Pactsworn and Oathbound - Keros 18/01/2024
Jan 23, 2024 8:57:53 GMT
Jaezred Vandree, Ian, and 1 more like this
Post by Tom M on Jan 23, 2024 8:57:53 GMT
Co-written with the inimitable Jaezred Vandree
A few days later, after their return to the Dawnlands, Keros meets with Jaezred at the Four Fair Winds and the pair recap what happened over whisky in wingback armchairs by a roaring fire.
“So yeah, that’s about it. Fate worse than death alone or fate worse than death that risks everyone I know, including you.” Keros sighs as he finishes his explanation.
"And I certainly hope you're not resigned to either fate." Jaezred scowls. "As I said before, this appears to be an organisation with a vested interest in the state of the multiverse. Typically, it's 'balance', but their notion of a 'great plan' implies that they're after something more than just maintaining the status quo. Frankly, I detest it. Who gave these people the right to decide what can or cannot exist?"
“I’m not resigned - if we can come up with a good plan then great. Fuck these people.” Keros takes a drink, “But if we run out of time before we find it-”
"No, don't finish that fucking sentence..."
“I will not lead them on a suicide mission because I picked up a shield and got delusions of grandeur Jaezred.” Keros states firmly, “And I know you understand that.”
"Rae would never let you."
“I know. So you need to understand, and you need to be there for them.”
Jaezred opens his mouth to protest but only stammered words come out — sentences that end before they begin. His mind has played out the debate they'd be having, and has determined that there is no sound argument against what Keros is asking of him.
The drow finishes his glass of whiskey in two gulps, and then he says, "I understand."
Keros nurses his drink as he hunches forward in his chair and looks at the fire.
“Thank you Jaezred.” He pauses, “Thank you for everything.”
Jaezred sighs and leans in closer. "Listen to me. You're onto something there about Devotion's death. She died, and that put their plan into disarray, which means that they couldn't get her back. Either her soul was destroyed, or she refused to return and therefore got out of the Grand Plan without the memory of her existence getting erased. She is your key out of this."
“Huh. So… instead of doing to them what happened to her, we do to me what happened to her? That… might be easier.” He sits back in his chair. “Okay thank you again, but there is something else I wanted to say.”
“If this happened a year ago I would have already said yes. We would never have had this conversation.” He finishes his drink in one, “I met an old drow in a bar and for all the times I found myself yelling at him, he put me on a road to being where I am now.”
He puts his empty glass down, “I already have a purpose. I already have meaning.” He hides his face in his hands, “I don’t want to go with them. Not for Rae. Not for anybody else. For me.”
“Jaezred, I think I’m scared.”
A moment passes, then Keros feels a hand squeezing his large shoulder.
"I'm glad you're scared, actually," he hears Jaezred's voice murmur. "You talk constantly of self-sacrifice that, sometimes, I think you're trying to punish yourself. Fear is a survival instinct. Being scared means that you know what you're fighting for. It means that you're going to fight like all Nine Hells for your life. And that is why I think you're going to get out of this, with Rae at your side."
Keros doesn’t respond immediately, “Yeah. I am. We are.” He sniffs and takes a deep breath before he makes eye contact with a weak smile, “We make a strong team. We have a great coach.”
Jaezred smiles back at him. But the hand on Keros's shoulder remains, and it pulls the minotaur in closer, almost uncomfortably close, to Jaezred's face as shadows suddenly fall over his fine features. "But don't you ever call me old again. I'm not fucking old. I'm only two hundred and fifty-five years-old. Well, two hundred and fifty-six in twelve days' time. Point is, I'm in my fucking prime, got it?"
An emotionally battered Keros looks directly into Jaezred’s furious gaze silently for a long drawn out pause, until he suddenly snorts a laugh and starts chuckling.
“I am so sorry. Would you prefer ‘experienced’? ‘Veteran’? Are we claiming ‘silver fox’?”
Jaezred playfully shoves Keros off. "How about we shoot for accuracy and go with 'strapping young stud'?"
“Well you look better than I will at two hundred and fifty-five I can say that much.” Keros considers his predicament for a few seconds, “Hopefully.”
He shakes his head, “Seriously though I needed snapping out of that.“
"Good." Jaezred stands up and straightens his jacket. "No matter how bad it looks. Don't forget that you, Keros, want to live. Now, I've cancelled my other meetings for tonight because you and I are getting pissed."
“Fuck yes that sounds like a great idea. Short of finding another intellect devourer anyway.” Keros opens his mouth to say something, shuts it again, and then decides to just say it, “To add to the list of things that are going to stay between us: I know Rae went through hell and I feel really bad for them and I don’t want to bring it up… but have you ever just had the perfect night’s sleep?”
Jaezred just chuckles and shakes his head in disapproval as he picks up shot glasses from the bar and hands one to Keros.
