Using one arm to still hold me in place, the Bargainer reaches out with his other, and Mara grasps it. The moment they clasp hands, the air around them wavers, rippling like waves. “I swear to the Undying Gods, I am not behind the disappearances.” The queen’s body seems to relax. She nods. “I swear to the Undying Gods on behalf of my kingdom that we will ally with the Night Kingdom for fifty years.” The moment the words are spoken, the magic rippling around them implodes, sucking itself back into their clasped hands. And then it’s over.
