« We need to talk about Sadha. »
Mahalia stopped writing down her journal as soon as the smooth, languish voice came out. She had not heard anything or anyone coming in she always had a tendency to be easily distracted in the past, but she was surprised that anybody was still capable of coming near her so silently.
Even more surprising, she was pretty sure that the voice didn't belong to the Red Prince. Which was unusual, since the name « Sadha » was always on his lips – much to her distress, sometimes.
She got up and turned around to face her visitor, her figure tense and nervous.
« Oh », she said. « You. » She tapped her claws slightly against her desk, thinking about calling out her nearby friends. She was pretty sure Ifan could be here in a second if she called him. Lohse could easily teleport the intruder out of the room if necessary and the Red Prince would probably be glad to engage him in a fight.
While she was figuring her options, her visitor smiled eerily to her, moving smoothly around the room. His black, lithe figure seemed to merge with the darkness, and it was plain to see how easily he could slip into the shadows, whom he bore the name. He was a bit smaller than she– but then, so was nearly everyone, since female lizards naturally had a gracious and tall figure- but he had a natural air of confidence and intelligence. Like most scale-brothers, he talked with polite contempt, and a note of condescendance.
« Do not worry, my dear. » He inclined gracefully his head, not breaking eye-contact. « I do not plan to attack you or any of your friends tonight. But I have to talk to you, Godwoken. May I ? » He pointed at one of the sofa in her room.
« Haven't we talked already, Prince of Shadows? » she replied, ignoring his polite gesture. He sat nonetheless on the sofa. She moved forward, scanning the room for any traces of assassins. « On the Nameless Isle . Such a delightful encounter. Weren't you supposed to be back at the Empire by now ? Surely our people need you there.»
« Not anymore. My priorities lie elsewhere nowadays. » He smiled pleasantly, unphased by her irony. « Such an interesting turn of events, seeing you and the Red Prince alive. I saw the Isle crumbling in pieces when I left it. Torn apart by an inside and all-consuming fire, that even you couldn't survive. I saw all my problems resolved at once. Or so I thought. Yet, here I find you again, still dancing around the shades of history. Investigating the city, searching for people I took an interest in. Hence, my presence here tonight. » He smiled. « Please, do sit down. No need in scurrying the room. I assure you we are alone. »
Mahalia sighed but complied. She did not believe for a moment that the Prince of Shadow would show up without his assassins around him. That he didn't want to kill her right now didn't mean he would not take advantage of his position later. She thought she had seen the last of him when he left the Nameless Isle. She should have know that they were bound to meet again, in most unpleasant terms. The master of the Shadow House had made it clear that he would kill Sadha and the Red Prince, along with their dragon-child.
« If you say so, Prince, please be my guest », she said, relieving a bottle of wine from the table beetwen them. She opened it as gracefully as she could. « But know that it is highly inappropriate for the House of Shadows to make such a visit to one from the House of Dreams. Wine ? »
« Gladly, thanks. It is indeed unfortunate that our fates have intertwined like this, Godwoken. In normal circumstances, I could not have you know about my existence and live. However, you served me well when you killed the Mother-Tree...it's only natural from a gentleman to return the favor. »
« I served our Empire », she corrected dryly. « Though you may like to think it is one and the same thing, it is not. »
« And you did well. You used to be a dream mystic ? A minor prophet, isn't it ? »
She nodded. No use in trying to hide her meager past. Surely someone like him could know all the secrets he wanted.
« So you're used to serve us. You understand what common good is. You understand that sometimes, for the good of all, some may suffer. »
« I do know what you are so delicately implying, however I am not so delicately inclined to help you in this task. » She paused, looking for a glimpse of annoyance in the face of the black lizard in front of her. Once, a lifetime ago, a Dreamer such as she was would never have thought about speaking like this to anyone. But living amongst ruffians, criminals, outlaws, gods, and so many beings intricated into the balance of power in Rivellon had made her ruthless and disregarding of formalities. The intrigues fatigued her. « I won't turn against him. I won't hurt Sadha, nor their infants. I thought that we already made that clear. »
The Prince of Shadows nodded. « Yes, I knew you'd say this. Such a pity », he said slowly. Was it a threat ? Mahalia tensed, ready to incant. She could probably call her Bone Widow to her in an instant if her 'guest' decided to attack her. Maybe one of his henchman was already besides her, a knife in his hands, walking silently, invisible to her eyes...she began humming lightly, nearly unconsciously, weaving her magic around her to protect her. A cage of bones...a will to live...a bloody touch...there was a lot she could do to defend herself. If only she wore her armor and shield…
But the Prince of Shadow didn't make any signs of attack. He watched her intently, the small and gracious dance of her claws as she thought about her spells. He did not seem much worried. Instead, he sipped silently his glass of wine, slightly amused. « Dear Mahalia, please calm down. I wish no harm to you. Indeed, why would I ? You're the Godwoken of our Goddess. A Dreamer. I assure you I did not lie to you. I am alone here. »
« Then it is I who sould end you now », she said, her voice soft and growling. Such a ben-Mezd thing to do, to growl at an ennemy like that, she thought. Dear, her manners had become terrible these last weeks. Here she was thinking about how to murder quickly her opponent without alerting the rest of the tavern.
«Should you ? »
Their gazes locked. She felt uncomfortable. Why didn't this broke out in a fight ? It seems it was how all her encounters ended. She had killed so many. She had reached so much power. Yet the black colored lizard showed no signs of fright nor offense. He was playing a game he knew well. He did not believe she could truly hurt him. She felt furious for a moment. No one could defy her like that. She was a god to be. She would teach him to fear her.
Yet she was intrigued. This curiosity now held her back. Or maybe she just didn't want to fight ? Was she scared of the outcome ?
« Of course, it would be incredibly rude to threaten a guest in my own home, so to say. » She admitted reluctantly.
« Ruthless and desperate as well, Godwoken. But we can settle this another day. Good taste of wine, by the way. Not bad for a human inn, but so unrefined compared to my own's stock, I'm afraid. »
« I'm sure », she mumbled. « Please excuse my forwardness, but since the matter of Sadha is settled, I don't see why exactly you are still here. »
« I wish to try to convince you to ally with me. » Before she answered, he pressed on : « Think about it, Godwoken. You have the power of our Goddess in you. And from what I see, you already have greatly evolved passed the abilities of our most dangerous brethen. I know about your quests and I have spent time reflecting upon where it will lead you. You and our people. I hate to say it, but I had to admit it : you are the Empire now. You have become more important than any Prince, any Princess. I was wrong to place such an emphasis on the Red Prince before. He is dangerous for our kin. But not as dangerous, nor as wonderful as you are. His arrogance and stupidty blinded me for a time. But you, Mahalia...you could be everything. I could help you rule the Empire. I could help you change the world.»
He stared at her, with such intensity in his eyes that even the Godwoken felt uneasy. She breathed heavily, trying to concentrate. She could see why such a character would take interest in her story. A lizard from the House of Dreams, touched by the Goddess, who escaped death so many times she could not count anymore, and whose only future lied in her inevitable encounter with the Divine. Mahalia and her friends were aware of their roles in the major events that unfolded in Rivellon. However, she had never really taken the time to think about the impact that she could make on the Empire. All those politics seemed so far away. So irrelevant.
The perspective of ruling the Empire crossed her mind. Ifan had convinced her to share the power of the Divine within the people of Rivellon. She had promised to think really hard about it, because she trusted him and she trusted his visions, so different from her own educations. But had she thought about the way such a decision would impact her home country ? And all the countries of Rivellon ? They were on the verge of war. Would the people relinquish their thirst for power and violence if she gave them the power of the Divine and a common ennemy ? Would they follow her ? Could she truly be a ruler ?
What would the great Houses of the Empire have to say about it… ?
The truth was that she didn't know. She did not have any clue. She spent half her life Dreaming for others than her, before the Dream took her. The other half, she had spent travelling with Godwokens. She had no political insight that was a domain she was glad to leave to the Red Prince, or even to Ifan.
Could someone like the Prince of Shadow truly help her ? She did not dislike him, but she did not trust him either. However, it was a serious offer, she could tell. The Prince of Shadow was a legend amongst her kin. A boogeyman to keep your children in the right path. Everybody sort of assumed that the House of Shadows truly existed and that it had a Prince...but no one really talked about it seriously. It seemed foolish to think that someone played with politics and fates like a player of chess. She had shared this thought, too, once. Before meeting the enigmatic ruler of the House of Shadows in the flesh. If she did manage to divide the power of the Divine...if she did manage, somehow, to survive all this...then surely she could need a political ally as powerful as he.
It would be logical. But it displeased her greatly. She didn't want to need anyone. She didn't want to rule anything. She didn't want to face the repercussions of her possible actions. Let the world decide. She wanted to remain free, at least.
« I won't be yours to command, Prince. I won't serve you. » She finally replied.
This time, her words seemed to affect him. He looked at her blankly, struck by her calm affirmation. Some kind of emotion gleamed in his dark eyes. Anger ? Disappointment ?
« Please do not insult your own intelligence with such a careless and emotionnal reply » he answered coldly. « I am sure you see how I can take an interest in you. Your decisions, your victory or your defeat, could change the world for us all. It is my duty to assure that the lizard-kin stays on the top. I can't have you...nor Sadha...nor this damn Red Prince...ruin everything that the Empire have built just to embrace your reckless ambitions or passions. Mahalia, I have come to meet you tonight as a...well, think of me as an advisor for now. I knew I couldn't change your mind about the Red Prince, that your...'affections'...towards him would blind you to the danger he represents, even for yourself. And I promise you that he will betray and hurt you, in time. And I can't allow you to let him live. I won't allow you to lose everything. If you are defeated, what will become of the lizardkin ? And if you are not, then you need me to advise you. You're a fighter, not a political leader. » Now, he seemed furious. « And when I see you, I only see you for what you are : a little Dreamer, still caught up in her restrained education and view of the world. Clearly not one who possess the strenght to bend it to her will. That such a power is in your claws... ! That a nobody like you gets the responsibility of it all… !»
She was speechless. She had not expected such an outburst from him. Well, she had not expected to talk to him again as well. How could a man she didn't even know be so sensitive about her fate ? He made it clear he was only interested in the effects her victory or defeat would have on the Empire, yet she felt confused and frustrated. How did he dare speak to her that way ?
« Are you done here ? » she asked coldly. She had nothing to prove to such a megalomaniac character. Clearly the Prince of Shadows thought too highly of himself and of his tasks in the world. Dumbass male lizards ! Always so fond of themselves ! So damn pretentious ! Why were they all like that ? No wonder she preferred the company of human most of the time. At least they had a sense of humor.
The assassin rose from the chair slowly, keeping his eyes on her. Suddenly he had regained his unreadable composition. « I am », he said. « Think about what I said. »
« Which part ? The one where you ask me to kill my faithful companions, or the part where you insult me, dear « advisor » ? I didn't quite get it through all the condescending nonsense.» She glared acidly at him.
He stiffed. The tension rose in the room. « I see that I have overstated your intelligence. Clearly you lack the faculty of accepting the facts, which are that your « friends » are a threat to the equilibrium of Rivellon and to yourself, and that you have no training whatsoever in the politics and intrigues your fate guide you in. With luck, I have overstated your chance of survival as well. »
She rose up as well to face him. « I could kill you now. »
He laughed. « I could break your neck before you finish talking. »
« Oh, please try. I'd love to see you fail miserably. »
« Even a fool like you could still be of use. »
« If I ever win this war of mine, I will let you and the House of Shadow rot », she smiled sweetly. « For I won't have any use of you. »
He smiled back, confidently. « Oh, I can assure you, you will need me. And I will make you beg, to have you pay such foolishness and arrogance. Now, I do not wish to retain you in your quests. I'll go. »
« Please do so », she replied, hissing between her teeth. The black lizard moved gracefully and quickly to her door. He already seemed to blend in the shadows. For one second, she tought that he could have stayed here in her room, warped in his cloack of shades, and she would not have know it. The thought sent a uneasy shiver down her spine. She would have to upgrade her security here. Maybe keep one of her evocations around ?
« I'm glad we talked. Until we meet again, Godwoken. »
Then there was no one, and she was alone in her room.
Or was she ?
She did not sleep well that night.