Chapter Six: Impossible Accord

"I cannot sign this." The words hoarsely escaped my throat as the quill began to shake in my grip.

A long suffering sigh reached my ears. "We have discussed this Corisande. The matter is decided.”

"You do not understand. I have seen this document before, during my Ascension.”

Rhuesia's interest seemed to pique for the first time since I'd arrived on the balcony. "If memory serves, that is the ceremony where witches are gifted a glimpse of their future.”

I nodded.

"What did you see?”

Swallowing hard, I uttered "My death. At the hands of my fiancé.”

There was silence for far too long, before a soft murmuring interrupted the quiet. "It must have been wrong.”

The quill broke in my grasp as I whirled to face her, eyes blazing at the mere thought. "They are not wrong. No witch ever had a vision that did not come to pass.”

Rhuesia as ever, was unreadable. "It is wrong. It must be. I cannot understand why the Prince would kill you. Believe me when I say to you Corisande, they need you more than you need them.”

    Her use of "believe me" fanned my ire, considering she had just disregarded a long and well documented tradition as well as Nicneven herself. "The visions are never wrong." I said, confidence and severity lacing my words.

"Be that as it may, you are given but a glimpse of your future. Who is to say the man you saw was definitely your betrothed?”

"Though all the signs certainly point to him being my killer," I spat angrily, tired of her constant doubt over something she well knew to be true, "your theory suggests I'm to die at the Palace regardless.”  

She was quiet again for a moment as she contemplated. "Perhaps your vision was a sign that there is more going on in the Royal household than we know. Maybe it is an omen that they need your help.”

My mouth dropped open at the mere suggestion. "This is what you use to justify what I have told you? I expected better of the Clan Leader than avarice." Bearing my teeth, I let out a growl. Such behaviour in the face of Rhuesia was an insult, but right now I didn't care. The real insult was the excuses she was making. She damn well knew that the visions of witches always came to pass. It was impossible mine would be the first incorrect vision since time began.

"You are intelligent Corisande as well as resourceful. The truth maybe that there is no escaping your fate. But I have no doubt you are the only witch capable of altering it. You cannot run from destiny Corisande. Sign the contract and fight it face to face.”

    I almost laughed. Rhuesia had lost it. There was no changing or altering your fate. It was done. Decided. There was no choice in the matter, much like this Nicneven damned betrothal. "You know no one can change their fate.”

Rhuesia shrugged. "Then be the first. It wouldn't be the only time you've defied expectation." It was said non chalantly, as if it was obvious this should be the course of action to take.  

"I'm sorry, did I miss something in the tomes? Have the stars rewritten themselves? No one defies destiny, even if they wanted to.”

"Maybe no one has had the courage to try.”

    There was sincerity in her statement and even a ring of truth. No one would want to change a vision of pleasant things, such as home, family, friends. Visions and predictions of death were few and far between. The kind of thing people would choose not to be aware of. Therefore, without the knowledge, how could they begin to alter their course? Yes, I had had a vision of death, my own to be precise with little choice in the matter. But it had also given me a scene, a set up, rather than just presenting the actual action. I had been given the gift of seeing when it would occur and knowledge is and always would be, power. With it I could prepare and maybe, just maybe, there was a chance. I glared up at Rhuesia as my thoughts finally settled. "Anyone ever tell you that you could persuade the wings off a bird?”

"Not quite that analogy, but yes.”

"I don't agree with this. I don't want to do this. I'm going to make that very clear. But if I go to the Palace, at least I'll be better prepared for the event than waiting for death to find me here. I'll sign the contract and damn you at the same time.”

"Very well. It is not the first time I have heard that.”

      I turned back from her, picking up a shard of the broken quill still dripping with ink. Without thinking too much, I slammed the nib down, signing with a flourish. Now for the next part. I raised my thumb to my lips, piercing the flesh hard with my fangs, till a drop of blood spilled down the side and over my hand. I moved it over the paper, letting a few drops fall under my name. The contract took on a scarlet sheen for a second as the blood dried, before it faded away and became a normal parchment colour once more.

  Before I could blink, Rhuesia swooped in and snatched the contract. "I'll get this all packaged properly for your trip." Already she had wrapped it up and held it securely in her grip.

"When do I leave?”

"As soon as possible. Now that it has signed by you and sealed with blood, the contract maker will have sensed it. No doubt they are on their way to report the news to the Emperor and Empress as we speak. The Royal Clan will expect you within days I would imagine.”

Delightful. "I best start making arrangements then." I muttered sourly.

"Indeed. You are dismissed. Go and let us know when you are finished." She was already busy trying to seal the contract with wax to take much notice of my presence anymore. I turned and stomped off, leaving her and the observatory behind. As I started the arduous journey back down the stairs, I threw a fireball at Ignacio's statue for good measure.

   By Nicneven, how was I going to tell Lixiss about this?