"Don't attack Alva. Don't hurt anyone, unless they try to hurt you."

I looked at that dark impulse, the demonic nature, and I fought it down. I would only influence her to the point of safety, for myself and for other people, and no further. I wouldn't seize her mind, or make a toy of her, or make her something different.

I had sworn not to be a monster, and that might be impossible; it was simply in my nature to corrupt and devour. Alva had made that abundantly clear, and while the Dryad might be a **** to her nature I wasn't willing to bow to mine. I had sworn not to be a monster, and while I wasn't human I would create lines and refuse to cross them.

Merchants were a creature that thrived by the letter of the law. We followed our contracts and kept to our word, our honor binding customers to us and keeping them from other options. That was also part of my nature, bred rather than born, but it was the part I had chosen.

I pulled out of the Dryad and set her down gently, my hands once again pink and lined with a faint blue.

I looked back towards the forest, the scent of smoke still heavy in the air, and found an odd radiance. A tower of light surrounded the area where the fire had raged, and Alva stood between us and it. Her sword was still drawn, and her cloak quivered in the breeze. I pulled myself together, dressing quickly and pushing my hair from my eyes, and walked towards her.

"It's fucking bright."

"Better than the fire."

"Couldn't the witch have seen this?" I asked, watching as the pillar began to fall. I noted furrows on the ground from which the light rose, tilting my head. "Whatever 'this' is."

"Better than the fire." Alva looked over at the Dryad; she was still on the ground, idly running her hands down her body. "I trust that will behave? I will kill it the next time it pulls something like this."

"She will." I nodded my head at the light. "What is this?"

"Sanctuary." Alva said, tracing a double-barred cross. "It rejects evil influence and prevents **** within it's confines. Your power is tainted, so even the fire was driven away."

"Useful." I said, examining the area. "Is it hard to do?"

"It's a miracle." Alva shrugged. "If you receive it from the Goddess, then you can do it."

"But, that's none of my business." I sighed. "Since your goddess nonsense will burn my eyes out, or something like that."

"Ikarus." Alva glared. "Show some respect."

"Right, right. Praise be." I drew the same cross with a flourish. "Shall we continue?"