177 Blood Oath

A heavy silence filled the courtyard after Maianna's statement. A few minutes later Elder Terrakeep returned. Sighing heavily as he sat down he turned to Jayde. "Lady Jayde, I apol—"

Jayde raised her hand. "There is no need Elder Terrakeep," she said interrupting him. "Maianna explained the situation. I apologize for upsetting your granddaughter."

Elder smiled bitterly. "Please, you don't need to apologize, my lady."

"Ahem," Elder Terrakeep said clearing his throat. "Lady Jayde, are you really serious about freeing the slaves you will bring to Shaihshire?" he asked with a decidedly uncomfortable look upon his face.

"Yes," Jayde said. "Do you have a problem with it?" she asked arching one of her eyebrows as she stared at Elder Terrakeep.

"No! Not at all," Elder Terrakeep exclaimed. "It's just..er... this has never been done before, won't those slaves run away once they are freed."

Jayde shrugged. "If they do, that's their problem."

Ash frowned, then he leaned forward slightly. "The nobles won't like it, they will retaliate."

"Hmm, I know," Jayde said. "That's is why we will have to take precautionary measures."

Ash smiled. "Interesting," he said, leaning back. "So what's your plan?"

Jayde smiled faintly. "A blood oath…" she said, taking a pensive sip of her tea. "All the villagers of Shaihshire will have to join the Centauri clan, and take a blood oath of loyalty."

Elder Terrakeep frowned, trying to decide if Jayde was attempting a joke or not.

"Well," Ash said dryly. "That will work."

"Wait," Elder Terrakeep whispered. "You can't be serious. You really mean to do this."

"Of course I am," Jayde said smiling, her eyes twinkling.

"But... the villagers, I am not sure if they will go for this," Elder Terrakeep said.

"Those who refuse can leave," Jayde said firmly. "Of course, we will compensate them, so that they may start a new life elsewhere."

Elder Terrakeep sighed heavily, he understood that Jayde's plan was the best way to keep the freed slaves safe, a blood oath was a dangerous undertaking. The heavens punished those who broke their blood oaths severely. A mage who broke their blood oath would have their souls ripped out of their bodies, and the death reapers would then slowly devour the oath breakers soul. It was rumored that it took centuries for a death reaper to eat a soul. Very few mages ever make a blood oath voluntary. Although, most noble clans forced their young clan members to make a loyalty oath.

Elder Terrakeep was happy that Jayde would at least compensate the villagers who refused. At least she was decent enough to give the villagers of Shaihshire a choice, he thought.

"I will leave this matter in your hands Elder Terrakeep," Jayde said.

"Cough, ah, of course, my lady," Elder Terrakeep agreed.

"Ah, when will your clan's leader be arriving to oversee the oath taking?" Elder Terrakeep asked.

Jayde smiled faintly. "You are looking at her."

Maianna squirmed in her chair, looking over each person in turn. Jayde's words had a profound effect. Elder Terrakeep opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, sitting back to stare dazedly at Jayde.

Finally, Elder Terrakeep shook his head slightly. "YOU the clan leader?" he asked his voice incredulous.

"Uh-huh."

"Oh!" Elder Terrakeep muttered. He had no idea what else he could say. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined the young woman sitting in front of him was a clan leader. Although if he knew that Jayde was only a clan leader of a clan that only had her as a member, he most likely would have fainted on the spot.

While Elder Terrakeep was digesting the news of Jayde being a clan leader, Takara who has currently lounging on Jayde's shoulders nearly fell off when he heard Jayde claiming to be a clan leader. Only his charge would have the audacity to claim to be a clan leader of a nonexistent clan, he thought. While a small part of Takara wanted to shout out not be deceived by this young girl, the more substantial part was gleefully cheering at how audacious his young charge was.

Jayde gave Elder Terrakeep a couple of minutes to digest the news before she turned and gave him a cool, assessing look.

"Elder Terrakeep," Jayde said. "Now that you have heard a part of our plans, I need to know if you are willing to take the blood oath?"

Elder Terrakeep froze. "I..."

"I will," a female voice interrupted.

"Me too," a young boy's voice chirped in.

"Same here," Maianna said.

"I want to," Nova pipped in.

"Nova!" Ash rebuked.

Jayde's head jerked around at the sound of the female voice. Taera was standing in the doorway to the courtyard, Camryn her son was standing next to her holding her hand.

Elder Terrakeep's head had also jerked around at the sound of his granddaughter's voice.

"Taera," Elder Terrakeep said. "This is no joking matter—"

"Grandfather I know, I overheard Lady Jayde conversation," Taera said softly, a resolute look in her eyes she turned to Jayde.

"Lady Jayde, please, I want to join the Centauri clan. While I don't have much to offer, I am willing to learn. Please give me a chance," Taera begged.

"Child..." Elder Terrakeep said helplessly looking at his granddaughter.

"Grandfather please, I want to part of this. No, I NEED to be part of this," Taera said firmly.

Jayde looked at the young woman standing in front of her. Seeing the determined look on her face. Jayde smiled softly at Taera as she stood up and walked to stand in front of Taera.

"I will be honored to accept your pledge," Jayde said.

Taera's whole face lit up at Jayde's statement, smiling tremulously, Taera immediately knelt down.

"By my own free will, I Taera Terrakeep hereby swear my life and soul to the Centauri clan and my undying loyalty to my clan leader Jayde Centauri. I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Centauri clan, and will perform my duties and the instructions of my clan leader to the best of my abilities."

Unsheathing her dagger, she slashed the palm of her left hand. Fisting her sliced hand, she held it over the blade and allowed three drops of blood to fall on the dagger.

"This I do swear with my own life's blood. I do ask that this vow be witnessed."

"Witnessed," Elder Terrakeep agreed solemnly.

"Witnessed," the other people in the room echoed.

The blade in Taera's hand glowed brightly for an instant before fading away. Taera rose to her feet and offered Jayde the dagger, hilt first.

Taking the dagger from Taera, Jayde then sliced her own palm. Fisting her sliced hand over the blade, Jayde allowed three drops of her own blood to drip onto the bade.

"I, Jayde Centauri, clan leader of the Centauri hereby accept Taera Terrakeep in my safekeeping, and that I will defend and protect the Centauri clan to the best of my abilities."

The blade in Jayde's hand flashed a bright golden color for an instant before fading away.

"Welcome to the Centauri clan Taera Centauri," Jayde said smiling softly.

Taera fisted her right hand and held it over her heart. "Clan Leader," Taera said as she bowed, blinking furiously to hide the tears in her eyes.

With his granddaughter taking the blood oath, Elder Terrakeep also quickly knelt and offered his own pledge. Maianna and Camryn followed. When Nova tried to step up, Ash knocked him on his head and harshly told him to think before acting, by making the same oath, he would be leaving the Cloudswift clan.

After a whispered conversation Raven, Ash, and Nova took a different oath. They swore to never reveal the secrets of the Centauri clan or Shaihshire. They also shocked Jayde by declaring to defend the Centauri clan against her enemies.

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