Part 28
Dylan and Beka looked at the goblets with trepidation. Neither wanted to accept the proffered drinks. Seeing their hesitation Neffa spoke.
"Please, take it and drink." she said. "It is simply wine to celebrate your victory over Tourk. We will cause you no harm Lord Hunt. You are our leader now and we wish only to honor you."
Looking behind Neffa at the gathered crowd and the guards, they realized that poison was not necessary should Neffa and her people want to do them harm. They were vastly outnumbered and without weapons.
After waiting until both Dylan and Beka had taken their goblets, Neffa raised hers in a toast.
"To Dylan and Beka, saviors of our people!" she said.
The people behind her echoed her words loudly.
Dylan raised his cup to his lips and sipped. The cup contained a wine that was very cold and tasted of sweet fruits. Looking at Dylan, Beka decided she had nothing to lose and also tasted from her goblet. Soon both Dylan and Beka had drained the contents of their goblets, not having realized how thirsty they were.
Neffa turned to one of the guards standing behind her. She gave him a few hurried directions and waited until he left. She then turned her attention once again to the two people standing before her.
"You will be escorted to the palace now. Preparations are being made for this afternoon's ceremony and for tonight's celebration. You must rest and then dress appropriately."
"Just exactly what is it with you and dressing people appropriately?" Beka demanded, stepping in front of Dylan before he had a chance to speak.
"Tradition is important to our people Lady Beka. You would be well off remembering that." Neffa replied in hushed tones.
"I don't want to remember that. Or anything else about your people for that matter." Beka spat back. "I have no intention of staying here."
"I am afraid you have no choice in the matter." Neffa said motioning for the guards. "Your Captain may be king by right of challenge but I still lead my people even as I did when Tourk thought he was ruler. They will follow me because they know I am the only one who can truly set them free from the curse." Turning toward Dylan she continued, "You are nothing more than a glorified figurehead Hunt, the same as Tourk. You both will do what I say or you will be killed immediately. And do not forget I still have your big Nietzschean friend as insurance that you will behave."
Turning from them she spoke to the guard behind her.
"Take them to the palace and allow them to bathe and change. They may rest for a bit after that. The bonding ceremony will start in two hours."
"Bonding ceremony? I thought that had to take place at sunset." Dylan said.
"Normally, yes, but we can not take the chance on any other friends of yours stopping what must happen. You will be bonded as soon as possible. My people have waited far too long for their freedom. I will not make them wait any longer."
"You may be able to force this bonding on us but you can not make us do anything else. And you are right in thinking our friends will come for us. They will come and when they do they will not stop until we are free. If you do this, many of your people will die. Just let us go and perhaps we can help you find another solution to your problems." Dylan said.
"The Giving ceremony is the only solution to our problem Captain. And you and Beka are the only solution to The Giving."
Having said this, Neffa turned and walked away. Half a dozen guards came forward and stood at the end of the bridge. Two more walked onto the bridge and stood, waiting for the two of them to pass. Having little choice in the matter Dylan and Beka moved forward to be led to the palace.
Dylan and Beka looked at the goblets with trepidation. Neither wanted to accept the proffered drinks. Seeing their hesitation Neffa spoke.
"Please, take it and drink." she said. "It is simply wine to celebrate your victory over Tourk. We will cause you no harm Lord Hunt. You are our leader now and we wish only to honor you."
Looking behind Neffa at the gathered crowd and the guards, they realized that poison was not necessary should Neffa and her people want to do them harm. They were vastly outnumbered and without weapons.
After waiting until both Dylan and Beka had taken their goblets, Neffa raised hers in a toast.
"To Dylan and Beka, saviors of our people!" she said.
The people behind her echoed her words loudly.
Dylan raised his cup to his lips and sipped. The cup contained a wine that was very cold and tasted of sweet fruits. Looking at Dylan, Beka decided she had nothing to lose and also tasted from her goblet. Soon both Dylan and Beka had drained the contents of their goblets, not having realized how thirsty they were.
Neffa turned to one of the guards standing behind her. She gave him a few hurried directions and waited until he left. She then turned her attention once again to the two people standing before her.
"You will be escorted to the palace now. Preparations are being made for this afternoon's ceremony and for tonight's celebration. You must rest and then dress appropriately."
"Just exactly what is it with you and dressing people appropriately?" Beka demanded, stepping in front of Dylan before he had a chance to speak.
"Tradition is important to our people Lady Beka. You would be well off remembering that." Neffa replied in hushed tones.
"I don't want to remember that. Or anything else about your people for that matter." Beka spat back. "I have no intention of staying here."
"I am afraid you have no choice in the matter." Neffa said motioning for the guards. "Your Captain may be king by right of challenge but I still lead my people even as I did when Tourk thought he was ruler. They will follow me because they know I am the only one who can truly set them free from the curse." Turning toward Dylan she continued, "You are nothing more than a glorified figurehead Hunt, the same as Tourk. You both will do what I say or you will be killed immediately. And do not forget I still have your big Nietzschean friend as insurance that you will behave."
Turning from them she spoke to the guard behind her.
"Take them to the palace and allow them to bathe and change. They may rest for a bit after that. The bonding ceremony will start in two hours."
"Bonding ceremony? I thought that had to take place at sunset." Dylan said.
"Normally, yes, but we can not take the chance on any other friends of yours stopping what must happen. You will be bonded as soon as possible. My people have waited far too long for their freedom. I will not make them wait any longer."
"You may be able to force this bonding on us but you can not make us do anything else. And you are right in thinking our friends will come for us. They will come and when they do they will not stop until we are free. If you do this, many of your people will die. Just let us go and perhaps we can help you find another solution to your problems." Dylan said.
"The Giving ceremony is the only solution to our problem Captain. And you and Beka are the only solution to The Giving."
Having said this, Neffa turned and walked away. Half a dozen guards came forward and stood at the end of the bridge. Two more walked onto the bridge and stood, waiting for the two of them to pass. Having little choice in the matter Dylan and Beka moved forward to be led to the palace.