Chapter 7: Custody Battle - Tie Match
"Say your oath!" Darlae growled, her ears flicking back as some elven ears did when they were at their angriest.
Maledict smiled and stood strait, a curling of his tail brining the massive fleshy limb into the portal open behind him, like a foot holding a door open. He held a hand over the center of his chest, resting his palm upon it.
"I Maledict, Duke of Sha'arei, Lord of Heresy, swear on my being, and the existence of all who follow me, that I will take no action that will cause harm to..." He paused. "Err... I'm sorry, what were your names again?"
"Brigit Gale."
"Darlae Gale Earonsheir Lavis Menaeon Calainn-Sidhe, Third of Her Name."
Kir stared. Darlae had never revealed her full name before. He would have facepalmed if he wasn't in so much pain, and sustaining his spell.
Maledict started over. When he got past Darlae's name, and to his credit he pronounced it perfectly where even Kir couldn't, he continued. "...and that I will take no indirect action that will lead to their harm. I swear upon a spell of Forbidding, that no agent of mine will be allowed to harm Kir, or his adopted and blood mothers. In return for this Oath, it is sworn that in ten years' time, I shall claim my son Kir, should he or you fail to bring his mother, Aelaes, Daughter of Heaven, and birth-mother to Kir, before me by his twenty-sixth birthday. Should a new contract be formed to replace this oath, I swear to uphold its tenets until his dying day. This is my oath!"
He withdrew his palm from his chest, and Kir saw that upon it were glowing circles and shapes. A container for the oath, just as for a spell.
His other hand he held out to Kir. "You are my witness Kir. If they accept, you will seal the oath by placing your hand over theirs." He lowered his glowing hand to within reach of Brigit and Darlae. "You will never find another offer like this, not in a thousand lifetimes," he said to them.
Together, they placed their palms against his. A silent acceptance.
Kir looked at them, seeing the determination in their eyes, and placed his hand over theirs.