Bargaining an Oath - Ch 1
“No,” Ray said calmly, and sipped from the cup of what he called “liquid courage.” Just enough to touch the tongue and sense, and drink. Enough to force him to focus, not to dull the senses. “What do you mean, ‘No’!?” Idriel yelled. “You cannot say no!” “Careful, Idriel. Neighbors. You wouldn’t want to be unexpectedly discovered.” Ray’s house had good insulation and he owned a few acres, but he still cringed at her outburst. It was a small comfort that his office was well-insulated for noise all around. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Ray. Wisps of her red hair came slightly away from where the rest of it laid behind her head and down her back. She produced an old scroll. “Still, the point.” She unrolled it showing a dark splotch at the bottom. “Your blood oath cannot be vacated.” “What if I refuse to pay?” He watched as she closed her eyes and mouth while she tensed and balled her fists. After taking a few deep breaths she answered. “Then we take back everything –“ she stopped while he shook his head deliberately, and checked the parchment. No, we take back exactly what we gave.” She grimaced. At ten, he didn’t know the rules; he also didn’t want to pay for anything, much less lose gains. That much had not changed. He had the hundred grand ready, but considered it a last resort. “Okay, now then, think about this. The law states that outstanding debts with no activity are uncollectible after six years. This debt hasn’t had – ahem – any activity for twenty-five years. I’m sorry, but this is not enforceable at this time. It’s well beyond the statute of limitations.” Idriel gave a hollow laugh. “If the contract had been signed under the laws of your realm, let alone your nation and state, then that would be true. However, that is not the case and no such clause exists in this contract.” Ray closed his eyes. When he was ten, he had not considered what he wanted to be when he grew up. He got into contract law after having money stolen from him by unethical parties, and more so after discovering why the ones he contracted with at ten wanted his firstborn. He looked again at Idriel; part of him did not believe that she was the type who would ask for an individual’s firstborn. She had been around him all through his childhood, and even some of his adulthood. Something didn’t fit with her warm and caring personality, for why she would contract for a firstborn. Yet, here they were. “Alright, I was ten when I made the pact. How does your kind view conducting business with someone who is not at the age of majority?” She huffed derisively and glowered in his direction. Speaking to her about the contract brought about a side of her that he had not seen. “We Fae keep our word and agreements, regardless of our age. It is natural to us and reinforced from a very early age.” Ray leaned back in his seat. “I suppose that can be a challenge when you enter an agreement with inferior beings such as humans.” He watched as she raised an eyebrow and relaxed her posture slightly. “We are just notorious for dishonesty.” “Hmpf.” More liquid courage. He stood and faced her. “Miss Idriel, may I be direct.” He was careful to not actually ask permission. “Go on.” This time, he took a good swallow of the liquid. He closed his eyes and felt the heat rise to his cheeks as the wooden flavor burned down his tongue and throat. Then he looked at her directly. “I want out. And,” he continued as she opened her mouth, “without consequence. I did not understand the gravity of the agreement in any way, shape or form when I put my mark on it. It affects people beyond me, and people who do not exist yet, and it is patently unfair to them, let alone myself, who – I say again – did not understand.” She sighed. “Ray, I understand, and I say again to you: blood oath.” “What recourse do I have, then? I understand now the gravity of the agreement and what is behind it. And I say that I would have never agreed to it if I knew what it entailed. Even us uncivilized monkeys who lack any sense of honor have designed recourse for these occasions!” “What. Are. You. Saying. Mortal.” Water froze into ice at Idriel’s words. Ray closed his eyes and breathed deeply to consider his response. “I am saying that we have done things wrong in the past and we have done our best to make remedies. In cases when someone enters an agreement without fully understanding it, we have decided that there is no shame or dishonor in releasing the party from the agreement. I respectfully submit that position for your consideration.” He bowed slightly as a token of respect. “I see. If you truly understood the nature of the oath, you would be ashamed to ask to be released. What if I do not accept the position that you propose?” “Then I will seek to address and amend the contract in a manner that is agreeable to all parties.” Idriel closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head slightly. “Very well. I will return tomorrow with an answer.” “Thank you, Lady Idriel.” he bowed again, slightly lower. “Shall I see you out?” “There is no need.” She turned and left the office....
Steve-C2
Add Media
Style