River tried not to show his alarm, but immediately sweat beaded across his face. He darted his eyes toward Cerys, who quickly stood between River and Alaric, blocking the Head’s view.

“I said it’s not happening,” Cerys growled, “I’m offering you a lot already, enough to risk my life, and now you demand I hand over my brother’s life too?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem if you don’t intend on betraying us,” Cordelia said, pleased from where she sat. She inspected her manicure before looking back at Cerys. “Unless that was your intention all along?”

“If you accept the condition, I’ll be in favour of your sanctuary,” Sol said from behind Cordelia, leaning his forearms down on the back of her chair. “Like my wife said, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Except it is,” Cerys argued. “What if you betray me? What if you mistreat us during our stay here? What if suddenly you’re a threat or you decide to pledge yourselves to Morana and her coven? Under the obligation of the oath, I am to remain loyal to you, serving you, less I want my brother to die! It’s unfair and unbalanced. I won’t accept.”

“Then you have no sanctuary here,” Alaric said simply, amusement in his tone. “Such a shame, especially with River’s current state. Whatever happened to you, boy?”

“He’s allergic to magic,” Atreus said and River wished he could punch the guy again. The first time wasn’t enough.

“Truly?” Alaric seemed intrigued, his eyes fascinated as Caspian continued to wrap River’s hands and arms. “How does a mundane person get such an affliction?”

“Allow us sanctuary and I’ll tell you,” Cerys said. Alaric laughed.

“Accept the condition,” he returned.

“She won’t,” Sol said, his voice hard and gruff. “So now she is unwelcomed. Cas, stop tending to the boy. They’re to leave immediately.”

“I don’t think so,” Caspian replied and finished tying off River’s bandages. He dabbed more disinfectant across River’s neck and collarbone, before his hand slid down to the pendant around his next. He smiled fondly at it, as if he recognised it, and then turned to face the three Heads.

“Astera’s Embrace is open to all those in need. Her Gates appear for those she trusts and they granted sanctuary,” Caspian said and held his hand out to Cerys. “She was accepted once before, and now she’s been accepted again. I believe we should protect our home and our people, but she has not done anything warrant exilement. Nor has her brother.

“I’d like to remind you that when Cerys first arrived in Astera’s Embrace, I found and nursed her back to health. I encouraged her growth, in her overcoming her past horrors, in discovering a new self, in being a better person. And through it, Cerys and I became close. I became proud of her progress, proud when she did good to make up for her past transgressions, and hopeful for her future.”

Caspian’s smile beamed over Cerys, a light behind his eyes as he regarded her with a fondness River recognised. A fondness his mother once held for him.

“You all but adopted her,” River said and Caspian chuckled at the sentiment.

“I love her like I love my children,” Caspian stated. “And for this reason, I want to offer a counter oath. The Death Pact you asked for is unjust, cruel, and you ask for the sacrifice of an innocent should another do wrong. No, I won’t have it either, so Cerys… Would you partake in the Traitor’s Cut oath with me?”

“No!” Cordelia shot up, fury behind her voice. “You’re a father, Caspian, you cannot risk your life like this.”

“Traitor’s Cut can only be done by two with a close bond, and I refuse for Clementine to be a participant,” Caspian said. “This way, both parties are held responsible should your deal be broken.”

“Wait, what is a Traitor’s Cut?” River asked, eyes darting to Atreus for an answer. Atreus blinked back in surprise.

Clementine began to explain instead. “It’s an oath reserved for friends or allies with great trust in one another. Break the oath and you will be cut by an unhealable wound across your face, to show your disloyalty. If the betrayed party does not forgive you, you will bleed out and… Die.” Clementine grimaced a smile, nervous as she looked at Caspian.

“And even if forgiven,” Atreus added, “the scar left behind is horrendous.”

“I accept,” Cerys stated, her gaze firm on Caspian’s.

“As do I,” Caspian agreed.

“Now wait!” Sol’s voice was a clap of thunder, and Caspian sighed. “You’re rushing ahead, Cas, you always do.”

River did not want to relate to the man but he did, nervous over his own family member in the mix.

“Less fretting, my love,” Caspian said, glancing over his shoulder to blow a kiss. “As long as you, Del and Alaric keep your word, no harm will come to me.”

“Likewise, River,” Cerys said and passed her little brother a confident smile. “I’ll hold my end of the bargain up, so I’ll be fine. We have more control this way, and you don’t have to worry about dying because I mess up.”

River let out a breath and nodded. He had to trust she knew what she was doing.

Alaric claps his hands and smiles approvingly. “Alright, I accept this. Cordelia?”

“I accept,” she said without an ounce of reluctance. “Sol, darling?”

Sol huffed a frustrated breath out, rubbing his hand over his bald head in his uncertainty. He furrowed his brow and met Caspian’s gaze, holding it for a moment before he nodded. “Alright. I accept.”

Alaric stood by Cerys and Alaric, placing a hand over theirs. “In exchange for Cerys Augustine’s service and assistance, gathering and sharing all known intel, sanctuary is granted for her and her brother, River Augustine. During their stay, no harm must come to the people and the land of Astera’s Embrace. During their stay, no harm must come to Cerys and River Augustine. Do you accept the terms?”

“I do,” both Cerys and Caspian said in unison.

“Traitor’s Cut calls for betrayal to be punished and shamed, do you accept?” Alaric asked.

“I do,” Cerys and Caspian repeated.

“Will forth your magic and seal your fate.” Alaric stepped back and left Cerys and Caspian to cling to each other's hands. They breathed in perfect harmony, their eyes glued to one another, before magic surged from them both and whipped around in a fury of blinding white light, wind rushing billowing around the room.

River groaned and fell back against the couch. He pressed his bandaged hands against his eyes, his body aching from the suffocating magic. He should’ve known better, to have left, to not be drawn in by his curiosities of a magically binding oath. Relief soon came when the magic suddenly snapped away and he lowered his bandages to found Atreus. He had knelt down beside the couch and held up his hand, a violet dome surrounding them.

“Thank you,” River said, breathlessly surprised by the kind gesture.

“You won the bet,” Atreus said. “Now I don’t owe you.”

River chuckled. “This doesn’t count.”

The magic died down around them and Atreus left his protective dome down, turning to help River sit back up. It weirded River out a little, for Atreus to be so kind and considerate. He wondered if he truly was a nice guy, when he wasn’t overly protective of his home.

“With that done,” Alaric announced, drawing attention back to himself. Cerys and Caspian parted with pleased smiles, Cerys taking Atreus’ place at River’s side. Atreus rejoined his father, his stiff stoicness returning as he stood with his hands behind his back. “Welcome, Cerys and River, to Astera’s Embrace. Your new home.”

Your new home. River went cold, his body exhausted but never his intuition. Alaric had lied. Perhaps it was harmless, a statement he was scripted to say despite not meaning it, but in the pit of River’s stomach, his uneasiness grew. Alaric wasn’t to be trusted.

“Thank you, Alaric,” Cerys said with a breath of relief and slumped against River on the couch. Delicately, she touched River and rested her head against his shoulder, her eyes falling shut for a brief moment of respite. “We’re safe now, River.”

Cerys believed in her words, but it wasn’t enough to convince River. He studied Alaric who in turn regarded River. He leaned back, his hand rising over his mouth and he whispered something to Atreus, something that made the younger man’s eyes widen for a moment.

A clap startled River, Clementine brimming brightly with a smile as she skipped over and squatted in front of River and Cerys.

“I’m so happy!” Clementine said, placing her hand carefully on River’s bandaged arm and took Cerys’ hand. “It’s going to be so much fun having you both around, and River, I cannot wait to give you a tour of Astera’s Embrace. But first, you both need rest!” 

River swallowed back his nervousness about Alaric, deciding to trust in the oath Cerys and Caspian made… At least for now. River knew Clementine was a true friend for him and Cerys, and as much as Atreus acted like an ass, he was soft underneath his stern exterior.

River and Cerys weren’t alone.

“Let’s get you both set up in the guest rooms,” said Caspian. He had joined Cordelia and Sol, holding the woman’s hand as he smiled at the two siblings. “You can shower too, and I’ll prepare you some lunch. Once you are both better, we’ll sort out your living arrangements.”

“That’s okay, Papa, Cerys can have the cottage again,” Clementine replied. “I don’t mind moving back home.”

“I can’t let you do that, Clem,” Cerys said and pulled her hand away from the younger woman. “River and I can sort something out. I know you have other places and—”

“You’re taking the cottage, Cerys,” Clementine sternly said, not taking no for an answer. As she turned her gaze back to River, her cheerful demeanour returned. “It’s a beautiful place, River! Small, but there’s two bedrooms and I’ve been tending to the gardens for a while so they are stunning. Atreus and I will clear it up while you rest here, okay? Do you have any requests for your room?”

“My… Room?” River shrugged, uncertain and overwhelmed. In less than a day, he went from being homeless and alone to having a place with his sister. He tried to blink back the tears, his exhaustion adding the weight of his emotions, but they pooled down his cheek and when he spoke, his voice broke. “Can I have a bed?”

Immediately, Clementine wrapped her arms around him, a small laugh leaving her as she assured him. River leaned into the comfort but when he glanced up, he saw the three Heads, their stares glued to him.

He didn’t feel like he deserved it, but for now, his intuition told him he was safe.