Spark in Darkness # 62 The third test
Feb. 5th, 2005 05:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparkindarknessPoor Liam. I almost feel sorry for him dancing the knife edge of fate.
But then, well, he did jam a table leg in Darren's chest. You got to have some karmic pay back for that.
The hand had moved down to my throat. It didn’t squeeze, there was no supernatural strength, no bust of power – at least, no burst of power I could sense anyway. No threat at all, Someone should have told that to the sweat running down my back and the goose flesh running across my arms. I did meet his eyes though. I was proud of that, I could meet his eyes without flinching even though I could see my death in them – no magic needed, anyone could have seen it.
I took yet another deep breath. “If I die, or you die or you don’t listen to be, tens of thousands of people, almost certainly more, will die.”
He tilted one eyebrow. “You’ll forgive me, cousin if I don’t take your word as gospel.”
His fingers tightened a little then, just a little. I tried to forget all the horrible things a Sorcerer could do to you with skin contact. I tried to forget that this particular Sorcerer had a really good reason for trying all of them on me. It wasn’t easy, especially with my Sight just bursting to five me a very personal view of some of the worst.
“I didn’t have to be here, Darren!” Ok, my voice was a little high, a Sorcerer had me by the throat. “I’m a Seer!” You know that. I saw you rise. I know you could kill me easily. Seer’s Oath, I saw you rise! Why would I be here alone after that?!”
His eyes narrowed. “And are you alone, dear cousin?” Those eyes started to darken! Gods, this isn’t going to plan.
“Yes! Seer’s Oath, I am alone.” Two Seer’s Oaths in as many sentences. That must be a new record. I wonder if I’ll get a prise. I wonder if I’ll live long enough to collect it?
He paused for half an eternity before lowing his hand. It felt like a lead weight being removed from my neck. The job wasn’t done yet though.
“Will you listen to me… and help me?”
His eyes blazed. “Help you?! You have lost your mind, Seer, if you think there is even the remotest chance of me helping you!”
This was it. The third test on which the future rode. There was one chance – and I’m taking it and hoping. “As a Seer of Clan Camaalis, who has seen the tides of the future and knows what hangs in the balance, I invoke my Will and command you, Son of Camaalis, to hear and obey. I invoke Seer’s Will and demand your aid.” It was old, formal wording but it was important. It was more powerful than magic. It was tradition.
Darren’s face twisted with indecision, his anger fighting his instincts…
Finally he nodded. My breath came out in a rush. Yes, victory! “I am still a Camaalis,” he sounded like every word was being dragged out of him. “I will help.”
I grinned, giddy with relief. “But…” My grin froze. But was never good. But wasn’t traditional. No-one ever said but to Prisa. But then Prisa wasn’t in the habit of jamming table legs into people’s chests either. “You will help me find Rick first.”
It wasn’t a request. I looked at the torn and broken land and swallowed. It wasn’t getting any easier. Bu then a Seer’s life never did.
OI looked from Darren to the rift, from the rock to the hard place, and nodded. We would get him back.
Now I just had to see how.
But then, well, he did jam a table leg in Darren's chest. You got to have some karmic pay back for that.
The hand had moved down to my throat. It didn’t squeeze, there was no supernatural strength, no bust of power – at least, no burst of power I could sense anyway. No threat at all, Someone should have told that to the sweat running down my back and the goose flesh running across my arms. I did meet his eyes though. I was proud of that, I could meet his eyes without flinching even though I could see my death in them – no magic needed, anyone could have seen it.
I took yet another deep breath. “If I die, or you die or you don’t listen to be, tens of thousands of people, almost certainly more, will die.”
He tilted one eyebrow. “You’ll forgive me, cousin if I don’t take your word as gospel.”
His fingers tightened a little then, just a little. I tried to forget all the horrible things a Sorcerer could do to you with skin contact. I tried to forget that this particular Sorcerer had a really good reason for trying all of them on me. It wasn’t easy, especially with my Sight just bursting to five me a very personal view of some of the worst.
“I didn’t have to be here, Darren!” Ok, my voice was a little high, a Sorcerer had me by the throat. “I’m a Seer!” You know that. I saw you rise. I know you could kill me easily. Seer’s Oath, I saw you rise! Why would I be here alone after that?!”
His eyes narrowed. “And are you alone, dear cousin?” Those eyes started to darken! Gods, this isn’t going to plan.
“Yes! Seer’s Oath, I am alone.” Two Seer’s Oaths in as many sentences. That must be a new record. I wonder if I’ll get a prise. I wonder if I’ll live long enough to collect it?
He paused for half an eternity before lowing his hand. It felt like a lead weight being removed from my neck. The job wasn’t done yet though.
“Will you listen to me… and help me?”
His eyes blazed. “Help you?! You have lost your mind, Seer, if you think there is even the remotest chance of me helping you!”
This was it. The third test on which the future rode. There was one chance – and I’m taking it and hoping. “As a Seer of Clan Camaalis, who has seen the tides of the future and knows what hangs in the balance, I invoke my Will and command you, Son of Camaalis, to hear and obey. I invoke Seer’s Will and demand your aid.” It was old, formal wording but it was important. It was more powerful than magic. It was tradition.
Darren’s face twisted with indecision, his anger fighting his instincts…
Finally he nodded. My breath came out in a rush. Yes, victory! “I am still a Camaalis,” he sounded like every word was being dragged out of him. “I will help.”
I grinned, giddy with relief. “But…” My grin froze. But was never good. But wasn’t traditional. No-one ever said but to Prisa. But then Prisa wasn’t in the habit of jamming table legs into people’s chests either. “You will help me find Rick first.”
It wasn’t a request. I looked at the torn and broken land and swallowed. It wasn’t getting any easier. Bu then a Seer’s life never did.
OI looked from Darren to the rift, from the rock to the hard place, and nodded. We would get him back.
Now I just had to see how.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-05 07:25 pm (UTC)Well done Sparky! I knew you could do it!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-06 11:40 pm (UTC)I ahve no idea how the reunion's going to go, but I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and say 'painfully'.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-06 10:36 pm (UTC)OK, WHY did no-one tell me Necromancers are immortal? Did it skip your mind or something, Darren? Never a chance to say 'oh, by the way, I'm going to live forever' or even a 'hey, if you see me corpsing all over the place, don't bury me.' What the fuck would you have done if I'd gone for a cremation?!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-06 10:54 pm (UTC)Besides... it is not immortality per se... it's not certain enough and denying death has a price...
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-06 11:15 pm (UTC)He does have a point on the cremation though.He'd be kicking himself for that soooooo hard. *smirks and smokes*