible in the distance, one dominated by a tower that rose a few stories into the air. What he could see above the wall were wooden structures with wood shingle roofs.

  “How many people live here?” Sean asked.

  “A few hundred,” Fiona said, her cheery demeanor shifting to wariness as they approached the town.

  Seeing the shift, Sean reached out and took her hand. “Come on, can’t have my guide all gloomy.”

  Her hand twitched in his before it stilled. “They’ll look at you oddly if you’re so free with me.”

  “Fuck’em if they can’t understand friends,” Sean shrugged. “Besides, I just think they’re going to be jealous that the most beautiful woman in town
will be with me.”

  “Incorrigible,” Fiona murmured, but her smile returned.

  A guard leaned against the wall next to the open gate. He watched them walk up, clearly bored with his job. “State your names, where you’re from, and your business here in Oaklake,” the guard told them as they got close enough to talk.

  “Fiona Mithrilsoul and Sean MacDougal, of Oakwood. We’re here to sell some of my items, and will be buying some things for the village before we head back tomorrow,” Fiona said clearly, though her hand twitched in Sean’s when she said her name.