XVII. HERETIC

'I am Ryx', I introduce myself plainly. 'Neither the first of my names nor the last, but for you it will do.'

'So, you are… one of them?' He sounds genuinely impressed. His large eyes widen. He weakly smiles. 'I believed… you were just a myth.'

I look at him, unsmiling, saying nothing. I see a slightly tanned, well-shaven face with tiny dots of stubble, bare fingers with little hairs on the backs, expensive clothes. This self-styled "Princeps Divine" is charismatic. Handsome, well-groomed, courteous, likeable. No wonder he had achieved so much, had been so popular and successful.

Still, much like every one of the unenhanced people, compared to me he is just a young boy. And a fool.

I am silent for a time, just regarding him with a properly somber expression. But eventually, I speak.

'Yes, I am one of them all right. We've been known by many names over time; some pretentious, others silly. Though I, personally, much prefer the Heralds of Justice.'

He watches my face, as if searching for something, realisation dawning slowly upon his youthful features.

Then I allow myself a smile, though it's an awkward one for it is an art that I don't practice often.

'But all this time I...' he stammers, 'I thought you were a mute!'

'Well, I suppose I was, in a way.'

Now I see him trembling; slightly at first, then gradually more and more.

I wait for him to start speaking up for himself. I hate the idea that such a man could be right, but like she said – and the local custom insists – it may be true. Funny how sometimes we hear the greatest of truths from people we least expect. But this is the problem with guys such as this: they're adamantly confident they are doing the noble thing, when in fact it is anything but.

'You know,' I begin instead, 'If I were you... Hell no, strike that. I wouldn't fancy being you even should my life depend on it. An old friend of mine, Francus Garrai, once said: One's life is the sum of one's choices. He was right, don't you think? Every time you make a choice, you forgo one road in favour of another. And, oh look, all the choices you've made in your life, both for yourself and for others, brought you here, to me. You're getting what I mean, yes?'

He slowly nods, glaring at me.

'And now you're cornered, with nowhere to flee. What a damn shame.'