A favor

The woman, no...Sylvese, looks down at the scales that are in her lap. After a moment, it once more tipped to the side of the silver bar before righting itself. Smiling, she nodded before looking back to Marius.

“A favor, that is all. To take care of a matter that involves the both of us.”

Well, that was serious sounding. However, before they got too deep into that, there was something that Marius needed to know.

“Excuse me, my masters. But, before that I must know...what was that blessing the Vampire took from the girl?”

Sylvese frowned at the mention of that as Jaris’s voice resounded...sounding unpleased, “A blessing of health and rejuvenation given by a barbaric fae spirit. A vile crime against a vile sinner.”

Sylvese then sighed, “The child was sickly coming out of the womb...she would have died if not for the blessing from a spirit-god residing in the nearby glade by her village.”

The Rune Blade looked crestfallen by that knowledge and looked down. He thought for a moment before remembering something, “The creature mentioned not being ready. I think she was hoping to gain immunity from the sun, and possibly other weaknesses that Vampires have.”

Sylvese nodded, “Then it is good you stopped it. Sinner or not, she would have kept collecting souls afterwards to accomplish her goal. The crime from stealing from any god, no matter the origin, must be punished.”

Speaking of souls, Marius’s thoughts went to that poor girl whose soul is trapped in that pendant, going through a **** he could never fathom. He gripped the sheets he was on.

“How...long was I out for?”

The goddess, feeling his pain, simply said, “A couple days...the fight really wore you out. The girl will nee-“

She was interrupted as the scale dipped to the iron circlet, “Enough! We have talked long enough about blasphemous souls. We have more important things to discuss.”

Marius snuck a look to Sylvese, seeing that she was downtrodden at Jaris’s words. She cared for the well-being of the girl’s soul. This goddess did take on the form one finds in the perfect lover, personality and all.

No matter the sins that were committed of getting aid from a fae spirit, that was the parents’ decision, not the girl’s. And now she was punished with a fate worse than ****, which the only salvation was oblivion.

Releasing his grasp from the sheets, Marius sighed and looked to Sylvese and the scales. He nodded his head, “Of course, my apologies. I just needed to know the purpose of the murders so I could accurately report to my brethren and Mistress. Forgive me for stalling your divine favor.”

Sylvese gave him a soft, sad smile...still on the same emotional wavelength as him. She nodded before continuing on with what she was saying in the beginning.

“There is a child both Jaris and I share, and she is very dear and important to us, and the things to come. Already there are things in the shadows moving against her, wishing to see her fail in her quests.”

Jaris’s even yet still authoritative voice rang, “Her successes will give way to a new order, and fundamental changes to justice in the empire. Naturally there are those that are opposed to and would be upset and disgusted by this, even those within my own cults.”

The Rune Blade narrowed his eyes, “I believe I have heard talk about this. And what is it that you want me to do? Protect her?”

There was a general silence for a moment before Sylvese shook her head, “Nothing too drastic, my love. We simply wish to see her succeed and need an agent we can trust to help her do so. You need not be by her side at all times, but simply intervene when you see or hear anything that might be working against her, if within your power. And if you could endear her to an Inquisitor, it could give her operations some validity and provide her proper protection when you aren’t around.”

Well, it certainly didn’t sound difficult. Just make sure she didn’t get sabotaged by outside forces while he did his job. And as a Rune Blade, he did have some say so among the Inquisitors, though he didn’t like their...methods, most of the time. And he was always in good graces with his High Inquisitor Matron.

Marius then looked back to Sylvese, “I will do as you ask. But how will I find this woman? I don’t know her name or where she is.”

Sylvese just smiled, “Your Madame Inquisitor already has plans for you involving her. Just go home and you will be set on your path.”

Then Sylvese lifted herself from the seat she was sat upon and leaned towards him. Surprised by this happening, Marius couldn’t move against her as she locked him into a warm, loving kiss. Inside of his head, he could hear her.

“Work hard and fight well, dear child. Go forth knowing my eternal love is with you.”

And then Marius’s eyes opened again. He saw the clear blue sky and green treetops through the hole in the cave’s ceiling. It was quiet, the forest barren of animals due to the ruckus of the fight, the collapse of the ground, and the dark aura of the Vampire’s magic still around.

Marius closed his eyes again and let out a tired sigh...