Lady Vorenna stood before the criminals—all five of them. In her hands rested the ancient relic known as The Deathforged Contract. History was about to be made. For the first time, the High Court would bind itself to condemned death-row inmates in a sanctioned pact. With a determined set to her posture, she spoke.
"We have already addressed the first step of this ritual. Your crimes have been stated aloud for all in attendance to hear. There is no need to repeat them."
She shuffled through the heavy, golden leather-bound tome until she reached the next section of the ritual.
"Binding of Blood and Bone. Each of you will step forward, one at a time. Your finger will be pricked, and you will press your thumb upon the page presented to you. Is that understood?"
All nodded—though Lorian's grimace lingered a bit longer than the others.
"Good. First—Atlas the Unseen."
Atlas sighed and stepped forward. Lady Vorenna raised the thin ritual needle—but Atlas merely grunted, drew his dagger, and dragged his thumb across the blade. Blood welled instantly.
Lorian gagged, turning his head.
"Yuck…"
Seris leaned forward slightly, eyes glittering.
"Squeamish?"
"I just don't like blood," Lorian muttered. "Maybe you're just a freak."
"Or maybe you're just weak," Seris replied coolly.
Lorian sighed. "You're lucky you're pretty."
Atlas pressed his bleeding thumb against the tome. The page shimmered once—then stilled. He yawned and walked back to the line.
"Next—Ako."
The young beast-kin padded forward. She barely reached Lady Vorenna's hips and had to rise onto her tiptoes, holding her thumb up proudly. Lorian snorted but caught himself just in time. The needle pricked her finger; she hissed but didn't flinch as she pressed her mark beside Atlas's.
"Lorian Volkas," Lady Vorenna called.
"Do we have to?" Lorian protested. "I mean really? Ink exists you know. Savages just...savages. Horrible people really—"
"Lorian," Lady Vorenna said flatly. "Now."
"No." He crossed his arms. "I refuse."
Atlas kicked him forward.
"—Ow! Okay, okay!"
Lorian squeezed his eyes shut as the needle pierced his thumb. He let out a small, pathetic whimper and pressed the bloodied mark onto the page before retreating, sucking on his thumb.
Ako grinned.
"Puss."
Lorian laughed sarcastically.
"Easy for you to say. You're used to needles—all those rabies shots."
He was hit with a growl from Ako, he was pleased he had gotten under skin.
"Yeah, thought so."
Next came Garruk. He looked down at Lady Vorenna and offered his hand. Carefully, she grabbed his finger, which was pretty much the size of her forearm, and pricked the pad.
Snip.
It broke.
"Seriously?" She looked up at him. He simply shrugged.
"Sorry?"
Lady Vorenna palmed her face, with an extended hand she called out, "Atlas."
With a sigh, he took out his dagger. "Don't break it, woman." He flipped it to its handle and lobbed it to her. She juggled it until she finally had it in her grip. Slowly, the dagger pressed down on Garruk's finger. Slowly, slowly, very, very slowly. She lifted it to see blood but nothing.
'Come on! Stupid finger!' She yelled in her mind.
With a grunt of frustration she stabbed at the finger again, pushing down with all her might. When that didn't work she tried twisting it in at the same time, but nothing. This was getting embarrassing. The whole High Council just sat there watching and waiting, some even yawning in the back. Lorian couldn't help but chuckle.
"Elbow grease, Vorenna. El-bow grease!"
'This is so embarrassing!' Lady Vorenna's face flushed as she struggled.
Atlas, who had enough of this display, exhaled through his nose and walked forward.
"Gimme that back."
He snatched it and held onto Garruk's finger. The dagger was tossed overhead, Atlas snatched it on the way down and used the momentum to sink it into Garruk's finger, which caused blood top flow. Though, the giantblood didn't even react to this. After that commotion, Garruk pressed his finger down and walked back in line. Lady Vorenna smoothed out her dress, her face was flushed from the effort and humiliation.
'Thank the gods, that's over.'
After inhaling a badly needed deep breath, she called the last one.
"Seris Vael'thryn, come forward."
The dark elf stepped forward. She took one look at the broken needle, then pressed her own sharpened nail into her finger until blood surfaced.
"I'll handle it," she said calmly. "No offense."
Lady Vorenna swallowed and nodded. Her pride had been destroyed. After pressing her finger down, Seris tapped Vorenna on the arm.
"Sorry, girl."
Once all fingerprints were pressed, the Deathforged gathered before the dais. Lady Vorenna turned the tome once more.
"Now—the terms."
She read carefully.
"Each Deathforged shall bear a Death Mark—a Requiem Seal. If you die while under contract, your soul is claimed instantly. No resurrection. No afterlife."
Lorian and Ako visibly swallowed.
"Second—Conditional Freedom. Should your deeds outweigh your sentence, the seal dissolves. Your crimes are erased. You are reborn under a new identity."
Ako pumped her fist quietly. Lorian did too.
"Final—The Clause of Leash and Blade. If any Deathforged member flees, kills innocents, or in this case joins Drakos—they will die without a trial. The requiem seal will absorb their lifeforce. This also comes with the notion that the Deathforged must work as a team. If one deserts, the others take on their burden, simple penalties will be much harsher for the remaining."
She looked up.
"Are these terms understood?"
They all nodded.
"Now then, all the condemned come forth and place your hand upon the tome, and say these words."
Five hands touched the book.
Together, they spoke:
"A soul marked for death may alter its fate if it performs deeds equal in weight to the sentence itself. I walk the path between death and life. Let my deeds rewrite what my hands have broken."
Their necks ignited in pain as the sigil burned into flesh. The red sigil was the same as the one on the book—The Sword crossed with the Phoenix. Lorian was screaming like a girl, Ako yelped like a puppy and Seris clenched her jaw. While Atlas and Garruk made no move to react to the pain. After a breathless moment, the glow vanished. Their chains shattered and their shackles fell.
Lady Vorenna smiled—wide, hopeful, defiantly.
"It is done," she said, "Smile. You are now bound."
She looked upon them.
"My Deathforged."