“A contract?”
Yes. A contract. I wasn't opposed to the notion, simply surprised. Most freelancers preferred the tried and true method of a frim handshake and a strong drink to a notarized piece of parchment. If that wasn't enough, my would-be employers had chosen a conspicuous location to meet: a private room in the seediest, darkest pub in the slums. Were it not for their peculiarities I’d have assumed a set up, but that was simply their nature: abstract, strange, and utterly foreign to the point of being alien to most common folk. They were an odd pair, the twins.
“Yes,” the first, Gwyneth, intoned. The Elf's voice an even flutter, devoid of tone, emotion, and inflection. Gods only knew how old Gwyneth was, yet she possessed a certain juvenility in appearance that belied her true maturity. An amalgam of black silks and dark leathers comprised a rather eerie garb, the latter for protection, the former to make her look like some sort of macabre, mummified widower. The cowl that obscured her head and face didn’t help with the impression.
Godwyn, the second, nodded as he finished her sentence, “A contract.” They tended to do that. Finish one another sentences, start their own without ever seeming to interrupt. They never spoke at the same time, always finishing one another's thought. The boy was absolutely dainty, mimicking his sister in everything but a short mop of raven hair to her twin-braids. His attire was also the same, down to the silken arm sleeves and charcoal makeup.
The first continued, pulling an envelope from within her robes and presenting it to me. It was large, and felt heavy, the wax seal bearing a strange sigil. “We are quite selective in selecting a suitable candidate. They must be…”
“…strong of heart. Strong of will. But above all, they must be strong of body. You will need to be in order to face what lies ahead of you, for we would not send you on this path were we not assured of your survival and success.”
I shuffled in my chair, gaze occasionally darting to the shadows beyond the candlelight. Elves, so damn ethereal, as beautiful as they were unsettling to the mortal races. The twins had been around a long time, well-known by generations of adventurers alike and reputedly enigmatic.
The brother spoke, his voice an enchanting murmur barely rising above a candle’s flicker, “Per the contract, you shall travel as our aide until your physical faculties fail, be this due to age, irreconcilable defects…”
“…or until we are satisfied with the terms of your service. As we no longer require material wealth, you will be the sole beneficiary of all potential earnings acquired on our travels…” The sister added and the particulars were finished by her sibling, “…including, but not limited to: treasure, rewards, items of personal property, and gold. This will be a permanent contract. Should you choose to back out now or any time in the future, you will lose any benefits you had gained thus far, and will no longer have access to our patronage or assistance. Do you have any questions before you sign, or wish to discuss anything before beginning this journey with us?“
“All of it?” They were eternal, ageless beings, and while their disinterest in coin was most certainly understandable, I was floored. Such a sum could allow a man to live a life of luxury without once having to lift a finger.
They nodded in unison and the brother emphasized, with an air of finality, "All of it."
“So what do you get out of this? Seems like an amazing offer, but a selective one; what’s the catch?”
They paused as if thinking in tandem.
The girl, Gwyneth, was the one who spoke next, a slight tilt of her head indicating she was smiling, perhaps a bit condescendingly, beneath the veil. "We suppose that you should be privy to a lesser know fact, should you wish to join us on our next quest."
"The truth is,” Godwyn picked up, his hands folding neatly upon the table. "…My sister and I are soul-bound, sharing the same sensations, emotions and a combined aptitude for the arcane. Our protection is a singular focus, our needs a singular desire. You would be more than a companion, but a servant in many regards."
“A well compensated one, mind you, and certainly not the first. We have followed your exploits closely and feel you have the skills needed for this undertaking. Our contract will be binding and you will not have another opportunity like this again. So, do you accept?"
They looked at me expectantly.
I took a moment to consider it. It wasn’t the first time I was offered a patronage and it wouldn't be the last. Most adventurers, when they could, would take a myriad of contracts for the duration of their short-lived careers, which usually ended in death or disability. None so far, though, had ever offered such a promising payout. My eyes turned to the contract, skimming the fine print. Searching for even an iota of an irregularity.
As if sensing my reluctance, the boy explained, "Our business is of the utmost secrecy. We seek the mysteries of our world, and while our minds can decipher the arcane, our bodies require protection.”
“You could provide us this comfort, yes?”
I raised a brow. "All of the gold?”
In unison, their painted black lips pursed into the faintest of smiles. They concluded together, “Once again, all of it.”
My pen hovered over the dotted line.
There were a few seconds of silence, punctuated by my scratching of the nib against the vellum.
I sat back, watching the ink dry.
"So, where are we going?"
***
"The ruins are here. Here, and here. There is a tunnel system beneath the sands. If we enter there, we may be able to circumvent the traps and avoid confrontation altogether."
I looked over the elf's shoulder at the parchment in her hands. She had drawn a detailed map of the site, marking out several entrances and exits. We were not far from them now, our encampment atop a great, shifting dune.
I looked up at the massive ruins of the ancient city. The structures were tall and imposing, a testament to an era lost. They loomed like monoliths in the moonlight, jutting from the dunes like jagged teeth.
The breeze was sharp, winding over the dunes in chilly gales; the desert at night most certainly juxtaposed the heat of the day. The twins seemed oblivious to it, their gaze ever set upon our quarry, bronze-skin aglow beneath the moon’s gentle beams. Diaphanous sheets of blackened silk swayed in the breeze, a thin film between their honeyed skin and the cool desert air.
“What are we looking for in particular?” I asked.
She tapped her quill to the map. "Here. We must find the crypts, where the dead are entombed."
"What are we looking for, exactly? Is there something in particular you expect to find?"
Godwyn glanced over his shoulder. "We seek answers, a mystery long lost to this world. It is an artefact of sorts, rumored to have fallen into the hands of the people who lived here many moons ago. We intend to find it, no matter the cost." I looked at the twins, their lithe figures silhouetted against the full moon. They were mysterious and alluring, the embodiment of grace and beauty.
“We must ask something of you, companion.”
“Listen with an open mind.”
They turned, their gaze piercing me with an otherworldly intensity. I held my breath, unable to look away.
Gwyneth spoke, her words resonating in the depths of my soul, "We know you have traveled far and wide. You have seen much, but if we are to venture forth into true peril we must ask that you assist us in a rite most profound to our success.”
I was captivated, if not a bit frightened by their words. “A rite? It is my duty to assist you, I suppose, so how may I be of service?”
The first semblance of discomfort or perhaps embarrassment spread across their usually stoic faces. Gwendolyn responded, “It would be best that it is explained in private.”
Godwyn gestured to their tent, and we walked in silence, my curiosity piqued. The elves were an odd pair, their interests focused on the arcane, the unknown, and the mysterious. They were reclusive, preferring solitude to the company of others.
When we reached their tent, they bade me enter, and I obliged. Inside, the atmosphere was different. It was dark, the only light coming from the soft glow of a lantern and the flickering flames of candles.
The air was thick with the scent of incense, sweet and smoky. The twins were seated, their movements graceful and fluid, almost as if they were floating. They looked at me with an intensity I had not seen before, their gaze penetrating my very being.
“As soul-bound creatures, my sister and I share our spiritual and physical forms. From our well of mana.”
“To the simplest sensation. It is why we mute ourselves to the world, treading an ever-thin line of neutrality, steering away from powerful stimuli lest we both be overwhelmed.”
“I fail to see how I come into play.”
They exchanged a knowing glance, as if they had expected such a response.
Gwendolyn was the first to speak, her voice taking on an uncharacteristic huskiness.
"In preparation of arduous tasks — those that would most certainly drain a great deal of our mana — we have devised a ritual."
"It is one that requires a third party. In this case…”
“…You, but do not be afraid. No harm shall come to you. You are far too valuable to us now; we have witnessed your prowess, far before we offered to recruit you. You were desired, companion, and remain so.” Godwyn finished, his amber eyes catching the glint of a dying flame as if to kindle it. The twins were enigmatic immortals, yes, but carnal creatures nevertheless.
Despite their drab facades and muted, ebony ensembles, there was a cloying want at the edges of their expressions, in the subtle listlessness of their usually stoic composures; I’d pledged my assistance, even if I could not yet fathom their intent. “What do you need of me?”
"We require your participation."
"And your vigor.” Gwyneth reached forward, placing her delicate touch upon the apex of my thighs, drawing out the length of her fingers in an effortless display of sensuality; a hazy, electric pulse resonated throughout the entirety of my thigh. Gwyneth’s sable lips curled into a seductive smile, sharing a unified sigh of relief with her equally enamored brother. "We shall begin."