Family Matters

[Romanov]

Romanov stood in the centre of the jagged stone plinth within the cathedral sized cavern of his sanctum.

The black cloak with arcane symbols of significance to the League billowed around his lithe suited frame. As the howling wind rose from nowhere and encircled him, he raised his hand from within the eye of the storm.

“Master Saladin!” he called. “I request an audience”

The storm darkened until the swirling winds were impenetrable. Then, quicker than they had risen, they subsided and dissipated into nothing.

Romanov now was standing on the edge of a large stone chamber lit by burning torches around its perimeter. The large flagstones were fashioned into a spiral design. At their centre a giant hooded figure stood silent and motionless. Beneath the cloak his muscular flesh was branded with the same symbols Romanov bore on his cloak. Flesh that was pierced with dozens of chains that trailed off to holes in the rough stone walls.

The giant turned his head and looked at Romanov with dark eyes. “Your request is granted, Romanov. What is its purpose?””

“I wish to negotiate the terms of my contract with the League,” he said. “Or rather a recent amendment.”

The giant was impassive. “You have the means to commune with the League’s patrons yourself, mage.”

“True,” said Romanov. “But I prefer a more informal discussion for matters concerning my family.”

The giant nodded his large head. “So be it. Speak.”

Romanov stepped closer to his former master. “As you know I negotiated terms to free my daughter Nadja from my contract with the League.”

“At no small cost to yourself,” added Saladin.

“True enough,” added Romanov. “But circumstances have changed. I have been reunited with the woman I love and she is with child.”

“Explain what this means to us,” demanded the giant.

“I will not have this child inherit my debt to the League,” said Romanov bluntly.

“It was always feared this woman would cause you to turn against us,” said Saladin. “But history shows that your own ambition was the cause. And yet here you stand the highest among our servants."

The giant’s iron bonds scraped on the ground as he turned. “But the offspring of Romanov and Wild Red is of value to us. What do you offer in exchange?”

“My daughter,” said Romanov. “The dark flower; Nadja Romanov.”

The giant grinned. “Your offer is a good one and yet we sense what you do not say. You think that her will is such that she will defy the League and free her from your bargain if that is her desire. But the League is beyond the powers of the damned mason and you know that greater beings than her have come to learn that a contract with the League is eternal.”

The giant grabbed a fistful of chains and shook them. “Even being murdered at the hands of the great Alexander Romanov offers no escape to service.”

“And yet, the worth of the flower is proven,” said the giant with the knowledge of Nadja’s various periods of service to the League over the past two millennia. “Whereas the potential of the unborn is not. And yet, the child may wish to follow in his or her father’s footsteps.

“The offer is accepted.”