Defeats Valefor

Just as the group seemed poised to go after him, I pushed out with my aura, hard.

Heads turned.

I hadn't even meant to. It was instinct, and it was instinct on behalf of Chris. I didn't even care that much about Chris.

The act on his behalf brought the pledge to Valefor to mind. I'd promised to serve, and it was a loop in my thoughts now. The usual techniques didn't help to break it.

It was a peculiar battlefield, so many people frozen in place, the combatants on the Fallen side not wanting to break the spell by jarring anyone too much. I hadn't experienced it myself, but it seemed that if people were told to stop, and were set to moving by a stumble or a push, that was enough that it needed to be renewed.

Damsel had broken her prosthetic hand to make her power spark, each stumble forcing a renewal. Now she stalked toward the group. Her last order had been to kill her friends.

Thought process: I needed to help Valefor. I needed to help the others. I couldn't break the mental loop and I couldn't remain neutral anymore, now that the thought was heavy in my mind's eye. I would help Valefor.

I flew to Valefor, while everyone's attention was on Chris.

*****

I collided with Valefor fairly hard as I put my arms around him. He couldn't see me coming, so he couldn't even brace against the impact. I would help him in such a way that he couldn't tell me to stop helping and put himself in danger again.

Collecting him, I flew away from the scene.

I would help and serve him. That was the idea he'd planted in my head.

Before he could catch his breath from the impact, I flew in a spiral tight enough his legs went out to the side, and then gently deposited him on a rooftop.

I flew away before he could catch his footing, get a lungful of air, and give me another command.

The compulsion wasn't gone. It was there.

But it had abated. I'd served the rule, but not the spirit.

- Shadow 5.10