Darksiders: The Seed of Knowledge

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Council held their end of the terms, pardoning the Horseman and returning his powers once Faith had concluded her testimony.  She bowed in thanks to the Council, then followed War through the blazing corridors to where Ruin had been waiting, collecting their weapons along the way.  The horse was thrilled to see his Rider at full strength, and War, though he shared Ruin's sentiment, found himself troubled by what had just occurred.

"Faith," he said quietly, putting his hand on her shoulder and leading her into a rocky alcove, "why didn't you tell the Council about your debt to me?"

The girl looked up at him, her eyes already distracted by the numerous calculations swarming through her mind.  "What do you mean?  I told them I was repaying it."

"But not the details of it," he pressed.  "Tell me why."

She blinked twice to clear her mind and looked at him plainly.  "Because you didn't want me to."

The Horseman faltered at her bluntly spoken statement, as well as the realization of how much she had truly done for him.

"What?" she said with a secretive smile.  "I promised I'd do whatever it took to get your powers back."

"I know."  He met her eyes.  "You have my gratitude."

"You don't have to thank me," Faith said, then turned and started walking back to Ruin.  "I always repay my debts."

He followed her, then stopped.  "Faith."

She turned, and War took up his sword.  Twirling it to reverse grip, he planted the blade deep in the stone floor.  Then, his right hand on the hilt, the Horseman knelt before the girl, right knee on the ground, left hand atop his raised knee.  His head was bowed, his face completely hidden by his hood.  It was a gesture of honor, gratitude and respect, one he'd rarely shown to anyone in Creation.  Of the few to receive the gesture, Faith was the first whom he felt truly deserved it.

"Thank you," he said, sincere.

She was silent for a while, likely processing the hidden meaning of his kneel—that he now acknowledged her fully as his equal.  He smiled inwardly, knowing it wouldn't take her long.

When she did, she stepped up to him and threw her arms around his neck.  He raised his head in confusion and she broke the hug.  Then, as if to confuse him more, she placed her hands on his shoulders, leaned forward, and pressed her lips to his cheek.  The action left him speechless.  When she pulled away again, she simply smiled.

"You're welcome," she said.

Ruin snorted, the brutish sound quite rude.  Faith turned to the horse and asked, half-mockingly, "Are you jealous?"

Ruin turned his muzzle away, huffing as though insulted, and Faith burst into laughter.  It was a fit so fierce that, for a moment, War thought the convulsions would reopen her wounds.  He needn't have worried, though; even in humor, she was careful.

War stood up and returned Chaoseater to his back, then watched as Faith calmed enough to reach up and place her hand on Ruin's muzzle.  To his surprise, the horse did not resist her.

"Don't be," she told the horse.  "In the hierarchy of companionship, you are my superior."

That made Ruin snort and tilt his head back with pride, and Faith laughed again, though not as fiercely as before.

Exhaling, War waited until she calmed again, then returned her weapons.  She thanked him and clipped them to her person, then followed the Horseman and his steed through the blazing corridor.  Then, at some point, she spotted Death near the passageway that led to the Council's archives.  He was preparing to mount Despair.