The next morning, the eight people Carl had chosen came to the warehouse's entrance. Layla and Kurt were together. The thing was none of the eight people actually knew anything, all they knew was basically they would have to keep a secret, which required a blood oath. And in return their wages would triple, or more, Kurt actually wasn't sure because it was up to Carl. And frankly none of his business, it wasn't the type of deal one would take lightly.
The plan was to have eight people per location, so they could set up before, work after, then move what they get after they end up leaving. When Kurt and Sara were actually there was when most of their fast work had to happen. The eight people in Hazelton had taken the oath without Kurt last time, so even he wasn't completely sure what was exactly going to happen.
"So this is Lady Layla, and Sir Kurt," said Carl to the eight people. "You should all know this is the last time to walk away, because it will not just be an oath, it will be magically enforced, the Lady will explain."
"We have a secret we wish to keep, we have the ability to make a contract that will swear you to secrecy for life, it's not something you can disobey, but it is also not something that will hurt you. You will simply not be able to speak the words to those outside. It will require a drop of your blood to confirm, and a confirmation of word. Are you all prepared?"
The group looked around nervously.
"What do you mean, words won't come out?"
"Your voice won't create sound for words that reveal the secret. It will be a magical binding, if you are uncomfortable with any of this, this will be the time to leave. No one is forcing you, but I will not explain more until you agree."
"So I won't be able to tell my wife what I do?" one said, "even if I want to."
"For our arrangement, yes. Nor will you be able to write it down."
"What exactly are we swearing of?"
"That you won't reveal where you are, it's less about what but where, you'll be able to tell your wife you hauled stuff back and forth."
The group murmured. A little.
Carl spoke, "I have made a generous offer for this secrecy. It is just the insurance the Lady requires, I assure you I've seen it, it's weird but not that bad, just a drop, prick on the finger or arm."
The group finally all agreed.
As they walked into the warehouse, turned into a room, the eight saw the gate, and a small goblin waiting for them. "Everything should start making sense now," said Layla.
The group looked at the goblin, and the gate and basically shut down. The cryptic conversation they just had, made a lot more sense to them after that Kurt saw on their faces.
"Yes, the one performing the ritual will be this goblin, his name Joshua, and your work will involve being things in and out of this gate, and then I will move the gate itself, and come back on a later date.. So shall we?"
The group was staring, looking a little dumbfounded as they walked through the gate. Layla blew a kiss toward Joshua, who made a chant that caught the viable Kis and a dust scattered around the group.
"Everyone can understand me now, right?" said Joshua.
Yes, yeah, huh, and other agreeable grunts were made unorderly by the crowd.
"Very Good, The ritual is simple, you simply swear of your own free will that you will never reveal this gate existence, nor its location to anyone that has not been through it themselves. Take a drop of blood, we have a knife and anywhere on the body, arm, leg, finger" said Joshua pausing, "so don't be cutting your whole hand open here, one of you humans did that, weird. How could you hold anything after? — Anyway after you make the cut, let a drop of blood fall freely into this cup, don't rub it in, that's important." Joshua pulled up an average cup. "After you all do this, I will perform a similar ritual like I just did to translate our languages, and it will be done. We have something written down in your language to read, you must say the words then drop the blood, all while standing in this circle — and don't break it, step over into it and out of it" Joshua pointed down to a simple looking magic circle, he sounded like someone had broken it before, it was made of several colored sands. "After you all do this, I will perform a short ritual, and the seal will be complete. It is actually very similar to the translation spell, so that should give you some ease, there is no pain, just no words spoken."
They had lined up and done what Joshua said. Joshua then started chanting, and took a powder from a bag on his belt. "Ze ra Kay vaw" the powder started to spark with the blood when mixed in, the powders of the circle also started to swirl in their pattern above the ground, as a line, and the blood in the cup started to shake. Gradually the sparks won out, and the blood vanished and there was a last spark. Kurt thought, that didn't seem very similar to the last ritual but what did he know…he's have to ask Joe.
"And we are done," said Joshua.
The group looked at him confused.
"But I didn't feel anything," one said.
"You didn't violate the terms. And you won't really feel anything. Then, not being able to speak a word is, mostly, just a strange feeling. But I believe you all have work to do, I assure you it is done," Joshua said, starting to walk away.
"Yes they do," said Carl, " You see the plan is to move a bunch of stuff between our warehouses, and basically cut out the entire transportation cost. We also have access to material on this side of a gate as well. So we have some things to do, this is our first trip, so you haven't set up for our arrival. That's when things start really moving, but that doesn't mean we can't start now—"
"One more thing before I go Carl," interrupted Layla, looking at the group, "Generally speaking, I would be referred to as, you majesty, on this side of the gate." And Laya started to hover up into the air. "I'm sure you are a little confused by this, but we are all on the same side here. I hope you won't let us down."
"You're a…a…" said one of the people.
"Yes, I am Princess Layla of the Faye, Carl you may continue, I'm sorry for interrupting you, and be sure to answer their questions for me," she said, starting to fly back towards her pillar.
"Yes I will, and no need for apologies, your majesty. Thank you."
The entire group was listening intently to what Carl was saying, going over the basics of the plan and their part in it, but Kurt knew what was happening and headed back home to the tower. He would normally walk up to his house through the pillar, but he felt like showing off, or to let them know. And formed the larger water boots he ever made, mostly just large and not useful but only for the effect. And bent his knees and made a big jump, leaping through the air at a completely inhuman height speed and distance, landing at the top of the stairs running up the sides, That should do, Kurt thought, not looking back as he made his the top, where his home was, on the next jump. And that shouldn't hurt either. Layla wasn't the only one that gets to pull a power move like that, he thought.