Compulsion

Sirona was glad that they didn’t run into any monsters or storms. She was still trying to wrap her mind around the vision she’d been given while taking in the larger storm. What was that place? An old place on the continent? Were there any records of that place? Where would they have to go for her to meet Taran, the dragon?
Would Taran want to meet her? What had that group been talking about? Who had shot Arawn? If she asked, would he tell her the truth? Part of her said he wouldn’t, or somehow slip out of telling her.
She wondered who this companion had been to him and why they no longer spoke. Were they still alive? Was this companion some sort of deity as well?
It seemed that every time she thought she learned something about Arawn, she just ended up with more questions. It was a bit frustrating and exciting.
“You’re thinking so hard,” Arawn teased. “What’s on your mind? Wondering how you’ll get me naked without fire?”
Her face burned with embarrassment, “Don’t tease me about that. I already apologized, and I—"
“Grab them!”
Her heart lurched as men jumped out of the shadows and surrounded them. They held swords out at them but they didn’t seem extremely violent. One of them grinned.
“We’ll fetch a pretty price for the girl. I’m sure some wealthy merchant will love a pretty little mistress like her.”
“I’ve never seen eyes like hers…”
“What about him?”
“Don’t try anything or we’ll run you through.”
Arawn held up his hands without the need to be prompted as Sirona eyed the group. She put her hand on the sword on her waist and winced at the number of men. She backed up closer to Arawn.
“What is the plan?”
Arawn hummed, “This isn’t the lesson I originally had in mind, but it isn’t a bad one.”
“What does that mean?”
“Put your hands up, woman!”
“Best do as he says,” Arawn said lightly. “Unless you can sway them otherwise.”
She frowned, “Sway them?”
Arawn nodded, “Another nifty power is the ability to sway the hearts of people. In short, to control them.”
“What are they saying?” One of the bandits asked.
“Kill the man and take the girl,” another one said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Arawn said, his voice sounded different and she watched them each go a little doe-eyed as if they were entranced by his voice. She found herself agreeing that it wasn’t a good idea not because Arawn was so powerful, but because he said it wasn’t. “You should take me along. I promise not to cause trouble.”
“Tie him up too,” another one said.
“Hey!” Sirona struggled as one of them grabbed her and forced her arms behind her back. “Let me go!”
Arawn offered his hands with a little grin and allowed himself to be bound as they got Sirona in ropes and marched him onward. He whistled softly as Sirona continued to struggle, trying to order them to release her. He sat beside the fire and leaned against the rock and they shoved Sirona down next to him.
She glowered at him, “They’re planning to traffic us.”
“Probably.”
“And you’re going to let them?”
“You need to learn this skill,” he said. “If we were in any real danger, obviously, I wouldn’t allow it to happen. Control them.”
“How am I supposed to do that?” Sirona asked, looking at the bandits who were overjoyed about their new catches. There was a group of people bound nearby.
“Focus your will and your magic through your voice.” Arawn said, “Oh. It wouldn’t be bad to instill a bit of awe in them and belief while you’re at it. Give it your best.”
Sirona huffed, glaring at the bandits and trying to focus. Her throat began to tingle and she looked over the group. She felt a little ridiculous.
“I have seen you,” she said, drawing on a bit of the rhetoric from the cult of Anu. “And found you lacking.”
They turned, “What are you talking about?”
“Someone gag her.”
Arawn snorted as she tried to remember what was usually next. A priest would usually do something that would catch the attention of the group. The priests of Anu tended to call upon Anu to make the earth shake, but Sirona didn’t want to chance doing anything too taxing. Instead, she focused her will over all of the vegetation in the area and sent it to sleep. The fire blew out. The grass wilted and almost retreated into the soil.
She pushed her power out around her and looked at the bandits who stumbled back, clearly spooked.
“W-What’s happening?”
“What’s going on?”
“Her eyes…”
“You have committed a grave sin, all of you,” she said, stiffly. “Prepare yourself to atone or be punished.”
One of them stood up, “I’m not listening to you—”
A streak of fire surrounded him. Sirona didn’t do it, but she pretended like she did.
“Atone or be punished,” she said, feeling a little ridiculous as the wind began to blow harshly.
“L-Look we’re just common bandits. We haven’t hurt them or anything.”
“That I have seen and will grant you a measure of mercy,” Sirona said, feeling the ropes grow brittle around her wrists. She broke free and stood, glaring at them.
“H-How did she get free?”
“Arawn’s Will…”
“Yes,” she said, “You are granted a chance to atone. Free these people. Empty your pockets to compensate them for your greed and take a pilgrimage to the northern mountains.”
It was nonsense, but it was nonsense she was familiar with and since the cult of Arawn didn’t seem to have a punishment and reward system, she had to work with what she understood.
The bandits trembled and quickly went to untie people under her watchful gaze. They practically threw what little money they had at the people, packed up, and headed north.
Arawn burst into laughter beside her, “A little over the top, but I give you points for style.”
Sirona huffed at him, “Well, what was I supposed to do?”
Arawn stood up, dusting himself off, “Well, you didn’t tell them your name, major loss of points there.”
“Is that necessary for belief?”
“No, but it’ll make it hard to spread the word.”
“Miss?” One of the people said, “I don’t know how we could ever thank you… Or even how you did what you did.”
Another person lifted a coin pouch, “This is enough to feed me and my family for a long time. We can’t ever thank you enough.”
Sirona smiled, “I’m just… glad no one got hurt. Have a safe journey home, okay?”
“What is your name?”
“It’s Sirona,” Sirona nodded to Arawn. “He is Arawn.”
They gasped and looked at him as he grinned at them and put an arm around her waist.
“Be in peace, hm?”
Arawn drew her close and bent space around them. Sirona shuddered at the strange wobbly feeling before the area around them seemed to settle.
“Where did they go?” a voice asked.
“By Arawn’s will, we gaze upon his face!”
“And his companion? The goddess Sirona… patron of safe passages.”
“B-But what do we do now?”
“We have already been blessed. Do not hope for more!”
Sirona felt the rush of power as Arawn led her forward and away from the group. It felt good, but she felt as though she could do more. She couldn’t stay in the village of miners and protect them, but she could travel with the people who she just saved until they got to the next town or city.
“Was that space bending?” she asked as they walked and she glanced back. “That was…”
“It was. I didn’t bother to go far. It was unnecessary.”
He also wasn’t sure where they should go now. He had almost expected her not to catch on so quickly. Admittedly, it wasn’t the hardest skill she had to learn.
“We can’t just leave them in the forest though!” Sirona said, taking his hand and walking back towards the camp. “What if they run into less gullible bandits?”
Arawn laughed, “You’re going to give me a bad reputation.”
She looked back at him, “Doubtful.”
When they returned, the people looked up at them in shock and relief.
“Goddess… you’ve returned? H-Have we displeased you?”
Sirona shook her head, “Not at all. Though… Arawn may be of the mind to leave you here and allow you to find your way. I intend to see you safely to the next town.”
They looked at them strangely, “We would not impose upon Arawn’s will…”
“You’re not,” Sirona said proudly. “I am.”
Their eyes widened as Arawn smiled.
“Should a man not indulge a beautiful woman at his leisure?”
The men among the group laughed and they started to organize the camp to suit them. Sirona looked at Arawn and smiled.
“I’m glad you didn’t decide to just leave.”
Arawn met her gaze, “As will I be.”