#p | commitment

“And this spell will lure the people that I need to me?” His voice was soft but skeptical as he looked at the talisman, its small wooden surface barely illuminated by the light of the nearby fire.

“Absolutely, young sir.” The merchant seemed almost giddy in their response, nodding up and down so quickly that Cillian was afraid their head might fall right off of their shoulders.

He bit his lip, turning the talisman over in his hands. “Intriguing.” He paused, shaking a lock of hair out of his face. “And what payment will you require?” Heaven knew it wouldn’t be free.

Immediately, the merchant soured, casting a nervous glance at the door. Cillian looked between it and the short fae before sighing and standing up, crossing the room to shut the door; the outside din of conversations and dining now muffled as he returned to the fireside. “This talisman will require no monetary payment, sir,” the merchant said quietly, rubbing their hands together.

“Then what will it require?” Cillian was immediately suspicious, narrowing his eyes as he curled the beads of the talisman around his fingers.

The merchant took a deep breath. “A few drops of blood.” Cillian’s eyes widened. Blood magic. That wasn’t quite what he had been expecting from this meeting. “Please, sir, hear me out,” they began nervously, putting their hands out in a placating matter, but Cillian waved them off.

“No need. As long as this will do as you say it will, I see no reason for me not to comply.” He nodded, placing the talisman back in the merchant’s hand. “When do you need to meet?”

The fae blinked, seemingly surprised that he hadn’t…well, Cillian wasn’t quite sure. Turned them in? Exploded in rage? Tried to convince them that there were other ways?

He wasn’t a fool. He was willing to do whatever it took to find Ciere, no matter the consequence. His family had done too much for him not to pay them back now. If this was the only way left, then he would do it.