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Running.
Viking was running, and breathing hard, and trying not to trip and fall.
Behind him on the path a short distance away were nine guards from the town, a town not far from where they were now, who were tasked with hunting him down.
Why? Because he had been accused of making fay deals, which, before this time, he had not done, nor did he have any intention of doing, but you try convincing an angry mob of that when there's no evidence to support either side except a lot of pointed fingers.
Regardless, these people were coming for his life and would not stop until is was spilled upon the ground, and the only safe place for him to run to was the forest, where a large fay circle lay.
You know, probably one of the most incriminating places to go for safety.
Why is the forest safe? Every fay circle is a no violence zone, and this ruling is strictly enforced by magic bindings that create conduct contracts, as well as the fay that tend the circles and surrounding flora.
"I see him! Keep going!" Crap, keep running Viking your odd musings can happen later.
He made it, barely.
Surrounded by wisteria, weeping willows, little red and yellow flowers and fire bugs Viking dropped to his knees and stared at the fay circle in font of him, hastily racking his brain for any and all information he knew about the fay: don't say please and thank you, don't give them your name, they do not like iron (for some reason that Viking cant fathom), they are speakers of half truths and misleading words, they are good at making deals that are unfavorable to the other party, and they are immortal.
Well Viking was prepared to do and say a lot of things if it would help him, because unlike most of the townsfolk, Viking feared death to a significant degree and wanted to live as long as possible.
"Please, help me," Viking asked, breathless, terrified.
A shift in the air pulled Viking from his revere and he looked up at the being in the center of the circle.
"I believe that you may not know of what you ask of me," a tall, haloed, humanoid creature said from it's place in the circle.
The being looked just a degree off from being human, features being too sharp, hight just too tall, nails too sharp, all around not quite human.
"Please," Viking said again, "I do not want to die for something I have not done."
The being nodded and stepped from the circle with an inhuman amount of grace.
"May I have your name?" It asked as Viking stood up.
"At this moment, no, however you may call me Pilot."
"You're a wise one Pilot," it? He said.
"There he is! Over this way!" One of the guards yelled stumbling into the clearing.
The fay being made a split second decision and grabbed Viking's arm, and shoved him into the circle making sure not to let go of him, protecting him, "Do not let go of me," the fay whispered to him.
Viking nodded, shaking in terror as the guards formally filed into the clearing.
"Hand him over and no one gets hurt," the lead guard stated firmly.
"I am afraid that will not be possible," the fay one said calmly, "as this one is now under my protection and there for will not be going anywhere with my knowledge or chaperone."
Viking was confused by these words, as far as he was aware the fay needed a bit more information from the second party in order to protect them than just 'please, I need help'.
However, one does not look a gift horse in the mouth, and Viking was happy to have whatever protection was offered.
"We are under strict orders to retrieve Viking and take him to the town square for a trial." Viking was even more terrified now that this fay had his name.
The fay being tilted his head to the side, "I see… no."
Before the guards could speak further time itself stopped and the fay turned to Viking, "before you panic, I would be unable to use your name because you did not give it to me out of your own will, however, you would be safe under my control, if you let me in," Nuke cupped Viking's face with his hand and smiled, still holding his arm.
"Only if you are willing do the same," Viking negotiated.
"Of course my dear, my name is Nukeri, what is yours?"
"Viking Pilot," they shook hands and Viking felt a shift in his soul.
Something hath changed this day.
Time unfroze and the guards shifted apprehensively on their feet when Nukeri made no move to hand over Viking.
Viking smiled feeling a rush of energy that he did not feel before this time, and a few of the guards stepped back from them when Viking bared his teeth to the crowd.
"What have you done to him?!" The lead guard yelled despite the small clearing not requiring such volume to be heard.
"Nothing he did not ask for," Nukeri said, tone level.
One of the men stepped forward as if to fight, raising his sword and calling out to the others, however, in the next moment, Nukeri struck down the opposition with a swift hand and an other worldly precision before turning back to Viking, blood spattered and smiling, "come to the fay realm with me, my friend, and I will show you everything that all of the realms have to offer," he said extending his hand.
And Viking took it, excited and wondrous, waiting to see what could happen next.
Nukeri stepped into the circle with Viking and embraced him feeling the circle take them to the fay woods, where their first adventure together would be.
From this day and forever more, these two souls are entwined and shall never part and this pact of protection and friendship shall never be dissolved or revoked.