Returning to Sarvas Part 8 - Confidence

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“That’s… very decisive of you,” Ahsch croaked in between sips of water, his eyes burning as he looked at Ivrine.

The satyr shrugged. “You offer us a way forward that does not involve angering the Kingdom, with virtually everything we could ask for. It is possible that this is some convoluted ploy, but to what end I could not guess, and Xitia, Felori, and I all agree that you seem trustworthy. If we are to become your shield, then we must know what we might possibly be shielding you from, thus your openness with myself and another of my herd; and by breeding five of our number, a bond will be formed - as the Prophet of a god of bonds, I suspect that is significant for you.”

Ahsch took a deep swig of water, swallowed heavily, and cleared his throat a few times. “I wasn’t complaining, per se,” he said. “I’m just… surprised.” He took a deep breath and looked around at the two dozen satyrs, then back to Ivrine. “Yourself and one other…” he mused. “Did you have someone in mind? Or, actually, did you have multiple someones in mind for both parts of this arrangement.”

Not that I’m complaining, but you’re agreeing to this quite fast, Ariin said. Especially for you.

I’m not thrilled about knocking up five virtual strangers, Ahsch admitted, but the deal makes sense and with Parental Mastery, I can ensure they have daughters. For now, at least.

“Xitia or Felori would be my choice for your second confidante,” Ivrine was saying, “Though I would trust _any _of my herd to keep secrets. As for whom you breed…” she trailed off, looking around at her fellow satyrs. “Any of my herd would be eager for your seed, and we raise our children communally, so choosing based on who would ‘make a good mother’ is moot.” She turned back to Ahsch. “Pick five of your fancy. At some point, should our arrangement hold, I expect every member of my herd will have been impregnated by you at least once.”

The hrafthi was dumbstruck for a second as the thought went through his mind - a father two-_dozen _times over - but he shook his head and nodded. Glancing between Ivrine’s two assistants, stalled out for a moment, then sighed. “I will bring all three of you into my confidence, on one condition - a condition that holds no matter how many or who among your herd learns these secrets: you swear a binding oath, seen by Enochiel, to keep the secrets I share, even should we go our separate ways.”

Ivrine stared hard at Ahsch for a long moment, then turned to Xitia and Felori in turn, receiving nods from the other two satyrs. Turning back to the hrafthi, she nodded. “We agree.”

Nodding in return, Ahsch closed his eyes in concentration, focusing Enochiel’s domain of bonds. Then, opening his eyes, “Speak your oath.”

The three satyrs' eyes went wide at the power in his voice, and others within easy earshot looked over sharply as well. Recovering quickly, Ivrine placed a hand over her heart and said, “I swear to maintain the confidence of Ahsch, Prophet of Enochiel, and to keep the secrets he is to share with me, should we unify in accord or part in enmity.”

Ahsch nodded once, then turned to Xitia and Felori in turn, both of whom repeated the quote. As the auburn-haired satyr finished, Ahsch relaxed, and the power, the gnosis that had been present faded, yet the four knew that the oaths were binding.

With a deep breath, Ahsch stood, gesturing for the three to follow. “Come. There’s a place more appropriate - and private - for this discussion.”

With the satyrs in tow, Ahsch - and Mahat, who accompanied her Master in her beast form - led the way through the forest, a casual push of his consciousness allowing the five of them through to the park he had sequestered away from his guests.

As they emerged into the open area and onto the asphalt parking lot, the satyrs frowned, at the dark material underhoof, at the changed trees that enclosed the park, and at the playground itself. “What is this place?” Felori murmured.

“A place from another life,” Ahsch said. “From another world.” On a whim, he frowned at the swingset, imagining it shifting… and so it was, with five sets of swings in a pentangle. Sitting on one, he chuckled, then gestured to the other swings. “Go ahead,” he said. “Just sit and swing your weight forward and backwards.”

Xitia and Felori glanced at Ivrine for guidance, who nodded to her herdmates, but paced around her own swing briefly before frowning at Ahsch. “For what purpose?”

Ahsch laughed quietly. “Nostalgia,” he said simply, already gently swinging himself. Then he glanced at where Mahat was almost making a 180-degree arc, a manic grin on her face, and laughed louder. “For fun,” he added.

Unlike Ahsch’s familiar, the other four only rocked back and forth gently. “You said ‘another life,’” Xitia said slowly. “And ‘another world.’ What does that mean?”

The hrafthi met her green gaze and gave a wry smile. “Exactly what it sounds like.” Then he took a deep breath. “I’m not originally from Euphoria. In my first life, I was born Mitchel Cohen, on a world called Earth…”

After yet another retelling of Ahsch’s past life and gifts, and all the questions posed had been answered, silence reigned in the altered playground swingset. Silence save for the squeaking of metal hinges grinding against their housing. An oddly nostalgic sound, Ahsch found.

“You do not seem a god,” Xitia finally said.

The hrafthi laughed. “That’s because I’m not. In a very real way, due to my… hesitance, I am not Enochiel. Not yet, at least. Some members of the other religions of the Kingdom noticed the discrepancy between my gnosis from faith and my gnosis as a divinity myself, and it caused some problems, but that itself is a good indicator of where things stand. Enochiel is real, and he’s bound - no pun intended - to arrive sooner or later, but I’m not Enochiel yet.”

“And what does that entail for our arrangement?” Felori asked.

Ahsch shrugged. “Divine perks? I’m honestly not certain, there is a lot I’m still figuring out about becoming a god and all of the crap I have access to. At the very least, the herd is guaranteed to get the benefits of anything I learn or acquire earlier than a lot of other people.”

She nodded, then turned her attention to Ivrine. “What do you think, herd queen?”