Tale of Four

Tristan felt a drop of sweat roll down the side of his cheek. He didn’t even dare gulp in front of Brandon as the man looked at him, waiting for an answer. One wrong move, and Tristan knew that the man wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. The Library was barren, likely the halls surrounding it as well. He was already someone invincible to the court, his disappearance wouldn’t be noticed bar by a few, and even then it could be covered up with ease.

”Lady Death?” Tristan said in confusion. His words were slow, trying to hammer home the point that he had no clue why Bradon suggested that. Staring into the man’s eyes, he made sure to let him see that he had no genuine belief in the heretical God. ’It must have been Mary who said soemthing about it.’ It was the only logical conclusion he could arrive at.

Bradon’s gaze narrowed as his hand slithered backwards, ”Become one with your bird.” Brandon coldly said as the chameleon’s tongue retreated, freeing Annabell. Although Tristan didn’t wish to do so, he knew that Brandon wasn’t asking him. Taking Annabell into his hands, he closed his eyes and let Annabell return to his body. Her warmth spread throughout his body, and when he opened his eyes, his pupils were gone, replaced.

”Do you serve Lady Death?” Although he was nearly certain Tristan told the truth in his confusion, the risk couldn’t be taken.

”No,” Tristan said with a calm voice. Annabell’s power spread throughout him, calming his nerves. Bradnon watched the young boy and retook his seat, staring at him, the white in his eyes brighter than the candlelight.

Tapping his finger, he looked towards the Lizard. Although he trusted his own ability to read a person’s body, Azikial, the chameleon, was his second assurance. Throughout the first exchange, they had traded information, identifying different tells that Tristan gave that the boy himself didn’t notice, and narrowed it down to a few.

’There are no tells.’ The Azikial blinked to Brandon, giving the answer he had already reached. Staring into Tristan’s gaze, he couldn’t read it anymore, as there was nothing to read. The purity of his gaze, so intense that it rejected the notion of hiding soemthing.

’He follows a command from someone or soemthing? But what? Fiddling with his monocle, he stared at Tristan without saying a word. Throughout his rapid questions, he had gathered a lot from Tristan. Whenever he landed on soemthing Tristan hid, he would blink. He suspected it with his fear of death, proven by the question of playing a long game, and confirmed it with his final question.

”Whose command do you follow?” Bradon asked. In the state Tristan was in, there was no point in dodging questions.

”I do not know?” Tristan calmly said.

’He doesn’t know?’ Without showing it, he hid his shock at Tristan’s answer. ’How can someone not know?’

”Do you serve a God?”

”Only a God is capable of what I experienced,” Tristan said once again, his true thoughts coming through even when it was obvious he didn’t wish to say them.

’A divine command from an unknown God. An experience that can’t be explained via normal means. He wouldn’t say soemthing like that if it was communicated normally.’ Bradon hesitated to ask more. He couldn’t be sure if what Tristan had been asked was from a God or not, but if it wasn’t from a being who would be called benevolent, he knew he would be in danger himself, under the watch of an existence who wished to be hidden.

’I need more, but it could place the dynasty in harm if I pry further. If he has been instructed by a Heretical God.’ His gaze narrowed as the idea of killing Tristan on the spot surfaced, ’But if it is an orthodox God, I may place the family in greater harm.’ His sharp gaze softened, ’Ask or not ask?’

Looking at Azikial from the corner of his eye, his finger bounced.

’What do you think?’ His finger stopped as he asked the being closest to him. Azikial waited for a moment, trying to understand what Brandon truly meant.

’The Gods do not intervene without reason,’ It blinked back, ’Heretical or not. But if it is neither, you should be safe. The Gods of Veston protect this land, bar the north. A foreign God will have little influence on this conversation. They may not even know about it, even if they are watching.’

Azikial said, speaking about matters and knowledge that didn’t make sense for what it was. Brandon nodded to himself and pondered it. He believed himself well-versed in earthly matters, but when it came to religion, the arcane or the unexplainable, he had full faith in his summon, knowing it had wisdom beyond its perceived age.

’Is the risk worth it?’ Brandon tapped, asking Azikial. Once again, it waited, not answering without deep thought first.

’Yes.’ Azikial blinked back. With a smile, Brandon gazed back at Tristan, giving the boy his full attention, who silently sat watching the entire exchange without understanding what was said.

”What were you ordered?” Brandon asked carefully as Azikial stared ahead, moving to intercept any attack Tristan might suddenly throw. Brandon could see Tristan had no desire to answer, wishing to keep a secret he held deep in his heart safe. ’I need to force it out?’

Leaning forward, he copied his brother and interlocked his fingers, ”If you wish to live, you will answer.” His voice was cold, almost as cold as Anton’s, his eyes sharp as a blade. ”Right now, you are the biggest threat to the dynasty. I will not hesitate to destroy all threats to it, young Princeling. Save me the effort of forcing the truth out of you and tell me.” His tone became harder, each word slowly dragged out to hammer home the point to Tristan. Even if he had no pupils, he could see Tristan’s eyes darting back and forth in panic.

’Under the influence of the bird, he can’t hide anything. Before, he could keep the mask up slightly even when he let it drop, but now, he is like a book.’ Tristan’s mouth opened and closed before the boy sighed.

”Survive and wait. I don’t know what for.” Tristan finally spoke, his tone full of defeat. Brandon couldn’t help but frown and look to the ground, his thumbs rubbing together.

’Wait. What must he wait for? That order. Soemthing big is coming; the Gods don’t give commands on a whim. With Lady Death’s faith spreading, it is too coincidental not to be one. They are related, but how? Bradon stopped his thumbs, realising he was showing too much of himself. ’Is he her servant or is he a servant of a different God, one who does not wish to see Lady’s Death arrival and spread?’

He had a lot of information, but despite it, it wasn’t enough. ’How can I prepare without knowing what to prepare for. A Cosmaton chosen for what reason? Azikial tapped his arm, trying to get his attention. Peeking down at the chamelon, its eyes began to blink to tell him soemthing.

’If this is truly a work of the Gods, his summon isn’t random. They have never been, but his will be special. Meaningful.’ Azikial said, waiting.

’We need to study Lady Death’s teaching. If a dove is mentioned, it likely means him then?’ Tapping his question, Azikial blinked yes in reply.

’Don’t focus on that alone. There are numerous Gods, local and foreign. Orthodox and Heretical. All of them are to be considered.’ Azikial said, turning back to face Tristan, analysing him for a moment before blinking a final sentence. ’Speak to Elvissia if possible. They will know best.’

”Undo your merging.” Bradon cooly said and watched as the light in Tristan’s eyes vanished, revealing his black pupils, the dove reoforming by his side from smoke.

’That gaze like a painting, the ability to stay hidden. He could be useful. Even the Silent Chamber didn’t consider him a threat before. How long has he hidden this, without letting it slip? Since childhood, maybe before that. Such secrecy is valuable.’

With a smile, Brandon leaned back and corssed is arms, ”For now, you will be watched, investigated. I’m sure you came to that conclusion yourself, so I may as well tell you?” Tristan nodded in acknowledgement, not expecting anything less, ”However, out of goodwill for your cooperation, you may ask me one thing? Anything you wish to know. You can decide if I answered truthfully.

Tristan stared into Brandon’s gaze and took a deep breath. ’He’s serious.’ Telling himself, he took a risk, he was given a chance he may never get again. ’Why, though? Boredom, intrigue. Will he judge who I am based on my question? Will he file it in the back of his mind without taking it into consideration?’

Every answer felt feasible. Closing his eyes, he thought for a long time until he opened his eyes and stared into the man’s eyes, trying to read the unreadable. ”Chancellor.” Tristan quietly said, ”Do you have ambition for the throne?” There were many things he wanted to ask, but Tristan felt it was all pointless. He needed to ask soemthing only the man before him would know, soemthing that would give an insight into the person he spoke to before.

Tristan saw as Brandon stood motionless, the thin smile on his lips more perfect than his fake one. ”I serve the Cosmaton dynasty, not myself.” His gaze never changed, his body unmoving. Whether it was a lie or not, Tristan had no idea. Slowly, Bradon rose and walked off, without elaborating, merging with the darkness around them and vanishing.