Spellscribed: Conviction (42 page)

Rasmiel gestured to one of his aides, whispering in his ear. Pullar caught Endrance’s eye and gave a slight nod. He had delivered his speech and made his proposition as best he could, in a way he was assured would make a positive impression on the ambassador. Now, he just had to hope it was enough.

Ambassador Rasmiel looked Endrance in the eyes and smiled. “I’ve asked them to clear the rest of my day’s schedule, and bring us some refreshments and food. I feel that I will be quite busy the rest of the night discussing the particulars of our upcoming arrangement.

Endrance smiled. “Thank you, ambassador. You will not regret this.” He said.

“You wizards of the Circle of Magi are something different than the humans who have come to us previously.” Rasmiel observed. “You have a better understanding of time than most.”

“I’m still very young, even for a normal human,” Endrance stated. “But I have had my eyes opened too.”

“The fact that you came to me willing to sit through nine months of education at my aide’s hand, showed me you had the conviction to see things through properly.” Rasmiel said. Endrance was not surprised that he knew of his underling’s activities. In fact, that had been part of his calculations of Rasmiel’s character. “You also were able to grasp concepts that were beyond your prior ambassadors, and you were willing to risk failing in order to correct an almost literal thorn in our side.”

“Thank you.” Endrance said.

“I would like,” Rasmiel added. “Once we are done here, to send a dispatch back with you to give to your High King and the Archmagus. I would like to request that any further diplomats be wizards, too. I would also like to request that their assigned postings be for longer than just a few short years, since your wizards can afford to spend a few decades on such a task.”

Endrance was smiling broadly. “I would be pleased to deliver that message for you.” He said. “I can have it sent as soon as you have it composed.”

“Excellent.” Rasmiel replied. An aide returned, carrying a pitcher of wine and a platter of fruits, nuts and cheeses. Another aide set up a writing table, rolled a parchment across the surface and set down a silver tipped quill next to a bottle of ink. Pullar set a chair before the table and sat down, taking up the quill.

“I’m ready to begin, sir.” Pullar stated. Endrance plucked a grape from the platter and couldn’t help but grin as his months of work had culminated in the biggest political success since the peace treaty with the barbarians. Even better, since the elves were potentially a far deadlier foe, should it come to war.

“Let us begin.” Rasmiel declared.

* * *

Endrance walked out of the Embassy as the first rays of dawn were breaching the horizon. He had a gilded, spell warded scroll case under his arm and he had the sensation that he could fly without his familiar’s help, he was so ecstatic.

How did it go?
Gullin asked. The familiar rested nearby. When Endrance had resummoned the bird, he had been concerned that the elves would not want a living Fjallar among their trees, but it turned out differently. Many elves with an affinity for fire magic came to see his familiar, and he was even able to work out an arrangement to have his bird stay in a nest enchanted to be comfortable for the bird.

It… it all worked.
Endrance replied.
I… I’m done.

You finished negotiations in the first meeting?
Gullin replied.
I bet that Mastadon was not expecting you to do half as well.

He wasn’t expecting me to come back alive, if at all.
Endrance responded. He set off down one street, heading loosely towards the tree he was housed in.

Then he is a fool.
Gullin mentally exclaimed.
As if a mage with a familiar like me could fail.

Whoa there… was that pride I heard?
Endrance asked, yawning as he walked. He had pulled an all-nighter with the ambassador, but the two of them were too engaged in the activity to stop until it was finished. Endrance was carrying the copy for Ironsoul, as well as two informal duplicates to be dispersed as he saw fit.
I think your ego is starting to match your size, Gullin. 

Nonsense.
Gullin replied.
I still have quite a bit of size to catch up to. Though you are improving remarkably fast. Your body has almost entirely subsumed the spellscribing.

I’m still not sure that it’s a good thing.
Endrance responded as he nodded greeting to a few Sha’hdi that ran past him on the streets.
What if I wake up one day and I’m an asshole like the other Mercanians?

Are you seriously asking me if you, the kindest wizard I have ever heard of, would suddenly completely reverse your nature because you are half Mercanian?
Gullin’s incredulity was noticeable.

Well, you saw how Selene changed these last few months…
Endrance let his thoughts trail off before they turned bitter. He entered the tree his group had called home for nearly a year.

Endrance.
Gullin stated.
She merged with her demonic half. That is a give and take process, and you cannot expect her to remain the same person she was before.

I know, I just… I can’t look at her and not feel guilty.
Endrance responded, climbing the stairs up to his floor.

I know. You should not, but that has not dissuaded you in the meantime.
Gullin grumbled.

Endrance paused outside his door, his hand on the latch.
What do I do?
He asked again.

The same thing that I have told you for so many times that even I have lost count.
Gullin replied.
You go in there and accept her for what she is. You promised as much.

But… the bond.
Endrance replied.

Worry about the bond later.
Gullin snapped.
That is a hurdle that can be passed in the future.

Endrance took a deep breath and pulled the latch. The door swung open, revealing a dark room inside. A pair of red eyes looked out of the darkness at him.

“Endrance?” Selene’s voice called out of the dark. “It’s late.”

Endrance put some willpower behind his voice. “Geaighal.” He said, and the crystal set into the ceiling began radiating light.

Selene was sitting up in the bed, waiting for him. She was naked, as she had taken to doing every night since her change. Her eyes were perpetually red now, though the pupils remained round, unless she was particularly emotional. Her hair remained extremely curly and looked mussed from sleep. It had taken on a deep purple tint, instead of its previous raven black.

“Did it take that long?” she asked, blinking sleepily. Endrance nodded, shucking his shirt and shoes before approaching the bed.

“Yeah, managed to get it all done though.” He said, setting the scroll case on the table next to the bed. “In one night too. Triple checked and proofed by fifteen other officials and stamped by the two kings.”

Selene looked over the ostentatious scroll case. “Looks official.” She said.

Endrance nodded. “Don’t touch it though. It’s warded so only I can carry it.” He didn’t mention that he could also hand it off to another person; he wasn’t supposed to share that until he got back to Ironsoul with it.

“Yeah?” Selene asked, yawning and laying back down in the bed. Endrance slipped under the sheets and sighed in relief.

“Yeah. Geaighal.” Endrance muttered, dousing the light in the room. He felt Selene’s hands touch his arm. Her skin was fever hot, like it had been since her demonic half merged. He closed his eyes and tried to swallow the guilt he felt.

“Love.” She murmured. “Please hold me?”

Endrance rolled onto his side and took her hands in his. “Selene.” He replied quietly.

“Not like that.” Selene replied. “Why won’t you hold me like you used to?” her voice sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

Endrance took a deep breath and tried to accept what Gullin had told him. “Because…” Endrance muttered, loud enough for her to hear. “Of what I have done to you.”

“You didn’t do anything to me.” Selene protested. “That’s kind of my problem, you know?”

Endrance sighed. Perhaps a demonstration.

“Geaighal.” He commanded, illuminating the room. He opened his eyes and saw Selene blinking at him, confused.

“Get out of bed.” He ordered, putting his will into the order the same way he did the light.

Selene jumped out of bed without hesitation, landing on her feet and looking at him expectantly. Endrance was surprised to see that she had been wearing some underclothes. Only after she completed the action did she seem to realize that she was out of bed.             

“Wha…” she started to ask.

“Do a handstand.” He ordered.

Selene sprung into a handstand without a second thought. Before she could realize what she’d done, Endrance issued another command.

“Now use one hand.” He added. “And don’t fall down.”

Selene, naturally athletic, wouldn’t have trouble maintaining the single handstand, but he could see the confusion on her face when she realized what she was doing.

“Why am I doing this?” she asked, less confused than someone entirely unfamiliar with magic. “I’m stuck!”

“You can’t stop because I didn’t order you to.” Endrance said, grief digging its claws into his heart. “This is what has been pushing me away. Stand up.”

She stood, her confusion deepening. “Did you cast some kind of spell on me?” she asked.

Endrance shook his head. “No. That’s what makes it worse.” Endrance replied, his eyes watering. “I would never have willingly cast a spell like this.”

Selene remained still. “I don’t understand.” She said. She was able to talk but could not move from where he had verbally put her.

“When I had last met your demonic half, before you two finally became one, I had an… altercation with her. It is a demon’s nature to be dominated by someone more powerful, and your other half needed that just as much as a full blooded demon.”

“You… dominated me?”

“I engaged your demon half in a battle of wills. I won.” He said. “And she was then under my command, until I either banished her or I died. When you merged… well, it seems that the bond was transferred, but none of the other memories.”

“So how long will this last?” Selene asked.

“From what Kalenden’s memories tell me…” Endrance answered. “Forever. It was actually how he had made so many loyal Nephilim in the royal guard.”

“Father…” Selene muttered.

“I am sorry, Selene.” Endrance said remorsefully. “Right now, I could order you to take your own life and you’d do it, or take someone else’s life. Or anything equally horrible. I could order you to hurt me.”

“You could not order me at all.” Selene offered. “Love, I’d do what you asked without the demon’s bond.”

“But, can’t you see?” Endrance said. “I have taken your freedom from you, the person I love the most. Even if I didn’t actively use the bond, you would follow any request anyway, and I’d always be wondering if it was only because of the bond!”

Endrance saw her eyes had teared up too. “I don’t know what else to say.” Selene said, “Other than, doing what you tell me feels perfectly natural to me.”

Endrance sighed. “You are free to act.” He commanded, rolling over and facing the far wall. “I’m sorry, Selene.” He said. “I don’t know how to undo what I’ve done. I can’t overcome the guilt I feel.”

Selene, released by his last command, shook her head and slipped back under the sheets. “I’m sorry too.” She said. “Please stop pushing me away.”

“I… I don’t want to push you away, but every time… I just can’t.” Endrance tensed as Selene slipped up behind him and pressed her body against his.

“Love, I know I can trust you not to abuse this power you have over me.” She said, kissing the back of his head. “You’ve always treated me with love and affection, I don’t think that you will suddenly change just because of this.”

Endrance nodded his head, “Thanks.” He said. “I guess I don’t feel so bad now.”

“Besides,” Selene said playfully. “Now we can really get into the kinky stuff.”

“Gyah!” Endrance exclaimed, clamping his hands over his ears. “Too much.”

Selene’s grin was almost predatory. “Geaighal.” She whispered, cloaking the room in darkness.

* * *

Hours later, there was a loud knock on the door waking him up. He was alone in the room when he awoke, evidence that Selene had left him to sleep into the morning.

“I’m awake.” Endrance protested with a groan.

The door opened, bright light streaming into the room. Endrance shielded his eyes with his arm. “What?” he demanded.

“I heard you managed to make a good impression on the Ambassador.” Valzoa’s voice was heard from beyond the brilliance of day. “You have my congratulations.”

“Uh… thanks.” Endrance replied. “In or out?”

“In!” Valzoa stepped into the room and closed the door. He was wearing yet another audaciously expensive outfit, and again he had changed his hair color.