What We Do to Survive

“I had wondered how you were keeping her contained,” Liam said conversationally as he continued to examine Kwesta’s unmoving form, “A very tidy solution, if slightly inconvenient for something long term. I can feel the edge of the spell boundary decay, you probably would have had to recast the stasis again in just a few days. Still, for a temporary solution, very nicely done.”

Liam straightened from where he was standing hunched over Kwesta and turned to face me. “I can see no reason why Clarient would complain about what you’ve done to her since. The girl will probably be feeling out of it for a few days after you dispel it, but that has more to do with the injuries and mana suppression than anything you did afterward.” He paused for a moment and glanced back at the girl’s prone form. “What sort of guarantee are you using? I didn’t detect any sort of poison. You do have something in place, right?”

I nodded, smiling slightly, “Of course. I’m glad that everything looks good, and that nothing shows up on a cursory scan. I don’t think I have access to any poison that someone like Clarient couldn’t get an antidote for, so I decided on something a little more… exotic. Thanks for taking a look.” I had no idea how Liam had seen even that much, the medical analysis spells I knew didn’t work on a person under the effects of a stasis field and she outwardly looked completely fine, but that was probably just higher circle magic I hadn’t looked into yet.

“Not a problem. I think that pretty clearly falls under our deal as it is.” He glanced back at Kwesta, “So what are you using then? Poison’s a classic for a reason, something subtle and fast acting usually. Stasis tends to help with that sort of thing but I can understand why you would decide against it.”

I bit my lip, wondering if it was a good idea to share that information with Liam. I mostly trusted the older boy, but it went against my better judgment to share any of the contingencies I’d set up, much less a key one such as how I planned to ensure that Clarient and her friend couldn’t decide they didn’t like my terms and just attack us as we tried to leave.

After a moment, I decided against sharing everything, but there was no harm in sharing some minor details. Liam had been… moderately helpful over the time I’d known him, and being honest with him now might get me more from him in the future. “It's something to do with how I set up the stasis spell. If they try anything, she absolutely will not survive the experience.”

Liam studied me in silence for a moment, then nodded. “Good.”

Clarient and her friend, Miranda quietly identified the young man as Cain Marrowood, a fifth year whose family had once served Clarient’s, arrived a few minutes later. Clarient walked into the room like she owned it, dressed in some sort of ceremonial armor that blazed with an inner light to my magic sense. The golden breastplate, arm guards, and greaves didn’t look like they offered much protection, their design clearly more decorative than practical and leaving wide swathes of her bare skin completely uncovered, but the amount of mana coursing through them left me with little doubt that the lack of a physical barrier indicated any sort of opening.

I stepped forward to meet her, doing my best to not let any of the anxiety bubbling in my chest show. Miranda stood slightly behind me and to the right, looking poised and perfectly at ease in the shimmering red dress she’d changed into earlier. I was glad to notice Clarient’s companion’s eyes flicker occasionally towards her, unable to fully resist her physical and supernatural charms. Maybe they weren’t having very much effect on Clarient, but any bit of distraction was hopefully a good thing.

“Miss Valorous.” I greeted her cooly, nodding my head forward a fraction of an inch.

She stopped several feet away from me and folded her hands behind her back. “Hunter.”

Liam stepped forward from where he had been leaning against the wall and moved to stand between us. “Very good. Now then, I think you both want to get straight to business, so before we begin,” he raised on hand in the air between us and pressed the other against his chest. A vast tide of mana flowed out around him, filling the air with its oppressive weight. When he began to speak, his voice echoed with power, “I swear to serve as an impartial arbitrator in this meeting between Clarient Valorous and Orion Hunter to discuss the release of Kwesta. Should an agreement be reached, I will also serve as oath-binder for any needed vows and as an impartial third party for any agreed upon exchanges.”

He lowered his hand and the weight vanished in an instant. He looked between the two of us, “Well?”

Clarient was the first to respond. “Yes, mage Marc Pierr. I have heard only good things about your character.”

I nodded, “That should suffice.”

“Very good. Now then, I have already confirmed that the goods are in fine shape, slightly battered but nothing serious. You may examine them visually if you so desire, but I will not permit any spellcasting towards them from either party to prevent further tampering.”

I nodded, that was something I’d discussed with Liam ahead of time. Clarient nodded as well, “That is fine with me. I shall trust your judgment on this, observer.”

Liam led us to the table and we took our seats in silence. Thankfully it was rather large, so despite its shape none of us had to sit particularly close to one another. Clarient and I sat on opposite sides, with our companions on my right and her left. Liam took the seat between us on my left, Kwesta’s imobile body floating weightlessly behind him in a silver bubble.

Once we were all comfortable, he continued. “Now, as I understand, there are two primary issues to discuss. Firstly, the release of Kwesta here and an assurance that there will be no retaliation or further hostilities between you due to this issue.” He paused and looked at each of us in turn. I nodded, “And secondly, the matter of compensation for Kwesta’s release, alive and unharmed beyond any wounds caused by the initial altercation.” I nodded again. “Very good. Mage Hunter, please begin.

I sat up straighter in my chair, glad I’d had a chance to discuss this with Miranda, and then later Liam as well. He might be sworn to be impartial now, but that hadn’t stopped him from telling me how he planned to conduct our ‘negotiations’. I was very glad Clarient had been fine with him acting as our arbiter, and that Liam had agreed to do so beyond his initial agreement to be our oath-binder.

I imagined it had a lot to do with the potential difficulty in finding a higher-circle mage we could both agree on, and Liam’s willingness to swear an oath beforehand. That had honestly surprised me, not many people of his skill would be willing to do such a thing, not without a lot more to offer than what I was giving him. Either he valued my future favor much more highly than I thought, or he was trying to cultivate a positive relationship between us. I pushed the thought aside. As always, this was not the time to worry about other things. I had enough on my plate as it was. Something to discuss with Miranda, but later.

“Thank you,” I inclined my head towards Liam, then leaned forward to stare Clarient in the eyes. “I was greatly irritated by the unprovoked attack of your friend on my companion. It is only because no harm came from it that we are having this conversation in the first place. I am simply glad I was in the right place at the right time, otherwise I am afraid things could have gotten very messy between us.” I did my best to put just a touch of menace into the last part, even though I doubted I would have dared to retaliate much even if something had happened. I valued my Miranda and it would have burned to give her up like that, but I valued myself much more.

I let my words hang in the air for a moment, then continued. “Thus, it is my first priority that things do not come to that point again in the future. This is Avalon, yes, and it was well within Kwesta’s rights to seek satisfaction for… perceived slights, but that does nothing to shield her from the consequences of her actions. Still, I like to think that I am a reasonable mage. Life at Avalon rarely grants second chances, but perhaps we can arrange something between the two of us to ensure things do not come to that. I can see that you value the lives of your companions highly, just as I myself do. We would not be here otherwise, after all. As long as you are willing to swear to never target me and mine, and to ensure that no one associated with you in any way does the same, I am willing to release Kwesta into your hands for say, ten thousand pieces and a vow of servitude from the girl herself.”

I sat back, rather satisfied with my performance. After some discussion with Miranda, we’d concluded that I had no chance with the sort of subtle maneuverings that so many nobles loved to engage in. Instead, she’d given me some tips and coached me through a few attempts at a rather direct approach to our negotiation. I was pretty sure I’d hit all the points we’d discussed. My offer, an appeal towards our similarities, a few words to point all the blame for what had happened towards Kwesta herself… Yes, I was pretty sure that was everything I was going for. My offer of course was wildly in my favor, but that was just how things were done. We would negotiate and bring things down to a much more reasonable compromise–

“Counter offer,” Clarient said coldly. “You give me Kwesta and I don’t make the rest of your short life a living hell.”

Well shit then. I wanted to close my eyes and sigh but that would only undercut the impression I was trying to present. I briefly glanced towards Liam, but he seemed content to leave us to it without any interference. That was technically his job, but it was still somewhat annoying.

I took a deep breath. This was an eventuality I’d discussed with Miranda, even if it was one of the ones we hadn’t prepared much for. I’d heard that Clarient was rather reasonable compared to some of the royals at Avalon, but apparently that only extended so far. Maybe I should have figured that out from our encounter earlier in the week. Raising an eyebrow, I used the skeptic voice Miranda had helped me practice a few weeks earlier, “Do you truly value the life of your friend so little? Of course I won’t give her back to you with an offer like that, and she’s certainly of no value to me if I’m dead. If it comes down to it, her last days shall be the same nightmare you try to inflict upon me.”

I saw Clarient’s jaw tighten as she clenched her teeth. “Your death shall last an eternity if you touch a hair on her head. I shall drink from your bejeweled skull like my foremothers before me, let your soul be flayed and returned to the aether for the harm you have inflicted upon me and mine. You–”

Ah. I had a feeling I understood where she was going now. Unfortunately it wasn’t something I could really deal with, I had neither the knowledge nor the skill to do so, but she didn’t have to know that.

So, I decided to lie out of my ass. Hopefully the amulet around my neck and my own skills would be enough to fool her. “I don’t know what sort of contingency you have prepared, but I assure you it will not be enough. The moment you try something, her soul will be cast into the endless void, beyond your reach. It may be against the laws of Avalon, but that is of no concern to me if I am dead.”

Clarient shut up instantly and I forced myself to smile. Souls were… hard to damage in a permanent way, but there was one sure-fire way to deal with someone in a way that even the most skilled necromancer could not revive them. The void between realities was a hostile, endless realm that only the greatest of mages dared to mess with. No one knew what happened to those lost there, and even a god could not revive them. Even if Clarient knew a skilled necromancer or had something like a soul stone set up for her friend, that would not be enough here. Hells, I had no idea how she had access to that sort of magic, but she was a former princess.

Clarient stared at me in silence for several long moments. “You’re bluffing,” she stated, but I could hear a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

“Am I? We are in Avalon, after all. The barrier is much thinner here, thin enough that even my… meager skills are enough to puncture it, if only for a moment. I have no doubt the Myrddin will kill me the moment I do so, but what do I have to lose?”

Clarient studied me for a long moment and I had to fight to keep my composure. I wasn’t used to that sort of scrutiny and she had a very… intense stare. Finally, she looked away and shook her head. “You’re insane.”

“I do what greatness requires,” I answered immediately. It was something one of my teachers had said during my first year. ‘Power requires desire, determination, sacrifice. We are mad, for only the mad can command the universe and expect it to obey.’

She nodded slowly, “Admirable. Still, your demands are unreasonable. There is no way I can accept such an offer.”

Liam, who had been watching us with interest this entire time, finally stepped in. “Well, this is a negotiation, isn’t it? I do believe that's why we are all here.” He had given me a strange look when I’d made my claim, but hadn’t said anything. I was curious if he would ask me about it later.”

“I guess you’re right, arbiter. Negotiations, then. I’ll give you… five hundred pieces. The oaths are out of the question, but I promise on my honor that I shall not retaliate. I do not want to know what other insanity you think is justified.”

I scoffed exaggeratedly. “And I am supposed to simply accept that? Honor is worthless without commitment, and five hundred pieces is a pittance.” I shook my head sorrowfully, “No, for such a price I’d rather take my chances with the headmaster. It is just a pinhole after all, and these rooms are often used for… experimentation. Perhaps such a small offense on a subdued target could be forgiven.” It probably wouldn’t be, disrupting Avalon’s dimensional boundary was one of those rules that was very strictly enforced, but I honestly had no idea how to even accomplish that feat in the first place so it had never been a concern. Maybe the Myrddin would have been impressed if I could manage such a feat with fourth circle magic.

“Perhaps you should. It would be a joy to see you swatted out of existence. Still, it is clear that you have no honor, so of course you would refuse to accept my own.”

“Avalon is not kind to the honorable. You should have learned that years ago. I certainly did.”

“Well then, how about…”