"A Dark Bargain" - Part 1
David Potter
“You know what must be done, Anneke.” The archmage Rhonin
spoke firmly, but not without a hint of regret in his voice.
Anneke slowly nodded. She remained silent; she hadn't spoken a word to any of the Kirin Tor since she returned to their city, Dalaran. She kept her gaze down, avoiding eye contact with Rhonin. At this point, all she wished was to be able to say “I'm sorry,” and then to leave this disconcerting city to see Devin again. She tried to tell herself, fuck the Kirin Tor, let them go on in ignorance, but, amidst all of Anneke's racing thoughts, she couldn't shake the fear – nope, the fact – that her future looked a lot bleaker from this point.
Rhonin took a deep breath. He looked to the Kirin Tor guards standing on either side of the door leading out of the small bedroom that Anneke had spent the past week in. “Leave us for a minute.”
“Sir-”
“Don't be concerned. No matter the nature of her magic, those bindings will prevent her from invoking any arcane spells.”
The guards nodded, and then quickly left the room. After the door closed, Rhonin looked to Anneke with a look of frustration. “God damn it Anne,” the archmage sighed. “No matter what the Kirin Tor do with you, we don't have to be enemies.”
Anneke remained silent. How could she be okay with – let alone respect – any one in an order whom was going to banish her on an outdated principle?
Rhonin kept looking Anneke in her blankly-staring brown eyes. “I know you, Anneke. At least I think I do. I know you have reasons for what you did... who you are.”
No words.
Rhonin sighed once more. He took a step towards Anneke, and lowered his voice: “I also know that you now command more power than most of the Kirin Tor. But Anne, please... what are you trying to do with it?”
The archmage was starting to get to Anneke. He was getting too close...
“Does this have to do with Aesiri Meliamne?”
Anneke froze at the mention of that name.
“Why? Why go that far?”
For the first time since returning to Dalaran, Anneke looked Rhonin in the eyes. “At first...” she started. She was forcing her words out; earlier, she swore to herself that she wouldn't tell the Kirin Tor anything. “...It was to be better. But you saw me then... In the end, it was to save her life, your life... everyone.”
Anneke slowly nodded. She remained silent; she hadn't spoken a word to any of the Kirin Tor since she returned to their city, Dalaran. She kept her gaze down, avoiding eye contact with Rhonin. At this point, all she wished was to be able to say “I'm sorry,” and then to leave this disconcerting city to see Devin again. She tried to tell herself, fuck the Kirin Tor, let them go on in ignorance, but, amidst all of Anneke's racing thoughts, she couldn't shake the fear – nope, the fact – that her future looked a lot bleaker from this point.
Rhonin took a deep breath. He looked to the Kirin Tor guards standing on either side of the door leading out of the small bedroom that Anneke had spent the past week in. “Leave us for a minute.”
“Sir-”
“Don't be concerned. No matter the nature of her magic, those bindings will prevent her from invoking any arcane spells.”
The guards nodded, and then quickly left the room. After the door closed, Rhonin looked to Anneke with a look of frustration. “God damn it Anne,” the archmage sighed. “No matter what the Kirin Tor do with you, we don't have to be enemies.”
Anneke remained silent. How could she be okay with – let alone respect – any one in an order whom was going to banish her on an outdated principle?
Rhonin kept looking Anneke in her blankly-staring brown eyes. “I know you, Anneke. At least I think I do. I know you have reasons for what you did... who you are.”
No words.
Rhonin sighed once more. He took a step towards Anneke, and lowered his voice: “I also know that you now command more power than most of the Kirin Tor. But Anne, please... what are you trying to do with it?”
The archmage was starting to get to Anneke. He was getting too close...
“Does this have to do with Aesiri Meliamne?”
Anneke froze at the mention of that name.
“Why? Why go that far?”
For the first time since returning to Dalaran, Anneke looked Rhonin in the eyes. “At first...” she started. She was forcing her words out; earlier, she swore to herself that she wouldn't tell the Kirin Tor anything. “...It was to be better. But you saw me then... In the end, it was to save her life, your life... everyone.”
