Page 8 of Within the Veil

I chuckle, and her eyes narrow, "Oh, sure. Very amusing. For my family to give me something that would already be highly coveted, but embed within it a stone with powers, which I would never use. And one that is infused with the blood of several seers before me. But at least they had the good sense to make sure thatourline is in possession of the only weapon that can kill a seer."

"It is because you have no desire to use the weapon..."

She waves off my words, "Logically, sure. But the whispers still entice even the strongest of souls. It is exhausting."

I frown, " I can understand why seeing or altering the future would be desirable. All beings are obsessed with never taking responsibility for their actions or learning from them. But you already see the future, and you wouldn't use the weapon to kill yourself..."

"Accurate. What would be the point of harming the only logical seer we currently have? Those other pompous pretenders are self-serving. Manipulated by those who should be encouraging us to take a better role, but that doesn't matter," She waves her hand in the air, dismissively. "We don't have much time, and there is much you need to know. The point is, the desire is there. Iwantto use the power even if I am aware that doing so would do more harm than good. Most importantly, what other being do you know, who would be in danger from a weapon forged by the cosmos?"

Fuck.

She nods, taking in my expression."Exactly. It's the strangest thing to create things that would cause more harm than good. But at least there are beings like you and I who recognize the madness for what it is. Now," she leans forward, her elbows on her knees, her chin delicately balanced on her hands.

"Oberon, are you aware, that Seers are at their weakest point when a prophecy is being told?"

I shake my head at the abrupt change in topic. "I did not know that." Apparently, there is a lot I do not know. I'm not happy about it.

"Yes," she continues, "our magic naturally creates an impenetrable border around wherever we dwell or tread. It protects us from those who wish to do us harm. However, it's at that moment--when a prophecy is being spoken--that the magic around our dwelling weakens slightly--allowing for a prophecy to be heard by anyone standing nearby. Whether it's cosmic interference designed to prevent us from altering destiny--despite, you know, having a weapon that can do that-- or some trick of fate, we can't control it. But of course, whether or not we keep a prophecy to ourselves doesn't matter. Once a prophecy is spoken out loud, it's as real as you and me, as real as the blood that just freely flowed from my finger or through your veins."

She pauses, her eyes searching mine. "However, I have discovered that we do have a small measure of control..." she pauses and gives a light shrug, "Well,IDo. Whether or not it is something anyone in my lineage was ever aware of, is beyond me, I cannot see the past. Regardless, as long as I hold Serath'ae within the palm of my hand when I feel a prophecy coming forward, I retain a modicum of control.

"The prophecy you seek has already been spoken--has already been heard and become a force of its own. I was able to bring back the shields as the last words of the prophecy left my lips.Thatis what I have for you today." She passes me a piece of parchment with two lines of swirling lettering, but I don't read the contents.

Two lines are all she gives me, but the moment those two lines are within my grasp, my world tips on its axis. I frown, slipping the parchment into the hidden pocket on the inside of my combat leathers; for some reason, I need to hold it as close to my heart as possible.

For the briefest of moments, I can feel her eyes trace my face, as one would with the very tips of their fingers before she nods slowly as if coming to a decision from a silent internal battle.

She smiles softly. "Now, as I mentioned, I am more than aware of your mission today. However, any weapon other than Serath'ae would have failed in ending my life. Gaia is as clever as she is cryptic. By far one of my favorite of all the Gods and Goddesses. Because, more than that, it is only at the behest of the Prophet or Seer themselves that their life can be taken without repercussions for the one doing the taking." Her tone is airy, as though the weight of her words means nothing. As if, with that simple declaration, she has not changed the course of my life. I search her face for any sign that she's lying--strictly out of habit. But I sense the truth in her words, in all the words she has imparted today. Knowledge, I'm she knows, that I would never disclose.

"But there's a small caveat, of course," she adds. Of course, there is, I think. With the Fae, with the gods, there's always something else. I stifle a sigh and wait, knowing she will elaborate. "The request I have for you is simple. You will live a long life, long enough to see next year and several years after that. When the next seer is born, you're to watch over her. She will come into her power earlier than expected, just as I did.

The power that will infuse her small frame will exceed anything any Seer has ever known. I believe it is because of her power--despite the fact Seers are not granted to ability to scry the Seers that will come after their time, a system of checks of balances, if you will -- the Cosmos have granted me the knowledge that should be beyond me. It's not something I've disclosed to the council, nor should it ever be repeated."

I nod, but she doesn't notice as her eyes water, and she sighs wistfully, "I've seen her--a beautiful, sweet soul. I've seen those who will be by her side. It is because of those by her side that she will thrive."

Her voice grows fervent as she leans forward and takes my hands in hers, squeezing with a strength that gives credence to her earlier claim of being able to take my life. "While this isn't part of my request, I want to ask you, nay, I wish tourgeyou to love as ardently as you train. Both will be crucial for this prophecy to come to fruition. Your army, your Whisperers, they will play an important role. Many, in fact." Once again, instead of words, I nod. Ruadhan, if he could eavesdrop, I'm sure, would chuckle at my silence. It's unlike me, but something about this moment tells me that words are superfluous.

"Continue to train them well; your methods may be extreme," she gives a wry smile, and I chuckle. Extreme is putting it lightly, but they are tried and true.

"Those methods, are warranted and quite effective. That being said, a time will come when a few individuals will seek your guidance -- those individuals may not seem ready nor worthy," she whispers. "Don't turn them away. They'll become your best soldiers because those who reject the perpetual dusk of unalterable tomorrows will become the true guardians of destiny."

Despite my hesitation to change my methods of choosing my soldiers, I nod. Even if she weren't a Seer, the conviction in her tone would be enough to have me consider her request. In her case, I will make the allowance.

She gazes out the window one more time, then frowns. "My time draws near." Turning my right hand palm side up, she places the sharp blade atop and squeezes my hand closed; the sharp sting as my blood starts to saturate the blade barely registers. "Once your blood is accepted bySerath'ae, the wheels of fate will be in motion. Never speak of our meeting until the time is right. In fact, withhold even your thoughts from yourself if you can," she chuckles. "You'll know when the time is right to share what we have spoken."

Her eyes turn obsidian, deep, and infinite. Our hands meld together, her blood slick on the blade, mingling with my own. I stifle a shudder; her power surges into me, overwhelming yet electrifying. "I, Síomha of the Seers, willingly offer my life to take control of my destiny. In sanguine covenant and unending oath, I intertwine our fates. Let Serath'ae be forever bound." Each word heats the blade, its searing warmth seeping into our flesh until our mingled blood vanishes into the metal.

She locks her dark gaze onto mine, voice unwavering. "Oberon, King of Shadows, King of Many Names, do you solemnly swear to accept the binding terms of your promise and vow to protect the secrets of the Seer's and all that I unveiled?"

"With solemnity, I vow," I say, then hiss as a golden thread materializes, coiling around my arm, ascending until it punctures both armor and heart. My chest tightens as the thread envelops my heart, and then ignites in a radiant glow.

She continues,her voice echoing throughout the home. "Bind yourself to this blade, and to the destiny of guarding my legacy long after I've left this plane. This is your sacred obligation, an obligation that extends to all, present and future, who share your soul and spirit.Sanguis Aeternum, Potentia Vinculum. Sanguis Unus, Vis Infinita.Eternally united in blood, eternally bound in power. Let it be known, Oberon, with Serath'ae as your guiding hand, you will free me from the melancholy of today, and for that, I am grateful. I'll no longer merely witness the unfolding of fate; no longer be condemned to observe fate's flower without ever touching its bloom."

"Repeat after me, "Sanguis Unus, Vis Infinita. I solemnly vow and thereby bind my destiny and honor to Síomha of the Seers, and pledge eternal guardianship of her lineage. Our souls intertwine; our destinies fused."

I repeat the words, and a second golden thread materializes, twining with the first. They tighten around my heart, their tension unbearable until they dissolve into my flesh, leaving no physical evidence of their presence. But I feel it, as keenly as I feel my own heartbeat.

Her eyes change back to their silver tempest, and a serene, peaceful smile graces her lips, as my hand, guided by an unseen force, plunges the blade into her heart. "Thank you, Oberon, and may your path be ever illuminated," she whispers, eyes brimming with tranquil gratitude. "Until our souls meet again." Serath'ae glows in my hand, and her body disappears within its blade before it cools.

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