Naming Day (Jake Underwood Book 1)

by Michael Ruger

  “Court of Dawn? Court of Twilight? What the hell are they?”

  “It’s complicated and I am bound by oath not to reveal any of this to a mortal.” He looked disturbed. “Look, I know it sounds crazy. Don’t you think I know how crazy it sounds? If we were back in Houston, I could prove it to you by showing you things that would be acceptable beyond doubt. But I can’t. Don’t be freaked out by that ‘Mortal’ stuff. I think of myself as more mortal than fey. That fact has caused me some small amount of trouble over the years. I can tell you everything you want to know about my dual heritage and the Fey, but first I have to ask you something. For me to tell you these things carries a risk, a risk to both of us. If I break the Compact, which I will explain shortly, I will be risking not just my life but everyone connected to me who could be smeared by me being declared Unclean.”

  “I can avoid this if I bring you in to my world, in other words, to make you Fey.” He started to object and then shut his mouth. I guess he figured that I was either bullshit crazy or I was serious.

  “Of course, I can’t actually make you a Fey by birthright. But I can make you sort of an honorary Fey, I can call you to service and swear you in as a member of my band. It doesn’t happen much anymore, but I am told that long ago when the Fey walked here and ruled in some places that it wasn’t an uncommon honor for a few select Mortals to be sworn so.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Yes. Again. I am deadly serious, as serious as those Fey who tried to kill us. This will go a lot faster if you believe that I am not having a joke on you and that I am telling you the truth as far as I know it.” He nodded.

  “First before I can take your oath, I have to explain the Compact to you. It is important that you understand exactly what oath you are taking and what you will be swearing by. This isn’t like swearing to tell the truth in court on a bible. You break this oath and very bad things can happen.”

  “The Compact is an agreement between the Court of Twilight and the Court of Dawn, both of which make up the Bright Kingdom. In some ways, it is the ultimate peace treaty. Both Courts had spent centuries fighting each other, exhausting the noble houses both of blood and vitality. In addition, the world of Mortals was changing. There was little room for the Fey in the world that they had once used as a playground. Religions and faiths friendly to them had fallen and hostile ones had arisen. The Catholic faith was the most aggressive in despoiling the places where they could live and cross from their realm to ours. They made it very difficult for the Fey to live here.”

  “I certainly don’t blame the church, the Fey can be a bunch of bastards and they use people up with little thought. Most of them treat mortals as playthings and it doesn’t matter if they get used up since they live so short a time compared to the Fey. The Church was willing to sign the compact if it would rid the world of the Fey and technically, it does. No Fey may live here, they may only pass through to another place. Further, the Fey could no longer take mortals against their will or kill them for sport. Basically, it forbid the Fey to do much of anything here except pass through.”

  “Of course there are exceptions and loopholes and you can be sure that both courts work them to their own advantage. Half breeds like myself can choose where they want to live. That’s why I’m here.”

  “You mean the Catholic church knows about you...guys?”

  “They used to. I’m not sure if they really believe it or not anymore. They may not even remember. The Compact was signed with the church in 575 AD. That was a long time ago. But it doesn’t matter, as long as the church doesn’t break the Compact, it will stay in force.

  “The most basic thing about the Compact is that all those who signed it are bound by it. In Faerie magic, names are important. The signatories of the original Compact and their descendents lend power to ceremonies that invoke the Compact. If you violate the Compact, then you are not protected by it any longer. Worse, all who are covered by the Compact are required to capture you and turn you over to the judgment of the Court. If you are forsworn and declared Unclean, no one can help you and every hand is raised against you. Most who are declared Unclean don’t survive long. The best you can hope for is permanent exile, the worst is eternal torment.”

  “Just for lying? They would kill me for lying.”

  “No, not lying. For being forsworn. If you swear by the Compact and break that word then you are in a world of shit. You can be released from a vow, but that is rare. Most of the time, when someone swears the Compact, they become bound up in a web of interlocking vows. For example, if you swear by the Compact to become my man the only way that you could be released would be for me to forgive the vow. The problem is that once you take the vow, you will know a lot about the world of the Fey and I am sworn, like all those who travel to this realm to keep this knowledge secret, I could not release you from your vow without breaking my own. The only way I could do that is if I was released from my vow, not very likely.”

  “How would they know?” He asked. “I mean, if I broke my oath. Do they watch all the time?”

  “No. Nothing like that. In fact as long as you never saw any Fey ever again and your transgression was never noted by either court, you might get away with it. But if you run into a Fey, they will know something is not right about you.” He looked puzzled so I explained.

  “Look, have you ever seen a guy that you just knew was up to no good? Maybe the way that he checks out the corners and fidgets while the cop car passes by. Or maybe he just seems like a sneak. When you are forsworn and break a vow taken on the Compact and are declared Unclean, another Fey will get that feeling. We all would feel it and while we might not do something about it, we would know that you were not someone we should know. Also it’s always useful to know someone who looks more interesting to cops than you do. Of course if you do something big and public like kill a bunch of mortals, you’ll have the Black Watch or the Twilight Order chasing you. I can’t think of many cases where they fail to catch their prey. Those guys from last night were probably from one or the other.”

  “But-“

  “I can’t tell you anything more without swearing you to the compact. Trust me when I say that there is a lot more going on here than just a possibly forsworn fugitive.” I said pointing to Dalia. “Hell, there’s more to tell you than we have time for. Even just the important stuff will eat up a good part of the day. But first, I have to swear you and I need Dalia for that, if I can wake her. A witness is always a good idea.”

  “I don’t know Jake, she’s in a pretty deep sleep and when she wakes up she’ll be in a lot of pain, at least according to the guy Carlos brought in to look at her.” I glanced doubtfully at Dalia and decided that he was probably right. I could always have a reaffirmation ceremony when she came around.

  “Okay. I’ll buy that. So will you do it? Swear by the Compact?”

  “What if I don’t take the oath? Haven’t you already told me stuff you shouldn’t?”

  I nodded. “Yes. If anyone every found out what I have already told you, it would be serious trouble for me and mostly memory erasure of the relevant facts for you. I would do everything I could to keep that from happening, but ultimately it would be near impossible to prevent.”

  I looked at his eyes and knew that he didn’t really want to but his greed to know what was really going on and to explain what he had seen was greater than his reluctance so he nodded slowly.

  “Your part is simple, you just answer yes when I nod say no when I shake my head. There is one part where you actually have a reply that is different. When I point at you, you say ‘By breath and bone, the Adversary will never know quarter.’ You got all that?” I could see that he was taking it seriously. His face was a little grim, but determined to see this through.

  “I had Dalia lead me through this last night in anticipation of this, so this should be pretty close. Little matters of form can be overlooked as long as we get the main parts right. It’s a little formal, so bear with me.”

&n
bsp; “Gather round all spirits of Morning and Twilight and mark this day. Comes to us now a lost son, a new son, a found son who would join us in our dance beneath the cool stars and the warm sun. He would join our path and walk with us to face our wryd. Is this your wish?“ I nodded to Marty. The world around us began to fade at the edges of our sight, very much in the manner of concentration. The power of the Compact was drawing closer.

  “It is.”

  “Do you come to us free and with allegiance to none but your own course?”

  “I do.”

  “It is well. To serve the Bright Kingdom is a single honor and all who so swear, serve high or low. If you take shelter under the Compact it will protect you and you will protect it and live under its strictures. Whether slight or heavy, this duty cannot be lifted save by death or dismissal. It is not an agreement to take lightly so it is fit and proper that you consider whether you can fully discharge your duties to your lord and to the Court. I ask for the first of three times, is this your wish?”

  “It is.” Marty eyes were wide and I was certain that he was being drawn into the spell of the Compact. It would become part of him as it was a part of all the Fey.

  “It is well. The lord who brings you forth to so swear is also bound by the Compact as well. He is charged with your keep and custom. As you owe him allegiance and loyalty, so does he owe you honor and justice. He will stand sponsor to you and you will serve in his band. I ask for the second of three times, is this your wish?”

  “It is.” I could feel the power gathering between us. Like smoke filling a room I could sense it pooling around us and joining us. As always when I did a craft working, I could feel the regard of great and awesome powers drawing to witness the working. I was sure that Marty felt it to.

  “It is well. You have sworn to serve the Court and your Lord and in turn be served by them. There is yet duty beyond the Court and your Lord. The Compact itself calls you. No mere parchment can contain the Compact. Its power lives in the hearts of those bound by it. Each of us carries a small part of it within and we are bound to this oath till the adversary knows nothing but dust and darkness. By swearing on it, you are bound by an oath so sacred that it binds into the dark lands and beyond. If you are forsworn, all will know and every hand will be turned against you, for you will be Unclean. No peace will you know until flesh is rift from bone. Consider well how you will answer this. It is third and three times asking, the final chance to turn away from this. Once so sworn there is no release except in the land beyond. So I ask for the third of three times, Is this your wish?”

  The air hung thick with portent, like the moment before the storm breaks and you can feel the water in the air and the hint of ozone that will call down the lightning. When Marty said “It is.”, the storm broke. Marty and I were caught up in the power of the oath and those who watched pronounced it well said. I could feel tendrils of the Compact insinuating themselves between Marty and me. The oath settled on Marty and I could feel his regard and respect for me and in turn he knew my heart. He was a member of my band and my sworn man. True, my band only contained one member, but he was a damn good man and I would rather have one good man behind me than a whole troop of half hearted warriors.

  “It is well. Welcome Marty Obromowitz to the Bright Kingdom and the Court of Dawn and the Band of Jake Underwood, scion of Lord Stavros Melliscant, Master of Kareen’s Blight. All present bid you welcome.” There was no one there but me, but I did welcome Marty and again it made me realize how alone I had been these past few years.

  “Son of Adam, I bid you answer one final question. Answer truthfully for you are beneath the regard of the Compact and all would know your heart. The Adversary may fair in aspect and in dealing. Many have fallen to his trick some ways. Will you stand strong? Will you deny him and oppose him in all things?” I pointed at Marty.

  He shook his head violently “By breath and bone, the Adversary will never know quarter. I shall show him nothing but my spite and every cut shall be as deep as may be” Marty looked surprised at his words and I was a little as well.

  “So be it. We shall continue to oppose the Adversary and all his minions.” I paused for a moment and let it fill the space between us. “I, Jake Underwood, scion of Lord Stavros Melliscant, Master of Kareen’s Blight, do declare that this working is true and clear, let all respect and honor it as a true will of the heart. Let those bound by it keep their word and live cleanly in the sight of the Compact. So mote it be!” I finished with a flourish and felt the attention of mighty powers drift and wane and the world become more real than it had been during the ceremony. As usual after a working I felt tired. This combined with my aching head made me feel unsteady and I was glad that I had nothing more complicate to do than stand.

  Marty shook his head as if doing so would remove the feeling of heaviness that remained. He took off his glasses and pinched his nose, his mouth curved into a big dopey grin. “Damn. That was really something. I see what you mean by feeling it. I can feel it in my chest and my head. It’s weird, kind of like a throbbing that watches me through my eyes. I can feel you and Dalia. I can tell you’re all right. I mean you’re not forsworn by the Compact. Everything is so sharp and clear, I’d swear I can see every leaf on the trees. Is it always going to be like that?”

  “No. It will fade with Dalia and me to a degree. Since you are my sworn man, you’ll always have some connection to me, but with others you’ll be able to tell that they are Fey but little else, unless they are forsworn under the Compact and Unclean. Right now, you are filled with the power of the Compact. It will fade, but never completely leave you.” He continued to smile and I wondered how long that would last once I really started filling him in on the world that he had entered. I hadn’t lied to him, I just hadn’t shown him its ugly side. Getting to the attractive part might take a while. Unfortunately, I couldn’t let him find out on his own. I needed his help now.

  “Let’s get back on the road. We need to get to a place where we can crossover to The Bright Kingdom. I’ll explain while we drive.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  So I told him everything. I held back nothing and emptied the bag for him. After all, he had just paid full price for admission and deserved the full show. When I finished he stared out at the passing trees for a minute and sighed. He looked at me, opened his mouth and then closed it. He sat for a few more minutes digesting and considering the crap storm he had dealt himself into out of friendship for me. Fixing me with a quick glance, he spoke.

  “So let me make sure I understand this. Not counting the dead PI and his secretary, there’s also a dead bartender who was beheaded by a hit squad, possibly a rouge hit squad from the Black Watch. In addition, The Twilight Order is probably looking for Dalia, because they think she’s some kind of agent for this Count Trellisor guy and broke her probation. As a cherry on top, there’s a Sheriff’s man, Aron Crosswich, who is looking to peg this on you and an Sergeant Angel Bermuda who’s doing his own investigation, which you have been obstructing, so he’s probably looking for you as well, especially since you never called him like you said you would.”

  “Yes. That’s quite succinct.” I nodded almost jauntily.

  “There’s more. Not only do you have all these guys looking for you, you also have this Jeryn Callisandra who has lied to you and is probably dirty trying to use you against Dalia. But the worst thing is that you basically have to put yourself in their hands day after tomorrow, at this meshugana Naming Day ceremony. But the worst of all you don’t have any good idea what’s going on. Does that about cover it?” He seemed a little exasperated and I didn’t really blame him. I certainly was handing him a shitburger sandwich.

  “Yep. That’s about a concise a summation as one could hope for.”

  “Well don’t sound so pleased with yourself. I haven’t seen a mess this complicated since somebody tried to explain The Big Sleep to me.” He looked back towards Dalia, who was stirring from her sleep again. It took a few minutes for her t
o focus and realize where we were. When she did, her hands flew to ears, trying to cover them. I was driving so I couldn’t spare her too much attention but I did what I could.

  “Dalia, it’s okay. He knows. I swore him to my service. He’s under the Compact. Can’t you feel it?”

  “It is hard to feel much of anything with this shoulder aching so much. I suppose I am lucky to be alive, but if I had been truly lucky I would not have been wounded.” She steadied herself and look hard at Marty. “Yes. If I concentrate I can feel a twinge of recognition. He is under the Compact. Hail and well met Martin, son of Obromowitz man of Jake Underwood. Let me be the first to greet you as a member of the Court.”

  Marty actually looked a little embarrassed. “You’ll have to give me a chance to learn all this protocol and stuff. In the United States we tend to down play protocol. Should I call you Lady Dalia or what?”

  “Call me Dalia. Technically, we are related by our bond to Jake. Besides, we have been in battle together, so in a way we are brothers in arms.” Marty looked a little confused.

  “She means it in the old way, not the Dire Straits album.”

  Marty gave me a sour look. “Funny. I knew what she meant. It’s a little off to have a woman, let alone an Elfish one describe herself as my brother. But I do get it.” Marty lapsed into silence and Dalia looked with wonder at the speeding landscape.

  “Jake, please excuse me, but I am confused as to exactly where we are and where we are going. The last time I was conscious, we were headed east to a city called New Orleans. We now appear to be headed to the North and the West. What is our destination?”