Chapter 126: Signature

I sat outside in the parking lot were a bar counter, numerous tables and chairs, and many lights decorated the area. The elves sat politely at the tables, drinking their fancy top-shelf drinks. The Ardor Brothers pretended to be having a good time, but the suspicious glances between the two factions put a damper on the party.
Lord Quillion finally strode across the parking lot towards us. He took a seat in front of me with a pained look.
I remained silent with a smile on my face. No more plastic smiles for me. This one was genuine.
"Lord Quillion," I said.
"Beloved," he responded. He said it as if it tasted bitter on his tongue.
That made me smile wider.
Cole spread the contract out on the table between us. "This claims The Kingdom will be allies to the Ardor Brothers for the next fifty years. They will aid us with whatever we require, including sharing materials and funds. The territories will remain separate, but the people of either territory will be allowed to move across the lines. They will be considered separate only when the truce ends. Each side will retain their original territory name, but will ultimately follow what the leader of the Ardor Brother decree.
"That sounds like a good mix of what you wanted and I wanted. Wouldn't you say?" I asked.
The elf king narrowed his eyes at me then nodded slowly. "That is how I would have worded it."
I smiled brightly. "Good. Do you need a knife?" I flicked and the Aurora Sword in dagger form filled my hand. I spun it around and offered him the handle.
He frowned. When his fingers closed around the hilt, his eyes widened. "What is this?"
I arched an eyebrow at him. "It's mine."
He examined the blade. "This is not of the realm. Where did you get this? How is it even staying here?"
I waved my hand. "Enough stalling. Sign the papers."
He sliced the palm of his hand open and dripped it on the contract. I flicked out the Night Sword and did the same. Our signatures scrolled across the paper in gold. The Night Sword disappeared up my arm. I held my hand out for the other.
He hesitated.
I wiggled my fingers at him to give it over. He stared me down. I didn't flinch. I could feel the sword in his hands. It was like his will was pushing on it, trying to convince it to be his. But the sword was loyal. It was more than that, though. It was a part of me. It was part of my soul. I willed it back to me to join me again. It zipped across the table from his hand to mine. His eyes widened ever so slightly.
I smiled. "Thank you." The Aurora Sword disappeared back up my arm into its tattoo.
He bowed his head and held it for a few seconds. "Beloved."
I had to hold back a giggle. For some reason, that felt really good.
"Now, I have urgent business for you. We need you to organize your men to patrol our borders. You are welcome to keep some to protect your compound, but I want to keep our people safe. We are holding a neighborhood barbeque tomorrow evening. Please encourage your people to attend." My eyes shifted to Liam to make sure that was still okay. He gave a very small nod. I looked back to Lord Quillion. "In fact, since you have such a good reputation as a host, I want you to be in charge of organizing the event. Cole will catch you up on the details."
"Is this barbeque to promote your generosity?" He said the word barbeque like he was spitting the word.
"No, it is supposed to celebrate and encourage the unity of the new territory we have recovered from The Grange. I want the two of us, and the leader of The House, to work together and rule this city more as a democracy."
"With you as the leader," the elf lord said.
"I'm not trying to be the leader, only the facilitator. I don't want to cut you out of decisions, but I don't want there to be bloodshed if I can help it. That isn't good for any of our factions. The Grange has done so much damage already. Don't you want to see some peace?"
He crossed his arms and sat back in his chair. His blonde hair hung straight around his face as he tipped his head forward in a nod.
"Good. Cole, please help Lord Quillion with the event. Use Cherry as a resource. Any other questions can be directed to Liam."
Cole nodded.
"Have a good evening, Beloved," Lord Quillion said as he stood. He left with Cole at his side.
"That went better than expected," Liam said in my ear.
"Liam?" I asked, catching his forearm in my hand.
He looked down at me.
"I need to go to Utah. I need to look for Kezia. Do you think things are stable enough now that I can leave?"
The corners of his mouth turned down into a deep frown.
"The elf faction is on our side. The House is peaceful. I don't think the rat man and whatever faction he is in charge of us is going to make a play. Please?"
"The Leigh Men," Liam said absently as he turned to look somewhere over my head. He shook his head. "What if something happens to you? It's more than just your power that protects us. It's the touch, too. We are so far gone; without it, we will be tearing our faction apart again. You don't know what it was like for the last few months. We lost good men."
I searched his face. He wasn't going to let me leave. Even if I found an answer to all his questions, he would still find a reason for me to stay. Maybe it was his way of caring about me now that he knew who I was.
"Okay. I understand."
He studied my face for a full minute before he straightened. "You will be needed upstairs. I am sure the elves would like to partake in the touch. Maybe we can turn a few to our side."
I nodded and headed inside. Two brothers followed me closely. Their eyes darted in between the crowd, searching for any threats. They escorted me up the stairs to the lair until I sat alone in the circle of comfortable chairs. The basket was full of empty crystals.
The first client came in. I prepared for a full evening. I needed to work hard if I was going to fill that basket up. I was going to need all the power I could get for this next adventure.