Mab, Titania of the Unseelie court, looks at the Oberon of the winter court as if he's an ant that's barely worth not stepping on. Technically she was more Slaugh than Sidhe these days as repeated eager participation in the triple dark had changed her. The rest of her court surrounds him, though it's unlikely that any but her would make a difference. They did all revel in the dark though.
Placing one spider like claw in the floor in front of the visiting Oberon she demands, "Repeat what you said."
"Hela Goddess of Death and Bringer of Darkness has claimed the old territories of the Rose Court. When she arrived, she reduced everything within 20 paces of her to dust, this continued as she walked the road to the court, including the walls. Once at the court itself, I offered her slaves as recompense, however she distained both the human and Sidhe slaves. Two of my enforcers tried to disable her, however, she disappeared from our senses and then the enforcers started to drop for no apparent reason. I was then forced to release all of my hostages, as well as any slaves taken from her territories or the human realm. The worst insult is that I was forced to release all oaths that had been made to me under duress, including those made because of oaths made under duress. If I failed to uphold my oaths she promised to hunt me down and chain me in the centre of my court and leave me there forever. If I ran she would use something called Stygian Iron instead of normal iron."
"That's what I thought you said. How is it that you had slaves from the human realm?"
"We have been raiding recently as they are no longer using iron pure enough to affect us."
Mab smiles a with a mouth full of fangs, "That's very useful information. We will release what lands we have claimed from the rose court, it has been hard to hold them anyway. You have an hour of safe passage. My court it is time to reactivate the mounds, the time of revels has returned."
The Oberon of the winter court flees from one of the few courts that everyone in the area fears, but none are strong enough to go against.
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Minerva sits down on a chair in the Sanctuary with a flumph. As she does so she looks around at the other instructors. Apart from the Sidhe, they all look as exhausted as she feels.
"How do you all think they've done so far?"
Azaria sighs, "I think that they've done well, the ones we have left that is. Given that 11 dropped out or 'disappeared' I think you may need to have some sort of test rather than waste spaces that other students could have taken up."
Septima shakes her head, "We certainly need to check to see if the participants are affected by any oaths that mean they are being coerced into completing this course. I don't want to see what happened to Tansu and the other Ottomans happening again. Does anyone have any news on Tansu?"
Elder Aodh nods, "Our Hearth Mistress has adopted Tansu and her mothers, they are all staying at the Star Bound Court in order to help the other humans adjust to life in a court. Oh, and she added a note that we need to teach you lot about oaths, and how to feel when they're about to take hold so you can stop it. In addition to making sure that someone visits the schools in Little Whinging to make sure that the children there are oath free."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm sure that Hogwarts and Minerva can tell you how easy it is to accidentally make a magical oath. Our children are prone to making quite a few before they're old enough to know better." Azaria looks over at Minerva as she says that.
Minerva slumps slightly, "It's how I became Hogwarts apprentice. My own apprentice, Penny, was more deliberate though."
Septima looks at Minerva sharply, "Why didn't you say?"
Minerva shrugs, "When it happened there were more important things to worry about, later the how didn't matter so much."
The room falls to a slightly uncomfortable silence as they all think about the last couple of weeks.
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Elder Frangan of the Star Bound Court stops as he reaches the gates of the Twin Lake Court. There he waits while the guards complete their current business and are able to attend to him. A few hours later the guards approach, "Honoured Elder, welcome to our court. What is your business here?"
"I bring histories to share with your Oberon and Titania. Please inform them that they are to do with the time of corruption."
The guard bows before walking into the city that is at the heart of the court's lands. It's only a day later when a member of the inner court comes to collect him. Before he leaves, he turns to the guards, "Thank you for sharing your meals with me."
It doesn't take them long to pass through the winding streets to the central plaza at the top of a rocky hill, where the twin lakes that give this court it's name are visible to either side of the city. Seated on a dais are the Oberon and Titania, off to one side is one he presumes to be the Lore Keeper of the court. Seeing that the petitioners circle is clear, Frangan makes his way into the centre, where he kneels. Reaching into a pocket in his sleeves he withdraws five glass vials, and lays them out in front of him.
Eventually the Titania speaks up, "Honoured Elder, you have requested an audience in order to share histories. What is so important that you invoked that history?"
"Titania, the Hearth Mistress from the Yewglisten clan sought sanctuary from our own Hearth Mistress. She brought with her these four histories, our own Lore Keeper has compiled this 5th history from our own ceremonies that came as a result of these. I ask that you view them and then ask me what you will."
"Where, pray tell, are these Histories?"
"Mistress Yewglisten also brought with her a technique learnt from human magicals, this has allowed us to extract a copy of the history to allow for convenient transportation and viewing. If you allow, I will show you how to take hold of the history in order to view it."
"You have permission."
Frangan lifts up one of the vials and pulls the silvery strand of memory from inside with his index finger, "As you can see, you can extract the memory with a finger. Once you are holding it, you can view it by raising it to your forehead, or absorb it like any other history you're given. Though the process of absorbing it is more uncomfortable than doing it person to person." Putting the memory back in the vial, he places it back on the floor in front of him.
"I see, Lore Master, will you do the honours?"
The Lore Master nods before walking over to pick up the memories. Slowly he goes through each vial, taking his time to understand each one before moving onto the next. When he finishes, he lets out a breath, "This is indeed a situation reminiscent of that history. Of more import is this last history, for it shows how we can take magical children into our families. I believe that there is an imperative to act on the 4th history, for no children should labour under an unwanted oath."
Titania Twin Lakes nods as she takes the first vial, and after a couple of attempts, views the history within. Soon both the Oberon and Titania have viewed the histories in their entirety.
Finally the Oberon stands, "Elder, we thank you for bringing these tidings. Do you know how to produce these vials?"
Frangan shakes his head, "Nay, only that they were pulled from the Hearth Mistress' head like silk from a cocoon."
"We will try to reproduce this method, regardless, we will spread these histories to our neighbours. It seems that it is time to get some new slaves and children. You may leave, or enjoy the hospitality of our court for a while."
Frangan bows before leaving the inner court to seek lodgings for the night, before making his way back to the Star Bound Court.
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Alannah looks at the family in front of her, on the floor their 8 year old is playing with an elderly cat that looks like it could die at any time, though her diagnosis show that it's in good health for being nearly 18 years old.
"Mr and Mrs Buckling, I've called you hear because I have some news about the oath your child made when he was four."
Ashley Buckling slumps in her chair, "Tiddles is going to die soon isn't she."
Alannah nods, "Probably within the year, however that's not the news I called you for. We have recently come across a magical culture that are able to remove oaths from children. I would…"
Ned Buckling interrupts her, "Yes, you have our permission. Healer Gosling, please, if you can allow Sable to live a normal life, do whatever it takes."
Alannah nods, "I understand, I really do. However, due to the laws imposed by the Ministry of Magic, the healers that can do this cannot cure your child here." Alannah scribbles out a Floo address, "If you take Sable to this Floo address on Friday, St Mungo has a sister hospital opening up there called St Brigid. They will either have someone who can help, or can book you an appointment for when they will be available."
Ashley bursts into tears of relief, "Thank you, thank you so much."
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"Your Excellency, I have disturbing news."
"Very well Voice, I am ready."
"The Terzioglu family is missing, and their home deserted. We have curse breakers working on the study at the moment, however there are no living people on the property."
"When did this happen?"
"We found a prostitute who had been contracted, she claims that she was still there at 9pm. She has been paid and released."
"What about our wards?"
"Undisturbed. However they were removed, it was not through any known means of transportation."
"I see, place any foreigners under watch, and find out if any of our secrets have been removed from the house?"
"What of Rahmi?"
"His oaths will kill him before any information can be extracted from him."