Warning: Dishonored and it's characters are the property of Bethesda Softworks.(If you've played the game you should recognize them)
My character's are mine, and mine alone.
Chapter 2: A Battle Without Weapons
Tarot walked down the hall, even though his pace was even, he could not keep a quiet thought in his head. He would not only be sitting with Callista, but learned by eavesdropping on a couple of maids as he went to fetch Lux Tenebrosi, that Lux would be seated on the other side of him. If Tarot were still conscious by the end of the meal, he would thank every known god for every known religion in the isles. It was blatantly obvious that Lux liked him, but it didn't help that she was also quite attractive. Focus, Tarot thought to himself, it's just dinner! It's not like I'm expected to marry both of them. However, the mere thought brought him to a dead stop, blushing red enough to shame the carpet he currently stood on.
Earlier that evening, the Empress had summoned Tarot and Corvo to her study. As they entered, Tarot could tell that whatever she was about to tell them it would be important.
"You summoned us, my lady." Corvo stated, sounding a little confused. Normally, Empress Kaldwin would send a guardsman to tell them to escort important guests.
"Yes," she confirmed, "Corvo, do you still have your mask?"
"Yes, I do." he said.
"Good, that's good." she said, sounding relieved. "I have a bad feeling about a foreign dignitary being here with only one bodyguard and one adviser. If anything were to happen to any of them, it would be very bad for the relations we have with the isle of Serkonos."
"Understood, my lady," Corvo said, "should I have the guard doubled?"
"No, that would probably draw too much attention." she said analytically, making it apparent to Tarot that the conditions of the dignitary's stay were not normal. "Corvo, I want you to guard dignitary Largitati as covertly as possible, is that clear?"
"Yes, my lady." As Corvo said this, he took a bow, his left hand on his chest so his Outsider's mark could be seen clear as day.
"Tarot, you will guard his adviser, Lady Tenebrosi. Also as covertly as possible, am I clear?" she ordered.
"As crystal, Empress Kaldwin." Tarot said, as he took the same bow as Corvo, revealing his Outsider's mark.
As he came to Lux Tenebrosi's quarters, he couldn't help but feel his hands shake. "Damn it, relax!" Tarot hissed at himself. Shaking off what nervousness he had left, he raised his hand to knock when he heard noises muffled by the door, "Lady Tenebrosi," he said as he knocked.
"One moment," he heard her trail off, then he heard an audible click followed by a whirring sound. An audiophone? Tarot thought, Well it wouldn't hurt to check. When he activated his Dark Vision ability, it felt like he was going into a deep meditative state. He could see a few books that were probably on a desk. He caught sight of Lux's vision cone, then he felt amazement, confusion, and shock. Tarot could clearly tell from her body movements that she was undressing. She brought her hands up over her head, her left arm moved as if throwing something, he then saw her open what he could guess was a wardrobe, she open something and stepped into it. Lastly, Tarot saw her reach to grab something at her waist when his Dark Vision wore off. "You can come in." she called out.
Tarot opened the door, he had stopped blushing but now he was utterly speechless at the sight of her. She wore a long, sleeveless black silk dress with a high collar that reached halfway up her neck. Her long blonde hair done into a top knot, that rose a few inches over her head, and then fell to rest between her shoulder blades. Lux was looking at him in the mirror, she smiled, "Lord Calvariam, you're staring." he shook his head, and turned towards the door.
"I have been sent to escort you to dinner." he said, hoping desperately that she couldn't see his face as red as it now was.
"I figured as much," She said as she dimmed the lights in the room. "otherwise, Lord Attano would be where you are now." with that she closed and locked the door, slipped the key into a black leather pocketbook and they made their way to the dining hall.
"You're originally Serkonan, aren't you?" she inquired.
"H-how could you tell?" Tarot didn't exactly say it, more like the words fell from his mouth, fortunately in the right order.
"It was your eyes," she said, "Blue as the sky, but mixed with finely cut sapphires."
"Oh," Tarot said, he had never heard someone describe his eyes that way, "Thank you."
"May I ask you something else?" she asked.
"Anything, Lady Tenebrosi." he said.
"How long have you served as Lord Corvo's apprentice?"she asked with a smile.
"I will have been Corvo Attano's apprentice for ten months next week." Tarot said confidently.
"Well, I must say," she said as they reached the door to the dining hall, "I am truly honored to dine with you." Shit, Tarot shouted in thought, I forgot about that part!
The table was set. Much to Tarot's relief, Callista had yet to arrive. In fact, the only people yet to arrive were; Callista, Lord Engineer Piero Joplin and his wife Cecelia, Lord Physician Anton Sokolov, and the Royal Navy's Commander Samuel Beechworth. At the head of the table was the Empress, with Corvo naturally at her side. Dignitary Largitati was seated at her left, with his bodyguard seated next to him. The seat to Empress Kaldwin's right was reserved for Callista, Tarot would be seated to her right, and Lux to his. Lux walked over to her chair and took her seat. Just as Tarot was about to take his seat, Callista walked in with the remaining dinner guests. Tarot got up and helped Callista into her seat while the others took their seats.
"Why, thank you, Tarot." Callista said with a kind smile.
"It's my pleasure, Lady Callista." Tarot replied, also with a kind smile.
"Ah, Tarot," Piero said with surprise, "After dinner, Corvo wishes for you to come to my workshop. There is something he wants me to craft for you."
"Yes sir, Lord Engineer," Tarot said, "I'll make my way there afterward."
All in all, the dinner went without a hitch, the food was great, the conversation light. That is until Largitati asked Tarot questions that were both demeaning and insulting. Tarot just kept getting a stronger and stronger impression that the dignitary despised him. When Largitati asked Tarot if he had killed anyone since becoming Corvo's apprentice, Tarot's answer was "I wish to avoid killing if at all possible, but unfortunately, the time may come where killing is the only option. When that times comes, I feel I am fortunate to have a master that supports me, the way master Corvo does." Yes, smooth. he thought, Go ahead and try to make me look like a fool now, Largitati! "Well, apprentice," Largitati said, "my bodyguard, Kenal Petra, is not afraid to take the lives of those who wish mine to end. In fact, since I became dignitary, Kenal has taken the lives of twenty-five would be assassins."
"Indeed," Kenal said, his voice sounding as gruff and hardened as his physical appearance, "to avoid taking the life of those who would gladly take yours, should only be used when absolute discretion is needed." Tarot bowed his head and sat back down, he never expected to be made a fool of by the bodyguard. After all, the man had never spoke around Tarot since he arrived. Throughout the rest of the meal, Dignitary Largitati acted as though Tarot was not even there. Tarot felt something fall on his thigh, he glanced down to find a note, which he then slipped into his pocket.
"Pardon me for a moment," he said as he got up out of his seat, "I need to use the washroom." Once he was in the hall with the door closed behind him, he headed down the hall to the washroom. Tarot silently hoped that the small folded note had been from Callista, but since he found it on his right thigh, Lux was the only other option. When he opened the note, sure enough it was from Lux, all it said was 'Come to my room at 11 o'clock. Lux'. Tarot closed the note back up and shoved it into his pocket, Damn it! Tarot thought as he stared down at the sink, Nothing can ever be simple, can it! He splashed his face with cold water and sighed.
Tarot returned to his seat, the conversations that followed seemed to be mostly about politics. So he decided to talk to Callista, something he'd been dying to do since she walked in.
"So, Callista," he said as low as he could, so as not to give Largitati another opportunity to make a fool out of him, "how did your day go, anything interesting happen?"
"Not really," Callista replied, "though I'm very surprised how cruel the dignitary's been towards you. All you did was make sure he and his attendants arrived safely. Which, from what I can tell, you did perfectly, considering their still breathing."
"I know," Tarot said in agreement, "it's as though he's waiting for me to fail."
"Anyway, would you join me for lunch tomorrow?" she asked. Tarot nodded enthusiastically, "Great!" Callista said gleefully.
"Well," the Empress said as she rose from her seat, "Since we all seem to be finished, now seems like a good time to retire for the evening, wouldn't you say?" Everyone seemed to be in agreement, so they rose from their seats. "Corvo, If you would please escort Dignitary Largitati to his room."
"Yes, my lady." Corvo said, and gestured towards the door, "Lord Dignitary, Lord Petra, if you would kindly follow me." Largitati and Petra followed Corvo out of the room, but not without Largitati giving Tarot a final disapproving look. Tarot shook it off, I wouldn't mind introducing your neck to my blade. Tarot thought as Largitati left the room.
"Tarot," the Empress said, "Would you escort Lady Tenebrosi and Callista to their rooms."
"Yes, ma'am," Tarot said as he helped Lux and Callista out of their chairs, and gesture for them to follow him, "Ladies, please follow me."
"Tarot," Piero called, "When you've finished, remember to come to my workshop."
"Yes, sir." he said as the three of them left the room.
In the hall, Tarot found it literally impossible to relax. Not five steps from the door, Callista reached down and held his hand, and Lux took hold of his arm and held it close to her. When they arrived at Lux's room, she reluctantly let go of his arm. "Remember." she whispered as she unlocked the door and entered, catching one last glance at Tarot as she closed the door. When they heard the door latch, Tarot and Callista continued down the hall. After they had gone around the corner, Callista took hold of Tarot's arm, just as Lux had, holding it close.
"Tarot," she said softly.
"Yes, Callista." he said.
"Can I tell you a something?" she asked.
"Of course." he said.
"It's something mother told me that her mother would say to Corvo whenever he would leave on an assignment." she said.
"What would she say?" he asked gently, as they arrived at the door to Callista's room.
"When you are near, my heart is at peace," she started. Then, Callista stood on her toes, and kissed Tarot on the lips. "Hurry back to me." With that, Callista went into her room, as she closed the door she said "Goodnight, Tarot."
"Goodnight, Callista." he said as he raised his fingers to his lips. After she had closed and locked the door, Tarot walked a short distance down the hall, "Yes!" he whispered as he threw his fist in the air. In doing so, he accidentally Blinked down the hall, sending him crashing into a small table with an ornate vase on it. Thinking fast, Tarot used Bend Time, the vase stood frozen in mid-air. He took the vase, placed it gently back on the table, and stopped Bend Time. He exhaled in relief, using Bend Time felt like jumping into a pool of water, it always took a lot out of him.