'Before we begin', Baba intones, 'you will be allowed to state the terms of your choice for entering this covenant. You are willingly giving away your innermost light to those who dwell in the deepest darkness. For that barter you will be granted what you have asked us for. But tread lightly, child. Choose your words well, and wisely. The terms are yours to dictate, but have a care not to leave a window of opportunity open for something ill to follow in the wake of your choices.' It's an ominous admonishment she gives me, one I ponder for long minutes. Then I state my terms. 'She will be returned to life, and for all intents and purposes it was me who died that day. She will live a long, and happy life, and no-one or anything from this world or another harms her, ever. Your agents will not approach her, in any way, shape or form. She will be loved - always. She will have children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. There will not ever be a moment of pain in her life. That's it. She lives safe and happy and loved. Those are my terms. We can begin.'
Baba studies me long and hard, until from the depths of her black eyes something flickers, and she calls me some name I do not understand. I ask them what it meant, and they all laugh at me. But there is, in a sense, some sadness in their laughter. Viorica especially looks sad, as if she wanted to be anywhere else but here. Then the boy speaks. He's a strange one, tall and gaunt, and wiry. He looks very much like one of those reeds that no gale could ever hope to blow away. I only really noticed it now, but there's something unnatural about him. About them all. Particularly in this darkened room, they sometimes look more animal than people. 'My name is Scarlat, but for what concerns you from now on, I will be known to you as the Breaker of Faith. You and me will leave this dwelling, and venture deep into the forest. When we are through, you will have forsaken all your faith and all your beliefs. Then, your trials continue. You will then go to my sister Viorica, and the breaking will continue. When you are less than a man, Baba will break what remains. Do you understand?' I nod gravely, indicating that I do. We leave the cabin at dusk, and walk in a brisk pace deeper into the woods.
Where we are now, it's so dark that I cannot see one step ahead of me. But I can sense him walking just ahead of me - though his footsteps are all but silent. He stops, and growls. That is not a voice that comes from a human being, but I know it is his voice. In the darkness I hear a sound I cannot fathom, as if flesh were rearranging itself into another shape. I see a flash of red eyes for a brief moment, then a hand grips my shoulder tight. I feel the talons rip into my flesh. 'We are here.', he says. There's a swishing sound, as if he waved his hands and some light was allowed to filter through. We're in a clearing, and he motions for me to sit down. We are not alone. I see wolves circling us in the near distance, and growls echo through the forest. Distressed owls flee in terror. I feel eyes upon me. He begins a long chant - or maybe an invocation. I sit still, with her in my heart and mind always. After he says all the words I cannot understand, he asks me what my true name is. I only know my birth name. 'My name is Ethan.', I say. 'Speak the truth now', he says, 'is this the name your true love called you?', and I say yes. 'Is this the name those who gave you life called you?', I say yes. 'Do you give up this name?', he asks. I say yes. A gust blows through the trees, and it gets much dimmer. 'Ethan', he intones, 'from the Hebrew Eytan. He who endures. He who is firm. Is this your name?', he asks and the forest whispers my name, again and again. I say yes. 'This name is a sacrifice', he says. 'This man is a sacrifice'. I feel something being taken away from me. 'Now, what is your name?', he asks, and I can't answer him - I do not know, I do not remember ever having had a name. I shake my head, I don't know, I don't know. 'I give you the name of five, the number of Man. By the time my sister is through with you, your penance will hang heavy and eternal on your soul. We are done here.'
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