Death Made a Deal

The night had come, settled in around my Village with a coldness that I could feel in my very bones. Leaning against the door of my hut I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of the crickets nearby chirping their nocturnal song, odd that I had not heard their song in many years..perhaps I had forgotten how to listen. Turning back to look into the warmth of my hut I could see my mate, asleep wrapped warmly around my child, her beautiful face..the face of a goddess graced by a soft smile. That smile..so warm so genuine, was the smile of one whose heart was filled with such love, such kindness that even the mists of dream and sleep could not dampen it's radiant glow. She is my life...my purpose for being, and the thought of her light extinguished was too much for my soul to endure, my bargain ensures the Baron's gaze skips this home for many years to come.

Crawling to her sleeping mat my fingers old and calloused trace soft lines over the gentle curve of her cheek, tiny beads of sweat formed at her brow, a sign the sickness had begun to manifest. Reaching for a cloth I patted them away and leaned in kissing her brow gently, hearing her soft sigh as even in sleep she recognized the touch of her mate upon her skin. My lips had barely enough time to grace the stirring form of my infant son's brow before the chill overtook my flesh, I could not hear him, and from my position I could not see him...but feel him I certainly did. Death has an aura all it's own, silent and patient and like the wind carrying the scent of flowers in the summer breeze, so too did it bring the smell of death, the scent of finality hung in the air around me with accents of earth and funeral spices.

The hot snort of air spilled into the night outside my hut as a black raptor with eyes of flickering blue flame cautioned me that's it's patience grew slim. Rising to my feet I could feel the weariness of my body growing as I turned to walk to the door of the hut, his gaze was upon me...heavy firm, unshakeable..yet I could not bring myself to look upon him. I myself had summoned it to this place...initiated the bargain sealed with my blood, yet as I stood at the yawning portal of the abyss before me I could not move. My fingers digging into the soft wood of the door I turned to look down upon my sleeping mate once again, the sweat formed at her brow gone, the lines of weariness under her eyes absent. My shoulders slumped I could feel the sweat form at my brow, the wave of exhaustion washing over my once powerful body, and it was then I felt the hand upon my shoulder, strong his grip firm, yet reassuring in it's kind embrace. Emotion took me then, as a Troll..as a warrior I had never wept before and now as the tears streamed down my cheeks I expected to find myself awash in the emotions of loss, and regret...yet I felt only peace in my decision, one made out of love.

I turned to look up at the robed rider and the soft nod of his head told me it was time, his hand extended to me I heard a voice...no I felt the voice like a whisper in my mind "Come Brother" it said, and with a strength that rivaled my own I was pulled into the saddle behind him. Taking the reigns the great black raptor turned and waited, it's hot breath firing into the night air, allowing me a last glimpse of my worldly home. With a hand upon his shoulder I spoke, my voice cracked with emotion "I am ready", and the great black beast took off into the blackness beyond. Smaller and smaller my world became until in the foggy distance I could not make out the watch fires of my village...my deal complete "Live well my love, raise our child to be strong and please forgive my sacrifice".


As the quill scratched the last letter, of the last word upon the ancient parchment a silence fell over the small hut, only the soft breeze outside which rattled the wind chimes brought some sense of reality to the moment. Setting the quill down the writer rose and walked to stand before a window of crooked glass, hands gathered behind his back, his pale face reflected softly in the uneven surface of the window, the crease of a troubled brow illuminated clearly in the window by the flickering candle behind. For long moments he silently stared out into the night, peaceful and terrible and beautiful in the blanketing darkness that she brought to the world. With a soft exhale of breath past painted lips...the collector of souls returned to his work, for while the night was young...there was so much yet to do.