DEVIL's Heart

Created by: Brianne A.Alcinoos of EGoV
Registration Number: MS871
Enhancer Creation Request

The post arrived as it did each day, and much to her surprise, a short note arrived from the Magic Shop.  Short, but to the point it was, and enough of one that a satchel was packed in a short time with food, drink, and a few choice talismans.  Riding through the providence of Guardia, her gaze caught site of the Cathedral of Aeren in the distance.  Pulling her chosen horse to a stop, she pulled free a large cloak and threw it about herself, the hood hanging low so she could not see very well, but others would not see her either.

Spurring the best into the providence of Aerenwe, through the countryside of draught-ridden farmlands and underfed cows, her light form traveled quickly, pausing to not even wave as she hurried on to the cathedral and the small ramshackle town that lay outside of it.  The ride was thankfully uneventful, save for one arrow that might have been aimed for her, but the sap who shot it must have been a terrible archer as she wasn’t even sure if she was the intended target.  Raising her arm as she reached one of the side gates, a light blue handkerchief with a cross of pastel yellow fluttered from her hand, and the gate was quickly opened with a few humble welcomes as she raced through.

Her first stop had been at Caroline’s home, leaving the horse in her care before she moved through the allies and slipped in the backdoor of the retired weapon smith, Master Lacium.  Jumping nearly out of his skin when the shadow appeared behind him in his work area, a sword already pointed to the face within the cowl before a giggled caused him to pause.  Hood drawn down, blonde curls spilled about her shoulders.

“Tis only I, Master Lacium,” her sweet voice spoke.  “Normally I would call first, but I have a task before me, and my schedule calls for it to be done soon.”  The elderly man, still sturdy and quick in his old age, first knelt before her and rose, listening before a hand lifted as he wished for her to continue.  “When I was here last, I saw an item you were crafting, I believe in the metal of iron of all things.  It seemed much like your work at the time, but the chosen metal and design have come back to me upon receiving a letter.  It was a pendant; elegantly crafted in the form of a cross with an upside down heart for the top branch, and an opening in the middle of it for a stone to be place.  I wish to know if you would part with it.”

The elderly man gave a solemn nod, moving to a small cabinet and pulling open a thin drawer, drawing out the velvet wrapped object and holding it out to the blonde maiden before him.  “I know not why I even crafted it, but the purpose would be revealed in time.  Take it, Lady Brianne, bring it to the world as it was supposed to be.”  Her hand quickly took the wrapped item, trusting the man to his word, and offered a simple nod of thanks before it was tucked away and her hood pulled over her head once again.

A swift pace kept her moving through the allies once more, this time coming around the side of a cluster of buildings and hanging a right up into the Cathedral of Aeren.  She was jogging up the steps, one hand pressed against her pocket with the cross amulet and the other on the cowl of her hood as she kept it in place until reaching the doors.  Pulling it open, she stepped inside, dropped the hood, and pushed onward inside towards the Southern corner.  Down on stairway, she knocked loudly upon the door three times before pushing it open and stepping inside.

“Agatha, I am here.”  A limping woman appeared through the haze and smoke that filled the room.  Hair not brushed and robes in tatters, the witch woman cackled and staggered towards Brianne, a pouch in one hand, the other closed tightly about something.

“Here it is my child!  I have infused it with the magnificent power of fire!  It will surely do the desires of the bearer,” her rough voice hard against Bri’s ears, as the closed hand dropped the stone into Brianne’s, before the small sack was held out.  “This is the salamander sacrificed for the task; you will need it to aid in merging the two elements.”  These words just kept her staring at the woman.  Granted, she had expected Agatha to know what was needed when she showed up…but…didn’t exactly expect to be receiving a salamander as well.

A nod given to the witch, she stepped out, moving down the passageways once more that ran beneath the cathedral.  It was mostly dark down here, torches every now and then; finally, she reached a door that bore the symbol of Earth, one of the northernmost rooms of the underground first floor.  Stepping inside, the door was bolted behind her.

Stepping towards the altar in the room, she knelt before it.  “Gaea, goddess of the earth, please hear my call and plea, and grant me your blessing within this room and upon the items which I bring before you.”  Eyes opening, she first drew forth the velvet package from her cloak pocket, unwrapping the iron cross and placing it first upon the altar.

“Gaea, this cross I present to you, crafted by a master by the guidance of your gift to him.  Without purpose until now, but I bring it before you for your blessing.”  Hands lifted, both placed on either side of the cross upon the altar, her eyes focusing upon the cross and felt the power of the goddess flow through her body and into the altar, causing the cross to glow a soft green in the dimly lit room.

Breathing heavily, letting her small frame recovered for a short time from the energy she felt flow through her, her right hand slipped into a pocket, pulling out the heart-shaped ruby from Agatha.  Her hand shaking, it too was placed on the altar, in the open center of the cross.  It burned in her hand more and more the closer she got, finally releasing it to drop the last few inches, a bright red light emanating from it as it lay there.

“Gaea, this stone from your earth has been blessed by Vulcan, a god of the fires of the earth.  It is not your wish to work with him, but together you can offer great protection to the bearer of the cross.”  Slowly, the red glowing began to diminish, replaced by an earthy green glow, the colors mixing and dancing with one another, but neither fully accepting the other.

Breathing heavily, the small sack from the witch was removed, upturning it and dumping the salamander on the small step of the altar.  Roots pulled from the ground and wrapped up the small creature, causing its body to disappear in short time.

The sacrifice accepted by both of the higher beings, Brianne gaze rose to the ruby and cross, looking to see if they had been bound together.  One more request was needed, it seemed.  Her hands lay once more upon the altar, beads of sweat running down from her forehead.

“Goddess Gaia and God Vulcan, use your powers together, bind your agreement in this Devil’s Heart that it might be a sign to the bearer for all time.”

Her words faded away and the brightness of red and green began once more, but this time together and intermingling, a true binding.  The lights fading away after a short time, Brianne pushed to stand, the velvet cloth coming out and picking up the Devil’s Heart, folding it over and wrapping it up tightly.  A bow given to the presence herein, she quickly unbolted the door and slipped up, rising to the ground floor and stepping into the fading light of the sun.  Breathing heavily, she sat down upon one of the tables on that small balcony, writing out the tag for the item so that she might be rid of it herself. 

~June 17, 2007~