"Yes, that is I." he states firmly and confidently.

Will you betray the principles of the Conclave in thought or deed?

"No, i will not." he says in his previous manner.

Do you intend to work your hardest to make the Conclave great?

"Yes, i do."

Would you lay down your life, willingly, for the good of the Conclave?

"Without hesitation."

Are you Isuban under a glamour, or a servant, agent, or worshiper of Isuban the Black?

Curious to his this man was to warrant mention in the Callisti, Aesin noted the name. "No, i am not"

Do you harbour a power of the Mad Gods, or obey them in any way?

"Definitely not."

Do you fully accept this oath?

"I fully accept this oath."

THEN IT IS DONE.

The Callisti stops thrumming and lies silent on the floor. Suddenly, Aesin feels a thousand knives stabbing at him, each invisible wound a symbol of his loss of control.. and just as suddenly he is healed, magnificently healed, healthier then ever before and completely in charge of his life.

"Superb," said the Shage. "Well. I don't want to keep you.. oh! Yes! Your seal. Take it."

He passed the Seal of Odin to Aesin.

"Okay, I'll be off. You'll know when they have a mission ready for you, trust me. You'll know."

He departs.

Aesin gathers himself and takes a deep breathe. He pockets his seal and heads out the tent to see his people.

He motions for Maesz to approach.

Maesz approached, a look of concern on his face.

"Lord? Are you alright?"

"Better than ever." he told him. "Maesz, i may have to leave for a while on missions for the Conclave. Are you confident in taking care of the entire realm in my absence?".

"I.. I.. such an honour, my lord!"

His eyes are filled with the tears of happiness.

"Very good. I will be leaving immediately. Keep everything progressing."

Aesin then leaves for the realm of Mist.

Maesz is happy beyond belief.

Aesin arrives and seeks out Maesz.

He found Maesz looking over a freshly-cultivated field of snow-corn and -wheat - the freshly cut valley that he'd ordered before he left. There were many of his people plowing the fields, cultivating what they could, and Aesin noticed carts being pulled past, carrying rich loads of food. Cattle and vicious snow-worms grazed in the fields not taken by farmland.

"Ah, Lord," said Maesz. "How are you on this day?"

Aesin looks over the fields and smiles.

"I am well Maesz, i trust you are the same? I am pleased with the progress here. Have things been going well?"

"Exceedingly so, my Lord. The people are well fed. Our mining and smithing operations are going well. Military training has been put on hiatus for a small while, but it will resume soon enough. We are looking to have a prosperous winter."

"Very good. Im afraid i have to leave again now. I will return when I have finished my tasks. Fairwell Maesz."

Aesin then leaves for the land of the Mist again.