Roses on Fire ~ The Tale of Roses and Thorns 2.
Chapter 20 ~ Would you swear?

“Excuse me, Lady Alkmene,” said a weak voice behind Ivelle “Lady Ivelle is needed in the boardroom.” Ivelle turned around to see a girl, around 12 years old, standing with her head down.

“Well, it looks like you have to go.” said Alkmene with a forced smile, standing up. “Take Ivelle to the boardroom.” she turned to the girl, who nodded quickly.

“This way, Lady Ivelle.” she said showing the way. Ivelle stood up and followed her, but before they left, she turned back to Alkmene.

“Thank you.” she said with a smile. Alkmene smiled at her but said nothing.

Ivelle turned back to the girl and nodded her, indicating, that they can go now. She followed the girl in complete silence.

The girl took her to a room, with a round ebony table in its middle. Cirllo, Áedh and Adrastos were already sitting there. The latter looked bored and was playing with a quill.

“You’re late.” stated Cirillo.

“Noone asked your opinion.” answered Adrastos not looking up.

Ivelle sat down next to Adrastos and across Áedh and looked at him.

“How are you?” she asked.

“I’m fine. The healers of Hiwaya did a pretty good job.” answered Áedh shrugging his shoulders.

“I still think you should stay here. Or go back home.” said Adrastos looking at Áedh “It’s safer for all of us.”

“I can fight.” insisted Áedh.

“Yeah. I don’t doubt that. But your wounds are not healed yet. And we have to leave as soon as possible. You would slow us down.”

“We don’t even know what are we looking for.” said Cirillo.

“Not yet.” said Adrastos “But if everything goes as planned-”

“Yeah, sure, because everything went as planned so far.” said Cirillo sarcastically. “Everything we do is a mess of a guess.” he added dryly. Adrastos turned to Ivelle.

“Can I kill him? It’d be easier.”

“No!” exclaimed Ivelle.

“Just a little bit?” grinned Adrastos eyeing Cirillo.

“How can you kill someone ′just a little bit’?” asked Ivelle.

“I’m quite talented.”

“Sure you are. You were raised to be a murderer.” added Cirillo examining the ceiling.

“The pot calls the kettle black.” said Adrastos with a lopsided grin “I only killed in the battle, but you...” Cirillo jumped from his seat and started his way towards Adrastos. Without thinking Ivelle jumped too and stood between the two.

“Enough.” she declared “Both of you. We are on the same side. And not everything has to be an argument.”

“But I can tell him, that he’s wrong in 8 different languages and it’s fun.” said Cirillo with a grin. A grin that scared Ivelle.

Adrastos took a few steps forward so now he was standing before Ivelle.

“And I can tell you that you’re wrong and even insult you in 13 different languages. I won.” he grinned and sat back to his place. Cirillo wanted to retort but the door opened and Snaedis came in, accompanied by a girl, around the age of Ivelle.

Cirillo went back to his chair and sat down, glaring at Adrastos. The girl sat at the head of the table, and Snaedis sat across her.

“You were looking for the last Sister.” she said when everyone was settled.

“Yes.” nodded Adrastos.

“Because you need help defeating Merikh.”

“Yes.”

“How can she be sure, that the crown of Nendawin won’t fall into wrong hands? For example yours, Prince Adrastos.”

“She can’t be. But if it makes her feel better, I won’t rule over Nendawin.” said Adrastos looking into her eyes.

“Would you swear?” she asked not letting his gaze. After a few moments of thinking Adrastos nodded.

“If that’s what it takes. Yes, I would.”

“Then do it.”

“Bring her here, and I’ll do it.”

“She’s already here.” grinned the girl.

“You’re Charis?” asked Áedh amazed.

“Yes. So swear me.” she demanded.

"Aren't you a bit young to be a sister?" asked Adrastos looking the girl up and down.

"Arent you a bit young for someone who's more than a century old?" the girl retorted. "Now swear."

Adrastos was staring at Charis for a few more moments. Then he stood up. Ivelle grabbed his wrist without thinking. Adrastos turned to her with slight surprise in his eyes.

"You don't have to do this." Ivelle looked from Adrastos to Charis, then back to Adrastos "We'll replace another way."

"It's the only way." said Adrastos, pulling his wrist out of Ivelle's grip and walking up to Charis. When he reached the girl, he kneeled before the girl and bent his head down.

“I, Adrastos, Prince of Nendawin, swear that I won’t rule over the Kingdom of Nendawin, and won’t accept the crown and the power that comes with it, nor will I take it with power.”

“Stand up, Adrastos. We’ll see how much your word worth.” Adrastos sat back next to Ivelle and fixed his eyes on Charis.

“Will you help us now?” asked Áedh. Charis nodded.

“Leave us alone, Snaedis.” the alven stood up and quickly left the room.

“You can’t do anything now. Merikh has the blade and there’s no way, you can get it from him.”

“So what do you suggest? We do nothing and let him conquer the rest of Sanctuary?” asked Cirillo.

“Of course not.” she said standing up, and with a wave of her hand she summoned a sword “The Light Bringer, sister sword of the Dark Blade. They say that the one who owns this blade cannot be defeated. I do not know where it is. But I know the one who does.” she waved her hand again and the sword disappeared. “There’s a man in Prigon named Prôteus.

“Where does he live?” asked Adrastos.

“Hard to tell. Prigon doesn’t have settlements as other kingdoms do, at least not anymore. And Prôteus doesn’t spend much time at the same place. But...he’s a famous healer, you’ll know when you’ve found him.”

“Thank you.” said Áedh.

“Do not thank me yet. Prigon is a dangerous place ever since the rule of the regents. It’s covered with deserts and filled with dangerous creatures. The people are mistrustful and hostile.” she sat back to her seat “Adrastos’s right. Áedh should stay here. And so does Cirillo. The ghosts hate the people of the trees. Blame them for all the harm they’ve suffered.” she said and stood up again “Leave as soon as you can, and never speak of Hiwaya to anyone ever.” she ordered and with a wave of her hand she disappeared into thin air.

“Well, that was something.” said Ivelle staring at the place where Charis stood a few seconds ago.

“Well, we have plenty of things to talk about now.” said Adrastos leaning back in his seat.