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III - A

a contract, reminiscence, and something afoot
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"I invoke this bond of my own accord and hereby agree to following this binding contract until termination. Corvus oculum corvi non eruit. All in accordance?"

"All in accordance."

Words were spoken - the initiation of an unwavering promise.

Unbound locks of deep brown hickory fell forward as Amelia gazed downwards at her arm in surprise.

It was an intricate tattoo that had manifested upon the skin of her shoulder. The only feeling of its appearance was a curious, tingling warmth after the contract had been invoked. A grinning fox curled its tail about its paws in cimmerian ink, black as the sinister shadows of the alleyway.

It was of the likes Amelia had never seen - largely attributed to the fact that she tended to abstain from matters of the arcane arts - magic. She was just about inquire what the marking was when the Fox spoke in answer.

"'Tis my sigil - my signature mark, a symbol of our contract. Do not worry - it shall disappear once our contract comes to an end."

The Fox paused, and again Amelia seized the opportunity to absolve her curiosity - but before she uttered a single word, she was sure the Fox was smirking, oh-so self-satsifiedly smug beneath that mask of his? hers? as he (she decided to hazard a guess) began to speak, once again.

"A raven will not pull out the eye of another raven - corvus oculum corvi non eruit. Honor among thieves, yes? Regardless of the consequences, I will protect you - do not be afraid. I cannot allow harm to come to you. Understand?"

Amelia's lips were pressed into a straight line, annoyed at constant interruption without being able to speak. What was the Fox, a mind reader? Although she hadn't seen much of magic, the few times she had heard contracts made...they had used a different Latin phrase.

"Dictum meum pactum."

"My word is my bond," Amelia finally had the chance to speak aloud, translating effortlessly as her Latin lessons finally proved useful, "Then why not use that? And can you really --"

"Read minds? No, my dear, you're simply an open book. I can read every word - easy as breathing. Oh, and - for my contracts, I like a personal touch, ya know? Easier ta remember me by, 'stead of the usual borin' drivel."

"...I see."

Amelia let out a sigh of exasperation and a steadying breath to keep her temper at bay. Why was she here again?

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Oh, yes - Amelia could recall within the recesses of her memory not long past - her estranged younger brother, whose relations with her had become more and more distant with the passing of time unable to be spent with her.

He'd become colder and colder, weighted with the responsibilities of the throne as the sole male heir.

No longer was he her playmate and the timid little boy she'd once known - with the recent passing of the King (at this, she could not help but feel close to tears despite the many reprimands to reign back her emotions.)

Their father was gone. One throne was left vacant, an aching echo of his absence.

They now greeted each other with words civil, formal, and hardly anything resembling their once familiar interactions. More often than not, he took Mother's side while she took Father's - their conflicting ideals often resulting in more than a few slammed doors and stilted silences.