A call to the Lady of Chains
Chapter 4 - Part 1 (Voyage of the Dawn Breaker)
Rhyslin returned to the table before him just as Allanagh and Ilyriatri finished their discussion with Mayana.
“Maighstir Darkblade,” Allanagh formally stated as she turned back to him. “We, of the Clann na coille, agus clann an-fhàsaich, formally petition to join the Saor-shealbhan nan Raointean Mòra.[1]”
Rhyslin nodded solemnly, “Very well. When four freeholders are present, we will sign a preliminary agreement.” He smiled, “When the full council convenes, your application will be presented and voted upon. If a majority approves, you'll be granted membership.”
“How long will it be until the next council meeting?” Ilyriatri inquired.
“I believe the next council meeting will be in three weeks. If you wish to be present, you may attend as my guests.”
“That soon?” Allanagh marveled as she glanced at her 'Sisters.' “Yes, I want to be there,” she affirmed.
“As do I,” Ilyriatri confirmed with a nod. “Will we be able to travel through your lands to get there?”
“Yes, and if you wish, I can send a sky frigate to pick you up, or I can ask Mathair to apportion some power for a few portals,” Rhyslin said after considering it.
“A single ship will do,” Allanagh stated. “Can it meet us at Caisteal uaine beinne[2] in two weeks?” When the draoidh nodded, she smiled, “Thank you, Maighstir Darkblade.” That will give me enough time to finish my tour before traveling to Mayana's castle.
“That was painless,” Marcus quipped as the assembly relaxed slightly.
“That is true,” Rhyslin commented as he glanced down at the next part of the docket. “Le a diathan,” he muttered, “Out of curiosity, whose idea was it to write the tribute clause?”
When the three queens turned and looked at Flur, she blushed down to her toes. “It was my idea, Maighstir Darkblade,” she stammered.
“Why?” Rhyslin inquired as he watched her blush deepen.
She lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. “Because I want to travel with you.”
His eyes locked on hers, and she felt like he was examining her soul. The look he gave her let her know that she was being judged and was perilously close to being found lacking. “Again, why? You can travel with me without being a war prize.”
How do I answer? She looked down at the deck as she tried to figure that out. Looking back up, she found herself falling into those hazel eyes. “I want to learn from you,” She admitted. “You are Mac Draoidheachd, and it is said that you know the old ways of healing. I want to learn what you know.”
“I'm no divine healer,” he stated, “as I don't call upon Mathair when I work.” He shook his head, clearly amused. “Nor am I a priest, as the stories I can tell of her would contradict what her high priests teach.” He paused as he continued to watch Flur. “Just as we did with the accords, we will start over.” He pulled out a clean sheet of paper. “What do you want?”
Flur tilted her head slightly to the right as she thought about what she wanted, and her eyes lit up as she spoke. “I want to be with you and learn how you heal people.” Her voice dropped as she whispered, “I want to learn about the Mathair.”
“Oh, is that all?” he inquired as he saw her face. She is quite beautiful. He thought. How much does she want to learn? How far will she go to get what she wants? Leaning toward her, he asked, “What would you give in return for everything you want?”
Does he mean what I think he means? Flur wondered as she gazed at the draoidh. “I would give anything in the world,” she whispered as if divulging a deep, dark secret.
Anything? Does she know what she's saying? “Anything?” He inquired with a faint smile. “Even yourself as a prize of war?”
“I did write that, didn't I?” Her blush deepened, ripening her cheeks as she fidgeted, wanting to do nothing more than curl up at his feet. Her breath caught as she imagined how it would feel to be that submissive. She closed her eyes and shivered, picturing his fingers curling in her hair as he pulled her into his lap. She unconsciously licked her lips as she opened her eyes and found him again, examining her soul, but he wasn't judging her this time. This time, it was as if he was challenging her to surrender completely to him. What do I do? She wondered as she glanced over to her mother and saw the inscrutable expression on her face. I must make this decision on my own. She gazed back to Rhyslin and saw the slightly quirked eyebrow as he waited on her. It's the only way he will accept it, but do I have the courage to surrender myself to him?
She answered her question by walking over to him and gracefully sinking to her knees. “I give you everything I have and will ever be. I will serve you in all ways, holding nothing back. This I swear by Ananke.”
There was absolute silence in the room as Rhyslin turned to Analise. The taghta was staring at the golden-haired princess with rapt attention.
When she turned her attention to the draoidh, she gave an almost imperceptible nod, “She means it, and the Lady of Chains accepts her offering.”
Rhyslin accepted that with a nod and then turned his attention back to the former princess, now a bean-cheangail[3]. “So be it,” he muttered, “Gather your things, Flur Droigheann. I expect you to be there when the Dawn-Breaker returns.”
“Yes, Maighstir,” Flur whispered, “I will be ready.” She slowly rose to her feet and slipped out of the room. As she left the chamber, she paused and wondered if she had done the right thing; then, with a nod, she went down the hallway.
[1] Freeholds of the Great Plains.
[2] Green mountain castle
[3] Bondswoman
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Seeing how Rhyslin's power affects people is a bit eerie at times. I don't know if you intended it to come off that way here, but given what we know about how powerful and affecting his prana is, whether he wants it to be or not, (and previous installments indicate he likely doesn't) I feel like maybe he doesn't want Flur to submit herself as she does. Given that he mentioned before that he doesn't like the idea of bonding someone to him, this feels like something he accepted because it's the duty he's expected to fulfill in spite of his own distaste.
Wow, that was quick... I thought Rhyslin didn't want to bind anyone though? I must have missed something...