The Offer

JP with Omni, Jaxx and Winteroak

Timestamp: Ostiarium Plains

The old woman smiled. Her early words had obviously made an impression. Now she had to consider what price her answer could command.

"I will tell you want you want to know... but in return I want something specific from you." She started slowly. "A day is coming when I will need your sword and when that day comes you will heed my summons without hesitation." She offered.

Hunter looked at Voah and spoke up, “So knowledge of the sword in return for a blind favor? You know she could ask for anything like killing babies or killing your own people.

Voah bit the inside of her lip. "Let's say my companion is right, what happens should I refuse to come or am physically unable to do so?" Voah looked between the two. "Something tells me I'll find out when it happens."

She sighed. "The price of my sword is higher than what you offer."

"The price of your sword and services pales in comparison to the story of your sword." She told Voah with such conviction that the Arbiter was taken aback.

Hunter then asked, “You seem to be very wise since you have seen a lot in your time. How many gods exist and who are they?”

Voah wasn't sure if he was asking for her or for himself.

Omen looked at Hunter with a curious expression in her face. "I will be happy to answer your questions if you care to strike a bargain." She said grinning. "If you still don't want to sacrifice a piece of you for knowledge, you should let the growm-ups speak." She said, wondering why the young assassin seemed to miss obvious cues in conversation.

Omen was a mystery and she knew much, the limits of which Voah could not know without continuing on. So far, nothing had come across as dishonest and she was starting to be swayed. There was always the option to investigate the sword's origins but Voah knew that wasn't really practical. For one thing, it would involve a long voyage back to Helias or several letters of correspondence of years and even then, the secrets, if there were any, had probably been long concealed.

At the very least, Omen knew that there was something dark about the sword's past and Voah wanted... no, needed... to know.

"You still haven't told me what happens, should I default on our accord..."

Hunter noticed the response from the old lady as well as her tone and body language. He had annoyed her enough to be talked to as a child. The old lady was very strict when it came to her deals. Nothing was free and the price was high. He was concerned that Voah would change if she took any deal from the old lady.

"I don't believe you would renege on your word, Arbiter." She told her truthfully. "But if you did your life would be forfeited."

"...Understood." Voah nodded, then looked at Hunter, wondering what he thought of her. She was not being a good Arbiter. Hadn't been for a while now. But she hoped what she was teaching Hunter felt as right to him as it felt to her.

"Very well, Maja... I beg your pardon, Omen... I accept your offer." Voah said with determination.

Hunter looked at Voah with concern but he knew she was not taking this decision lightly. He spoke up to her, “I guess I will have to support you after this.”

Voah gave him a solemn smile.

The old woman reached into her belt reaching for a small leather pouch. She placed it on front of her. The fire flared and burned brightly. The heat coming from it almost unbearable. The three men continued the drumming and by know the cadence of it matched your beating hearts and completely covered the noises of the Plains beyond. In fact if you looked around it was almost like nothing else existed beyond the glare of the light.

"We have a struck a bargain. Understand this, you cannot conquer fear by running away from it." She said and Voah Sahnsuur felt herself being drawn to Omen. "Your sword is old. It has bathed in the blood of countless bodies. Even sheathed it emanates terror. It was the first of its kind. A new weapon forged at the dusk of the Holocaust of Helias. It paved the way for the slaughter of magik weavers that lasts to this day..." She told Voah moving her hand to the young woman's forehead.