“Alright, finally, your mana is back up,” Bob said after what had been at least three hours of waiting. During that time, Bob had Freya write down everything she had seen and knew about us or her vision and any potential connections and links. He even had her write any ideas or theories she had on them. He wanted everything, and I guess I sort of understood why. Maybe they wouldn’t happen, but there was no harm in knowing about potential future events, especially with Bob. He had yet to fail me in any regard really, save the crazy plan with the robbery, which still baffled me as to how we had managed it, and it wasn’t like I hadn't agreed to do it. So the blame was not solely on him.

I had considered it for some time, but while Bob interrogated Freya, I thought about the lack of defenses. Had they placed all their chips of security through obscurity or had things just not been set up? Either way, it had seemed too easy, and that left an uneasy feeling within me. Of course, it didn't help that we now had an ender and enforcers coming our way.

After the interrogation and when my mana was back up, Bob finally set about getting the oaths ready.

“Do you have food?” Freya asked, sitting cross-legged in the circle. She looked tired and very much like she was regretting her decision. If she had asked, then we’d still be careful, but we wouldn’t have treated her like this. “Any water at least?”

“I’ll go,” I said to Bob. I headed to the cottage and grabbed a water bottle and a sandwich. When I handed them to Freya, she dug in with gusto. “How long has been since you ate?”

“I had a snack bar while I waited and a few cans of coffee,” She said.

“Why not just use food pills?” I asked.

She paused in her eating, then sighed. “I did not think of that. I sort of just, came here when I found out.”

“To try and kill me.” She winced. “Yes.” I did understand why, but it didn’t change the fact of what she'd done, and that I would be dead if I hadn't opened the portal. “You said your vision pointed you this way? What did you mean? Like pointed you to kill me?”

She nodded before chugging down the entire bottle of water.

“Alright, I’m done,” Bob said, floating over. “We’re going to be doing two oaths. The first will be wholly intent-based, and as such, we won’t need to write down some complex contract, but the second will be.”

“Why two?”

“The first is the main contract to keep her mouth shut while the second is to curb any attempts at working around, which would be hard, but not impossible. Together they should lock her lips soundly. I’ve also added a stipulation that she has to message us via a secure link on the pit if she tries in any way to break either of the oaths or finds out anything else regarding the visions or has any further glimpses. Lastly, she is to provide us with DOSA information.”

“What!” Freya looked shocked. “That’s—” She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“You can, and you will, witch, else we’ll bind you.” A look of shock and fear crossed her features as her shoulder slumped. She looked close to tears. “If they find out what I'm doing, i’ll be done for.”

“Yes, just like Rick over here would have been done for if not for chance, and his rush to get here.” Bob floated over. “I’m not asking a lot, just what you see. You don't have to dig, just provide what you learn naturally, understand?”

She nodded. “Yes, how… how long will this take?”

“Not even an hour,” Bob said. “You will simply repeat after me, and when you feel a tug on your mind, afterward you’ll know what to do. If you reject, it's binding, so don’t reject.”

Bob, will no one be able to find out she’s sworn an oath?

Not easily. I’ve added safeguards, and certain actions she is to take in the event the topic is brought up, or any similar scenario which could land a target on our backs.

You mean bigger than the one that is already headed our way.

Yes. You know I’m sorry about that, right?

I do. It’s just that, everything is going fairly well. I mean, some bad stuff has happened, but I’ve got the others and I’m growing steadily.

Yes, well, don't hold your breath. It might very well come to a decision between life and leaving, or death and staying.

I tried not to think about his word as he began to speak. After each sentence, he paused, and Freya, with a reluctant look on her face, would repeat, sounding defeated and very much confused. The first oath took less than a minute or was more or less a simple agreement with some promises, but the second was way more complex. It was like a set of rules, guidelines, and restrictions being set on her, and with each one she agreed to, she looked more and more worried. I could sense Bob’s pull on my mana, and the pattern he was using was different than any other I’d seen.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Please no more,” Freya said in a quiet voice.

That’s quite the oath. I shall make a note of it, although I doubt I’ll get any chances to use it anytime soon.

“Don’t worry, it’s all done,” Bob said. “And don’t forget, you brought this upon yourself, witch.”

Do you have to say it like that?

What, witch?

Yeah, you say it like it's a curse.

For her, it is. I should tell you a few stories about witches. My history with them isn’t … pleasant, both the race and those who hold the title.

I looked over at Freya. Is she not just a magical human like me?

No, she’s built different. God, I can’t believe I just said that. She belongs to the race that call themselves witches, and while biologically they aren’t much different from humans, they possess metaphysical organs. It’s a benefit, but also a curse should they be attacked directly. Also, some witches are biologically very different, but that's due to magical mutation and any practitioner can go through that. You will, soon enough.

I will?

We’ve got an ender coming after us. Like I said, faster still, and we need to plan.

“Can I go now?” Freya sighed. “Please?”

I looked at Bob, who floated closer to the witch until he was inches away. He opened, then slammed shut, startling Freya. “Yes, but remember your oath.”

“How can I forget,” she muttered as I broke the circle and she walked out, her eyes downcast. I sort of felt bad, but it was better than her being dead, and us being at greater risk than we already were. “Here,” I said, opening a portal next to her. “That should bring you to the hotel room. I’m… I’m sorry, Freya, but it was either this or death.”

She didn't say anything and left through the portal. I snapped it closed, and then sighed. “What a mess, Bob. What did she write down?” Bob floated over to me. “A lot, some of which is worrying while most is just single sentences which might mean something, but I have little context for. I’ll try and piece it all together, but for now, I think it’s time we talk about what’s gotten us in such deep shit.”

“The page.”

“Yes.” He turned to Uliena and Litra. “You two need to go.”

Why, what secret are you two about to share?

“One that doesn't concern you,” Bob said, his voice deadly serious.

Fine, fine. She grabbed Litra and they walked off, chatting together. Litra glanced back, then said something to Uliena which made her laugh by the way her back arched slightly, and body shook. It was odd how sometimes her body acted as though she had a head.

Magic.

“Alright, Bob, What’s so important about the page?”

“The Lost Page of Liberty holds important information, Rick.” He put emphasis on my name, which he only ever used in serious situations when all of the humor was gone. “It holds a set of planar coordinates and the method to use them, along with some other important information.”

“Coordinates to where.”

“It’s—” Bob hesitated. “I’ll tell you, but just the name. It leads to The Dream.”

I blinked. “The dream of what?”

“Of everything,” he said, his voice quiet. I had never heard Bob sound so… meek? No, not meek; afraid, and hopeful? “What I’m trying to say, Rick. Is that this page is a guide to a place that is very important and dear to me.”

“And you can’t tell me more why?”

“A lot of reasons, but mainly because it’s too early, and you don’t need that type of information on your mind.”

Bob had told me of all manner of things and secrets, and most of the time he didn’t go into detail because I didn’t really need to know just yet, not because I shouldn’t. This was the first time he hadn’t wanted to tell me something. I could read in his voice, a note of pleading. If I pushed he’d tell me, but he was clearly asking me not to. “Alright, Bob, but one day.”

“If we make it to that day.”

“When,” I said. “When we make it.”

His pages fluttered. “That’s the spirit. Higher than the heavens.”

I smiled. “Higher than the heavens.”

****

As Freya walked home, she wondered why her visions had betrayed her so, and why she had been led to kill him when there had been another, better option. Unless, the attempt and failure was the best outcome. Freya didn't know and normally it didn’t bother her as much, but this time, the effect on her, personally, was great. She was bound by two oaths, soul oaths at that. Both deep, and with her life on the line as payment should she break either. And the other requirements that talking tome had put on her.

As she held a hand out to a cab, she stared up at the sky, hoping that she hadn’t just made a terrible mistake.