The War Begins

Chapter 25 - Feral Children

"I didn't think I'd ever see you again when you said you would do that stupid mission," The Vixen cried as she clutched Breena.

"I had no choice. I didn't want to leave you when we had just found each other, but they were going to send a kid and I couldn't let them destroy someone like that." They were both crying slightly when they finally released their arms.

"You were a kid too! You were barely eighteen when you decided to take his place!"

"Enough!" Aleda stepped between them. "I do not want this dissolving into an old argument. Decisions were made, luckily, they turned out mostly for the better and no one was grievously injured. Breena, why don't you and Vixen go train with the cats; Ixil and I have some things to discuss."

Both girls gave a small bow and went to speak in the largest Nenya's ear before heading off deeper into the forest. Ixil bowed to his Lady as she strode past him and took up a seat on a log placed before the decrepit cottage.

"Have you entered this lovely little place?" She motioned behind her. Ixil shook his head. "Well you should. It is lovely on the inside. I am surprised Vixen hasn't shown you around."

Ixil blushed slightly. "I get the feeling that the Vixen doesn't like me very much, nor does she want me here."

"Too bad. You are here to stay and she will just have to accept it as she has accepted all my other commands over the years. As you have no doubt gleaned from our earlier conversation, I have known those two girls for a long time." She stretched out the word long to emphasize her point.

"That means, however, that I have a much stronger attachment to them than I do to you. I hope you understand that this means you will be forced to take an oath of secrecy if you ever want to leave this clearing alive. You would have had to anyways, but now it is doubly certain. Do you wish to swear, Guard Ixil Mourne?"

Ixil paused at the use of his given last name.

"What would this oath entail?" He asked. A smile slowly stole over her face.

"Smart. I like that about you, Ixil. It is one of many reasons you have been tasked with this. The oath is simple: you are never to reveal what the Nenya can do, how intelligent they really are, what I can do, who I really am, and any personal information you learn about those two girls that they do not give you explicit permission to speak of." Ixil thought for a few moments before nodding.

"I will take your oath." He stated firmly.

"Then stand before me, Ixil Daystar, son of Mourne Family and foster son of Daystar Family." He did as instructed.

"Draw your blade. As I speak, draw a line across your palm for every oath you will give. You hereby swear to nevermore speak of what you learn about the Nenya during your stay here," He made a shallow cut across his palm but deepened it when she gave him a stern look. He grimaced as it stung.

"You hereby swear to nevermore speak of anything you shall learn about me during your stay here and to never reveal my true identity unless I give you express verbal permission and I may rescind this order at any time." Another deep cut split his palm.

"You hereby swear to nevermore speak of Breena Catsdaughter and Sarahs Catsdaughter formally known as the Vixen unless given their express verbal permission and they may rescind this order at any time." He drew a final cut. "Do you hereby swear?"

"Yes, my Lady, Patron, and Goddess. I do so swear." She stepped forward and took his bloody left hand and wrapped it around his sword hilt. He grit his teeth to stop his sound of pain as his cuts made contact with the metal.