Arum knelt again, before returning to the stone closest to Imen’s right, only to bend the knee again. The Lady Elaran, kneeling, stood up next, her tall, strong heavyset frame solemnly lumbering toward Imen, coming to a halt in front of him. Although she did not look so tall from a distance, anyone could tell that she was at least a head taller than Imen.
“Do you, Lady Elaran, warrior and Priestess of the Island of Carn, pledge your life and blood in service to the Great High Priest, the Red Sword, and to the Ai?” said Imen again, holding his sword in between the two in the same manner as with Arum. “I so pledge,” said the young Priestess, raising her right hand without waiting for instruction to do so.
The blood pledge was repeated, the stain more visible on the Red Sword. Imen took the
