The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2 novel Chapter 78

Part 13

“Now as I was saying, I’m sure the relationship between your people and mine will be beneficial to us all. Through us, you are joining the wider society in the world, and your isolation can end when the time-bubble ends. You’ll have the chance to travel the world, to see all the wonders of it, and to take part in society in any way you choose, within the limits of the laws of The Just Alliance.

“Most important of all, we’ll all have the best possible chance to defeat the demons.

“Now,” he said as he held out his hand and Helemia gave him the stone, “We will swear binding oaths upon The Truthstone of Falgaroth.

“I swear that we of the community of Homestead on the Islands of Hiliani, of the nation of Hilia and of The Just Alliance, will provide the Sylvan of Hiliani with the training and facilities to maximize their military potential, and will ensure their well-being as best we are able for as long as we are responsible for them. As soon as we have sufficiently trained enough senior officers among the Sylvan to allow them to assume command of the Hiliani Sylvan, we will allow them to do so, contingent upon their continuation of the military and social systems we have emplaced, until the threat of attack by demons on Kellaran has been eliminated. We will abide by the land use agreement that was discussed yesterday, allocating twenty-three of Hiliani’s twenty-seven islands for Sylvan use. All of this that I have sworn will be known among us of Homestead as Valentia’s Vow, for Vice-Governor Valentia, who chose the wording. All of us will be able to conveniently swear this vow on the stone by stating; ‘I swear Valentia’s Vow’, and every citizen of Homestead will do so, this I so swear.”

There was a bright blue flash of light from the stone as the binding took effect, then he handed it to Senior Dolimatbene.

“I swear that we of the Sylvan of Hiliani will not act against the citizens of Homestead, and that we will abide by the military and social systems that you have emplaced.” she stated. “We will abide by the land agreement, and will not trespass upon the four islands reserved for non-Sylvan without permission. This vow shall be in power until the threat of the demons that now approach Kellaran has been eliminated. This vow shall be known among us of the Hiliani Sylvan as Plozofen’s Promise, allowing us to conveniently swear this vow on the stone by stating; ‘I swear Plozofen’s Promise’.”

Mark held his hand out for the stone as the blue light flashed again. “I swear Valentia’s Vow.

“I swear that the spell I am now casting on the stone will do no more and no less than to allow any citizen of Homestead who wishes to do so to swear Valentia’s Vow upon it by merely touching the stone.

“I swear that the spell I am now casting on the stone will do no more and no less than to allow any Sylvan of Hiliani who wishes to do so to swear Plozofen’s Promise upon it by merely touching the stone.

“I swear that the spell I am now casting on the stone will do no more and no less than to place the mark of Hiliani upon the bodies of any who swear Valentia’s Vow or Plozofen’s Promise upon it, making the marking of the size and on the location preferred by those who have sworn, and making it known to those who observe them that they have sworn the vow.”

The stone flashed blue after every vow he swore, and the symbol of Hiliani that had been displayed in the big Revealing appeared on his left arm two centimeters high, close to the marks from the other vows he’d sworn. Then he gave the stone to Valentia, who was holding her hand out for it. It flashed blue as soon as it touched her.

“I swear Valentia’s Vow.” she said anyway, then giggled.

“I swear that the spell I am now casting on the stone will do no more and no less than to make it fly around touching people until it’s touched everyone on Hiliani, casting the appropriate vow and instilling the marking on those it touches, then return to Prince Mark.”

It flashed blue again and took off as soon as she released it, darting around and touching everyone else on the platform in a quick series of blue flashes, then it was down in the crowd.