"I sort of didn't get along with her, unfortunately", the words rolled off his tongue, unsuprevised by reason for the first time in many years. Detachedly, a split second after the last syllable of "unfortunately" hung in the air, Zarreth Trevelyan wondered if it was that the subject still touched him, after all. Fade damn it all, how could he just tell her that! How could he let it loose!
"Oh", Vivienne pursed full lips in a thinly veiled pout, her dark eyes suddenly cold and calculating as she straightened her back. Zarreth returned the stare, calling onto the shreds of the famous nobleman ice, a bored indifference to small matters - hoping his face was blank and slack as it was supposed to be. "It's a shame... she was killed by her own student, in the wake of this foolery".
Even when faced with a rage demon or a lyrium-drunk templar, Zarreth didn't feel the edge of the knife he was walking upon with such clarity as he did when standing in the dim-lit Chantry alcove and talking to First Enchanter Vivienne about... well, trivial things, where they, courteous chatter to know the other a bit closer? This had to be the part of the fabled Orlesian Great Game, but he knew nothing of it, and only his own wit and gut to stand up to this woman's piercing gaze. Ah, the Circle robbed him of many things, leaving him but with a smothered memory of what it had been to be – an heir, a power, a voice.
How much did she read in him, she - the queen bee of palace intrique and Val Royeaux politics, a mage that survived the tenets of the nastiest court in the history of Thedas and the dangers of Divine's seat? Did she read his attempts to pull up a facade of ignorance? And if so - what will be next? Ah, she did stare at him so... minute wrinkles of suspicion pulling at the corners of slightly narrowing eyes, only to dissipate in a crushing smile.
"But, let's hope this Inquisition fixes all the mess with the least effort, right, dear?" Eyes warm caramel again, tone slick as honey. Bees have honey, but they harbor stings as well. "Did she ask me this to gauge my reaction, talk about all this Circle and Inquisition business just to hurdle the question about Lydia when I got mellow and cosy in this conversation?"
He mustn't panic. No. That would be the worst. That would be like just barging in the Council room and offering his neck to Cullen... or Cassandra.
He was sure Cassandra wouldn't be shattered, though. She'd take it is if she owned it in the beginning. The fire that would burn then – he couldn't even fathom it.
"I'll do everything in my power, Lady Vivienne", Zarreth smiled but felt the blade under his feet, and beyond it - a yawning abyss. "We all would".
