of certificate that you have become self-aware and are your own intelligent person and I am your Family.” He paused. “I want everything very legal so no harm will/can come to you.”
You will be my Family? A tiny breeze scraped papyrus scraps around the room along with the equally tiny mental whisper.
“Absolutely!” He said it so loud it rang against the walls, more, so it sank into the House so D and D would believe him. “I’m also going to arrange the move from my ... previous ... abode to here, D and D. I’ll be back within a septhour, seventy minutes.”
You promise?
“My solemn vow of honor, and I have never given that to anyone before.” He paused. “Except for you, last night. You should have memories of all the circumstances of a solemn Vow of Honor. I would suffer if I broke it.”
I ... care for you. You would hurt me if you betrayed my trust.
“I care for you, too. I’ll be back.” He paused. “One moment.” He strode back into the mainspace, no stumbling or staggering now. He knew his surroundings. Oh, there’d be no deep sea diving and treasure hunting for him anymore, but he had Flair. Maybe not. Not Flair, but he had some sort of talent or gift that mitigated his blindness.
He touched the stylized face of the male, Debris, then the female, Detritus, the sculptures flanking the fireplace. Gave and accepted a blessing.
Then he turned and walked to the front door, said the phrase he’d only given members of his Family before, but, then, this House was his Family, now. “I love you, Debris and Detritus. I’ll be back shortly.”
I love you, Zane Aster of the House of Debris and Detritus. I will wait.
Zane chuckled and slid aside the bars, unlocked the door, and stepped into a cold, clear day. No doubt the sun shone, a white star in the deep blue sky. Pain flickered.
Zane? asked the House.
“I’m all right,” he murmured, though no one walked along the street for blocks. He couldn’t see the sun or the sky, but he knew that. He took off down the street with a long stride. Someday he might learn how to teleport again, for now he could walk the few kilometers to the GuildHall and turn in T’Ivy’s brooch, file a claim for the House.
And he knew he’d left something behind in Debris and Detritus after all.
Despair.
Like smoke rising, the minor gods, Debris and Detritus, removed themselves from the statues of the fireplace. Their attenuated essence twined into the bedrock beneath the House, separating themselves from the newly intelligent being. They had helped the House become sentient, but now they wished to be individuals.
They’d linger, though. Rest and wait and grow stronger for a few decades.
Then they’d leave this sanctuary and run free.
The House hummed to himself, a jaunty song his Family, Zane, had taught him. He tidied himself up as much as possible, found a button from Zane’s jacket. He swept it into the pile of other small and interesting items next to the fireplace pillar of Detritus. He cleansed everywhere from the stored Flair he’d learned to tap.
He spent the rest of the time stretching himself.
Debris and Detritus thrilled at the feel of His Person, Zane, before D and D’s door. Zane had returned as he said he would! D and D could trust His Person. D and D had sensed that, and gone with his very own judgment and had been validated.
“Debris and Detritus,” murmured Zane, and the man touched D and D’s front stone door jamb. The House felt the warmth of his living flesh, and through that flesh the joyful emotions of the man.
Yes? he sent telepathically.
“I am going to affix a plaque next to your door, on the outside of your wall. It announces your name, and that you are an intelligent House, soon to become a Residence.”
YES!
“It may hurt a little.” Zane sounded apologetic.
D and D creaked a little around the newly fixed hinges of his door. Thought the noise would sound like a human huff. I am a strong being. The little pain is WORTH having My Plaque.
All right, Zane sent mentally. And have you noticed you’ve started speaking with EmPhaSis?
I have connected with another new Residence, the Mugwort-Moss Residence. Once known as the Turquoise House. A spurt of pain from his person stopped D and D’s explanation. What is wrong? he demanded.
I did not SEE you well in the storm and before I lost my sight. I