His request seemed simple on the surface, but the faith and honor he placed with me was anything but. His interaction with Seelie, recently, had been one of fear, pain, and mistrust. He knew me a matter of days, and in those few days, we had seldom spoken. Yet for some reason, he thought he could trust that I would protect the lives of his children. That they would be safe in my hands.Seelie were a demonstrative people, so the tears that gathered and fell as I pondered his request were unremarkable to those that noticed. I found the lump in my throat along with the warmth in my heart grew as I remembered past memories. My younger sister having a car accident and being severely handicapped. My decision to drop out of medical school to help provide medical care and seek work to pay the crushing debt her care required. And the fierce love and happiness our family experienced as she took her first steps, said her first words after waking from her coma, and the joy I felt when she allowed me to walk her down the aisle. The honor I felt as I pa.s.sed on the duty to care and love her to the man she loved unconditionally.
I knew intellectually that this wasn"t the same. But emotionally, in the recesses of my heart, I experienced the same feelings of accomplishment and pride. I was jubilant. Honored was too simple a word to contain the emotions I felt. I was profoundly moved by his request and wanted instinctively to immediately agree.
I had already discovered that children had a purity and directness that fostered attachment, sentiment, and love. Like the Seelie, I had always revered and taken delight in their openness and innocence. The few times I had fought back against evil, in my previous life, were when I felt children were being abused or neglected. There is nothing more heart wrenching than the tears and cries of a child in fear or need. Nothing more horrific than seeing a young life damaged because of neglect or abuse.
Blayney did not turn from me or pretend not to see my tears as he waited for my response. He saw nothing shameful in my actions or emotions. Instead, my tears were tangible proof that I understood exactly what it was he was asking, and the onus of accepting this responsibility would place on me.
I didn"t say yes immediately. I wanted to, but I didn"t because I was unsure if I was interpreting his question and my responsibilities correctly. I was looking at this from the perspective of my previous life, my frame of reference was skewed towards Earth and Earth habits. I needed to be certain I wasn"t misunderstanding the request or the expectations that accepting his request would place on me and mine.
"Caraid? He is asking me to essentially adopt and accept into my House the children if he dies in battle? Why wouldn"t his wife take over raising and rearing them?"
[Partly,] Caraid answered. [He is asking you to accept them into your House as fosterling. You are not required to adopt them, he is asking for protection, that you provide safety and support until they are able to Ascend. Not that you add them to your line and include inheritance rights for them.
[His request makes sense because he knows what will happen to his wife if he falls. Kelpie herds are strictly patriarchal. His wife, if he falls in battle, becomes a part of the Herd Lords House. She would become an under-wife. Or she could choose to disavow that relationship and be branded a heretic, one who refuses to accept Herd Law.
[The children should be safe either way. But there would be a stigma that develops amongst their peers.
[Children can be often cruel. They parrot the words and beliefs of their parents. If he fails to win the challenge, his children would grow up in an environment of derision and contempt as the other children mocked and hara.s.sed them as the foals of one who was idiotic enough or foolhardy enough to think he was capable of defeating the Herd Lord.]
Satisfied that I understood the situation, that Blayney"s request was not capricious or impulsive, but instead based on real need and worry, I gave my answer. "You do me much honor to place those most vulnerable in my trust. I will remember and repay this faith with faith, trust with trust.
"Trust that your request has merit. Trust that your thoughts and intention are for the benefit of your children. And trust that this duty that you have requested is one of esteem.
"I say to you, settle your mind. And I return that trust. I will protect those you have placed under my banner until you stand proudly, the champion of the coming challenge, and have proven the legitimacy of your actions.
"Betrayals must be answered, for actions do have consequence. But be settled, your children will be safe," I finally a.s.sured him. "My people and I will protect them to our last breath. And if you should fall in a challenge, they will be treasured members of my House. I will see them as strong and capable adults."
Compelled to act by the same force that directed me when I accepted Cedric as my Va.s.sal, I withdrew my knife from my spatial ring, I made a fast slash across my palm and extended the bleeding appendage towards Blayney. Surprised he quickly followed suit, and as our blood mingled, the magic stirred, and System witnessed our new alliance.
I was not creating a new Va.s.sal. I was creating a new ally. He and his would not fall under my banner. But in times of need, we could call on each other. The ties were more nebulous than that of Va.s.sal, for when called, choice remained, and the call could be refused.
Words said. Actions made. There was nothing left but to go forward.
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With that Blayney began leading the other adult Kelpie, those few who had stood in silent witness to our actions, toward his future and theirs.
Win or lose.
The coming challenge would change his life and that of the Herd.