Chapter 8: An offer you can't refuse...

Cool, humid air hung heavy in the corridor. Dark grey water-soaked stone shed rivulets of water, creating eerie echoes, beckoning like forgotten ghosts from darkened hallways. Ancient blue crystal torches flickered and pulsed from pockmarked iron sconces blackened by the ravages of time.

General Ecbert moved in a straight line, perfectly centered, never looking back, while Riley and Tobias scurried after him.

“I think we’re below the hill. How far down do you think this goes?” Riley asked, projecting toward Tobias alone.

“I honestly don’t know, Riley,” Tobias replied with a thought.

As if in answer, a large and ancient iron door came into view.

Ecbert reached into a small dimensional bag that sparkled with magic to their eyes and retrieved a weathered key unlike anything either had seen before.

It was a large crystal skeleton key. Artful filigree full of geometric sigils and designs danced down the shaft, with a central core of magic pulsing, sending prismatic bursts of light through it.

Tobias’ eyes widened with hers in wonder as a bracket appeared around it.

Key of Avalon

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You lack the understanding of magic necessary to identify this item.

“What?” Tobias exclaimed, intrigued and surprised.

“Quiet, when I want you to speak, I’ll order you to speak,” General Ecbert snapped.

“You’re just being mean for meanness’ sake,” Riley said, keeping her voice far from Ecbert while hopping between Tobias and the general.

The key turned in the lock effortlessly, animating an ancient geometric symbol that glowed to life as the magic flowed through its ancient channels. The door swung open of its own accord, giving way to a large chamber made of light sandy stone.

White crystal glowed brighter than the blue that illuminated the hallway, causing Riley to blink against the sudden luminous assault.

Instinctively, she rose, dragging her paws over her eyes, only to smear mud from her wet paws over her face.

She shook her head, spitting, “I’m going to need another bath,”

In a comforting gesture, Tobias placed his hand gently between her ears just as the revelation struck him.

“This chamber, Riley, it looks like the same stone that made up Hedwig’s temple in the sewers!” He projected as Ecbert strode in.

“It does... but we’re still in the same place,” she marveled, scanning the doorpost for strange words.

“Ancient ruins, we’re probably on top of an old burial ground; this is some horror movie bull shit,” Riley glowered.

Tobias, in spite of himself, chuckled, causing the old general to glance back over his shoulder.

“Come, pets!” Ecbert shouted, moving towards a strange dais set in the center. A black, meteorite-like stone was set atop it.

Riley stopped as her nose twitched and Tobias’ sword materialized in his hand.

“Wait, uh, sir, I smell blood, old blood, but it’s strong!” Riley cautioned, bracing for an attack.

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Ecbert turned as the eyebrow above his patch crept up, slowly drawing a dagger.

“We’re here. Before you go further, I’ll have your blood oath sworn over this sacred stone. You will swear to safeguard the secrets of our order, on threat of true harm to your life, magic, and soul,” a curious and evil smile marred his face.

“We’re probably too deep to hear the thunder and the eerie music,” Riley quipped.

Tobias stiffened, “A blood oath? Sir, would not swearing on our spirit be enough?”

“Only a traitor need fear, boy. Is your honor not worth swearing on yer life?” Ecbert challenged.

“Wait, that thing will kill us? How about no,” Riley backed away.

“A sworn oath can break you from your magic if violated. A blood oath broken will take your life. It’s a death curse, Riley, an ancient one. This is deep magic,” Tobias explained.

“Rangers, step forward and take your oath!” Ecbert’s voice rose to a shout.

Tobias, moving by instinct, took a step forward, only for Riley to block his path, “What if we say no?”

Ecbert looked at them with cold resolve, “You two still don’t understand what you are as first-tier. You’re either loyal, or you’re a threat. A first-tier gone rogue could level the kingdom. Do you not remember Dame Morgana in the attack on Ranger Central? She was a noble without a fraction of your power, and yet she still decimated your corps. This is necessary. It’s for the Ashen throne. You keep our secrets, you swear your loyalty, or you die.”

“That’s not a choice!” Riley balked.

“It is a choice, pet, just one you don’t like, which is of no concern to me. Now, step forward. I don’t want to have to put you down,” Ecebert braced, his hand drifted towards his sword, all while a curious sadness wrang from within his words.

A bracket appeared around the old general.

General Ecbert, Lawful Neutral, 1-10, Elite

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Level disparity prevents further analysis.

Tobias stiffened, then looked down at Riley.

‘I don’t see a way out here.’

“I don’t either, but I don’t want to die... again,” Riley projected back, looking down the corridor, then toward the stone.

Ecbert took a breath, seemingly forcing his body to relax, holding up his hands.

“All I want is for you two to swear your loyalty to the Greyblades and keep our secrets, and all will be well. We all swear this oath, even me,” the old general slowly removed the glove from his right hand, holding up his palm to show an ancient X-shaped scar that crossed it.

“We can run. It won’t be easy, and we might not make it, but I’m with you,” Riley offered, speaking to Tobias alone.

“But what of my parents? What of Justinian or the hunt for Chadrick? If we swear, we keep them safe. If we run, everyone we know or care about is under threat. They can’t run,” Tobias sighed, all as his hand tightened into a fist.

Ecbert replaced his glove and stiffened in the silence, “Decide!”

Tobias stared at the stone, his heart speeding up while anger bubbled and raged inside.

“I can feel how much this tears you up. It tears me up, too. This is a hostage situation, and it’s three hundred levels of wrong, but I’m with you, Tobias, no matter what,” Riley hopped forward, only for Tobias to pass her.

A familiar black blade appeared in his hand. Sheathing it with his palm, he pulled and thrust out his bloody hand.

“Is this what you wanted?” He winced through the pain, his face turning ashen white as his blood dripped on the stone.

Ecbert grabbed him by the wrist and pressed his hand to the stone.

A pulse of dark mana began to beat like a heart, sending eerie waves of magic that caused them both to shutter.

'This is my duty. This will keep them safe.’

His internal words echoed in Riley’s soul like a prayer.

“Me next. Me next!” Riley quipped, with sarcasm dripping from her words, drawing up to Tobias and holding out her paw.

‘I’m with you. You aren’t alone,’ she whispered across their bond.

Ecbert stooped without a word, pulling from a dagger at his belt, seizing Riley’s offered paw, and slicing quickly.

“That’s a sting. That’s gonna need a stitch... Ow, ow, ow,” her body tensed as every instinct bid her to run. Biting back the panic, she craned on her hindpaws as the sound of her blood hitting the stone filled her sensitive ears.

Ecbert grumbled and pressed her paw to the stone, forcing the hare up on her tiptoes. The stone grabbed, sending an electric pulse through her, holding her in place as a prompt flared to life.

You have shed your blood over a death stone.

“Oh fuck me,” she growled.

“Do you two swear your loyalty to the Greyblades? Do you swear to keep our secrets and hold sacred the trust given to you, honoring your service at the cost of your very lives?” Ecbert intoned.

“Trust? What trust?” Riley said, the dam holding back her sarcasm breaking.

Ecbert bellowed, “Do you so swear!!!”

‘Riley, not smart,’ Tobias’ breath caught as the weight bore down on his soul, “I... I so swear.”

This will keep them safe. This is my duty.

Her ears drooped at the rebuke, “I so swear,” Riley added, her whole body quivering.

You have sworn an oath upon a death stone. It can only be broken at the cost of your own life.

Secret ability unlocked “Reaper’s Warning”

Reaper’s Warning, Passive.

If your actions or words begin to test your oath, a warning will be issued before judgment falls.

The stone pulsed three times, sending out a wave of purple light as strange shadows filled the room, with various silhouettes in a myriad of poses flashing against the wall before the lights suddenly brightened and a doorway appeared before them.

Ecbert nodded and then frowned as if remembering himself.

“This is how it must be done. We do not choose our duty; we rise to meet it, or we fall. United in purpose, we bleed, and we die for the Ashen Throne,” Ecbert, in an act of devotion, touched his crystal torc.

“Come, you two, follow,” He ordered, moving toward the door as Riley and Tobias looked at each other, bewildered.