(For those of you who may vaguely remember me as author of "Not a Date"... please don't ask how that's going. It's going slowly.

All characters © Nintendo)

Curse of Blood

Prologue

He hears the cheering of his people outside the keep walls as Vice-Minister Lekain reads the terms of the treaty, his dull voice boring the new Daein king nearly to tears.

"...do you find this acceptable, King Pelleas?"

"Hm? Well--"

"Now hold it!"

The duke of Gaddos can't help but blink confusedly as Izuka rips the document from his hands.

"Don't you try flabbergasting our king with your difficult words!" the advisor snaps, darting off to the corner as he pores over the paper. "I'll not let you bamboozle him much like that peasant brat... oh, yes, but such a great general... clearly, a true example of my genius...!"

Pelleas fights back a frustrated smile as Izuka's meandering rambles fade into nothing more than incoherent mutters, which quickly end as he cries out in surprise.

"Why, there is no trickery in this... you! You have something planned, yes? Come now, out with it, out with it!"

"Sir Izuka, I assure you, what you see in that document is exactly our promise to Daein," Lekain bows, not even attempting to hide the smile on his face. "What say you, King Pelleas? Do you accept the terms of our treaty?"

"I do," Pelleas nods, glad to finally have an excuse to sit upright once again. "In times of great crisis, Daein shall rise to Begnion's aid... and Begnion to Daein's. Do I understand it correctly?"

"Indeed," the senator nods, snatching the document from the wandering advisor's hands and laying it on the table before the king. "That is the main message, under the obligatory layer of legal words, needed only to make the document truly valid... You understand the need for these words, yes?"

"I understand them, but fail to see their point," Pelleas chuckles faintly, picking up his quill and dipping the tip into ink...

As he signs his name, he can't help but stare in shock as the black lettering fades to red.

"What in the name of--"

"Ah, I didn't tell you?" Lekain asks, sounding genuinely surprised. "All of our treaties must be signed in blood... it makes for a far more permanent ink, we have found."

"From where...?"

"Do make sure to check your hand later tonight, yes?" the duke adds, whisking the document away as he strides towards the doors. "With a signature like yours, I would imagine that there will be some scarring..."

He leaves a confused Pelleas and muttering Izuka behind.

The memory of that day lingers in his mind now, as he searches through the library for something-- anything-- that will open the way for him to break the terms of the pact.

Many times Pelleas has cursed himself for being such a fool; still, he presses onward, intent on finding a solution to the problems he has caused.

Ahhh, and one more thing... If you're considering seeking aid from outside of Daein, think again. We have spies and informants in every corner of Tellius. We will know immediately if you tell anyone.

Well then, Vice-Minister, Pelleas frowns, flipping through yet another book, I'll just have to get my aid from inside of Daein, won't I? And I won't fail... I promised Micaiah that I would find a way.

Tossing the tome aside, he pulls yet another encyclopedia down from the shelves, narrowing his dark eyes in focus as he reads...

The words of the document, of which a copy remains in his study, burn in his mind, the false politeness of legality has been long removed by Lekain, leaving behind in plain modern speech their true message.

Here at Nevassa, capital of Daein, on this sixth day of May in the year 648 do the countries of Begnion and Daein declare neutrality.

As per terms of the peace, should at any time Begnion need to draw upon the aid of Daein's might, the king or queen will willfully comply and answer the call of the senator-- or, in absence of the senators, the senior office.

Failure to comply will result upon the activation of this pact, and the eventual death of all people who in their veins flows the pure blood of Daein or those who shall call Daein their home.

xx Pelleas Daein

xx Lekain Gaddos

(End chapter one.

I'm amazed at how few stories I've seen that involve the blood pact in some way...

I can't wait to type up the next chapter!

Please review! Let me know what you thought!)