Alexander 

The reflection of the fire that dances in the hearth matches the color of Sage's eyes. They follow me as I sit at my desk, reading every movement of the quill in my hand and the expressions on my face. 

I look up to glance at her from where she sits in front of the fireplace, stilling my hand. The scar on my shoulder throbs as my gaze meets hers.

I am fine.

She heaves a sigh and sinks down to the carpeted stone, resting her head on her enormous paws. All of the excitement from the meeting with my Councilmen has gotten her wound up and worried, but she takes my word and shifts her eyes towards the door. 

I was an infant when Sage bit me. My mother relayed the story to me since I was too young to remember it, myself. She said it was shortly after I was born that she introduced me to the enormous beast, lowering me to be level with her so that she could get a good look at my face, and memorize my new scent. 

According to my mother, my father had never so much as laid a finger on Sage's ebony coat, but the moment that her eyes flashed and she lunged for me, the King reacted with superhuman speed and grabbed two fistfuls of the Chimera, and dragged her away from my mother and I. He must have been able to sense that she was going to do something, because if I have learned anything about Sage, it is how quickly she can move. Though my father reacted immediately, the beast still managed to graze my bare shoulder with one of her teeth, just wounding me enough to leave a scar when it healed. 

My mother said that she remembered reading a book about Chimeras when she first received her companionship and recalled a specific passage about the creatures bonding themselves to a human. She had never scratched or bitten my mother or father, and the fact that she hadn't tried to attack my father after he so roughly hauled her away from me, indicated that she was not trying to eat me, but rather, that she was marking me as hers. Ever since then she had remained by my side, protecting me from the moment she met me. There are many stories that my parents have told me about her killing snakes and dogs that have gotten too close to me, about her keeping me away from pointed objects or sharp drops, and she even attacked a nurse once when I was ill and unhappy at being touched. Reportedly, I have never fallen asleep without her beside me since the day she marked me. 

My shoulder stops aching, so I go back to signing the documents in front of me. The growl of my stomach keeps breaking my concentration, as well as the thoughts that weigh on my mind. I keep looking towards the closed door of my study at every creak of the old wood. I wonder, just how many other snakes are hidden mere feet in front of me? 

There is finally a knock on the door, causing Sage to stand and wander over to it, nose pressed to the crack between the wood and the stone of the floor. Both the sequential nature of the taps and the slight wag of her tail let me know who is on the other side, and I relax back into my chair. Not a snake.

"Come in, Illius," I call, returning to my papers.

Sage escorts my Captain to my desk before she goes back to her spot in front of the fireplace, trusting him with the proximity to me. However, her fire enveloped gaze stays trained on us, always watchful over me.

With no one around to behave properly for, Illius peers over my shoulder, leaning his weight onto the desk, beside the elbow that I have resting on it. Tendrils of long hair fall over his shoulder and spill over mine as he comfortably forgets the meaning of personal space. "You have such beautiful handwriting," He muses, observing the ink that traces loops of my signature onto a document. "You were quite impressive today. I am very dubious that any other member of your Council will dare to express such traitorous behavior again."

I place the finished document into a pile, on top of dozens of others, and reach around Illius' hand for the next one. "I pray that you are right. What have you done with Mabon?" 

Illius fakes a wound. "What you asked me to, of course. I have Talon watching his cell in the dungeon until you give further instruction."

I pause my quill to pinch the bridge of my nose, releasing an exhale. With it, tension flees from my body, letting my shoulders drop from my chin. Of course, I have no reason to doubt him, even if he is the only one left on castle grounds that I can trust. Guilt floods my body and I pass a hand over my face, feeling tired from the stress of the day. "Of course, I am sorry. I don't mean to doubt you." 

Illius places a hand on the top of my head and ruffles my hair, the way that he has done since we were children. His voice turns very gentle, like the calm waters of a stream. "I know, you have no need to apologize, Sandy," He keeps his hand on me, though he has stopped playfully tousling my curls. When he continues his sentence, there is a storm in his words that rumbles like thunder. "I will burn this place to the ground if I must, to weed out all who's loyalty has so much as wavered towards you. I cannot bear to see you so stressed." 

A wave of reassurance crashes over me, filling my lungs and diluting the anxiety that coils in my gut. This time, my sigh is a content one. The faceless shadows in the corners of the room that have been causing me to jump with nerves seem to disappear, fleeing in the presence of my Captain. It does not matter what adversaries lay ahead of me, as long as Illius remains on my side of the battle. 

I turn to lock eyes with him, tilting my head up enough to find his steel colored orbs. My voice is serious, reinforced with a steel spine. "Swear something to me, Illius." 

His gaze is so open, revealing no lies or hidden motives. He looks at me the way that Sage does every time that I catch her staring at me. His response is immediate, words firm. "Anything."

I turn in my chair to face him more fully. "Swear that you will not betray me, not ever. Promise that you will not leave my side in this world."

Illius smiles, revealing teeth that usually remain hidden behind straight, closed lips. His chuckle is like the tinkle of small bells as he ruffles my hair again. "Of course, you know that I swear it. I have said so since we were children, and my mind will never change on the matter. I swear on this heart that beats in my chest that I am yours, Sandy. You have my unyielding loyalty until the day that I am ripped from this world. With every fiber of my being, I swear that I will never betray you." His hand drops to my shoulder and he squishes me against his side in a one-armed embrace, as if I am a silly child. 

I catch Sage lift her head from the corner of my eye, but I quell her worry before she climbs to her feet.

Affection.

"Are you contented now? You are so endearing, Sandy. You have not changed since we were children."  Laughter dances around his words, giving his voice a playful undertone. 

Ironically, I think that he is the one who remains the same as ever. I push against his chest, playfully shoving him off balance. His hand briefly leaves the desktop, but he never loses his footing. I make certain to pacify Sage before the growl in her throat escapes her lips at the rough physical contact.

Playful.

  "I am satisfied," My impish smile grows smaller, and my voice softer with it. "Thank you." 

Illius sobers a little at my words of gratification, his eyes taking on a somewhat crestfallen shimmer. "You never need to thank me, Sandy. I am no outsider. I do this because you are my brother, and I care more deeply for you than anyone else." He looks like he would like to say something more, but a knock on the door of the study draws both of our attention. 

Illius stands straight as a pin, a hand going to the hilt at his hip. His expression darkens, becoming suddenly guarded. This Illius is very different from the man who was just standing here, though I trust him no less. The mask that he arranges is not for me, but for everyone else. My Captain moves to stand in front of the desk, casting me a curious look. 

I set my quill down and stand from my seat. "I asked Felix and Suelain to find Abigor," I explain, gently touching his elbow to reassure him. He relaxes a bit, and I remove my hand, raising my voice to be heard from the hallway, "Enter." 

Sage raises from her spot on the floor and goes to the door, ready to greet and analyze the guests. Her head is level with her body as she catches their scent through a crack in the door.

A man with sable curls is the first to enter, pausing in the doorway to bow low, careful to avoid touching the beast that eyes him. "We have the Duke Addanc, as you ordered, My Lord." 

"You have done well, Felix. Bring him in, please." I watch Illius loosen his grip on his sword and relax more fully, being able to see for himself who is at the door. His sideways glance meets mine. 

Abby... because of earlier?

I nod in answer to his unspoken question before turning my attention back to the door. 

Abigor was introduced to me when I was around eight years old. He had left his mother and father's estate to live at the castle with his aunt, for reasons that were not disclosed, and has been here ever since. For nearly a year he tried to engage with Illius and me, but we were reluctant to play with anyone but each other. There had been a handful of other children that were in the Court at the time, but many of them turned out to be as rotten as most of their parents and were quickly dismissed from our company.

 Since Illius and I were raised together by the same wet nurse, we were as close as brothers from the start and it felt intrusive for us to allow another person into our tightly knit circle. They usually felt estranged by our relationship and gave up, but Abigor was the most persistent twelve-year-old we had ever met and was insistent that we allow him to join in our make-believe adventures. We hated to see him striving so tirelessly to befriend us, so after a few months, we gave in to his tenacious personality.

We have considered him our friend ever since, and once we grew older, he decided to follow Illius' steps and try to earn a spot on my Guard. Unfortunately for him, my uncle decided that his skill was not quite up to par with the others, and he was dejected. Abigor now takes personal lessons from my uncle Lance, building up his capability with weapons and strategic decisions until he is worthy of joining my Guardsmen. My uncle's training is the most difficult that there is, but Abigor seems determined to be useful to me, refusing to accept defeat and return home to his parents. If he went back home, he would live out a lavish life with minimal effort until the day that he died. So, I still do not understand why, year after year, he remains here, struggling to earn his place among my closest companions. His sheer doggedness does not cease to amaze me, though I worry that I may have dug out his true reason for being this way towards me like a terrier does to a burrowed rodent.

Unbound but sandwiched between Felix and Suelain, the familiar face of my old friend emerges as he peeks around Felix's tall frame. Though they are filled with a confused inquiry, his large, puppy-like eyes are as bright as ever. If he had a tail, I have no doubt that it would be wagging.

"Alex? You called for me?" A hint of excitement can be heard in his voice, matching the look in his brown eyes. 

I lean on the front of my desk, folding my arms. "I did. I have a question to ask you."

 Illius stands close beside me, his shoulder grazing against mine as he observes our friend with a cool demeanor. If I suspect Abigor, then any feeling of kinship that my Captain may have felt towards him suddenly flees his veins. He only sees this man as a potential threat to me, now.

 Sage, satisfied with her work, leaves the guests to lean her weight on my right leg, watching the three newcomers intently from beside me.

Abigor tilts his head to one side, his brow furrowing for a moment. Realization dawns on his face, and he steps away from my Guardsmen to enter the room more fully. "Has this anything to do with my parents?" 

Illius holds a hand up to stay Felix and Suelain as they move to grab Abigor, and makes a motion that dismisses them from our presence. They do so without exchanging a glance, but only after bowing to me. They close the door behind themselves, barring the three of us in the study together. 

I nod. "It does. You are quite perceptive, Old Friend. What did you discuss with them this afternoon?" 

Sage and Illius take a step forward in unison when Abigor gets too close for their comfort, pausing him in his steps. His expression is wounded, but he raises his hands in surrender and takes several paces backward. "Only the usual things, Alex. Why do you treat me so distrustfully? Have I done something wrong?" 

I feel guilt coil around my gut like a snake at the expression on his face. He looks just like a kicked dog. "I need you to tell me exactly what your parents wanted, Abby. I was betrayed earlier today, and the Duke and Duchess were acting suspiciously mere moments before," I uncross my arms, softening my expression. "I have to be certain that your loyalty still lies with me. Do you understand?" 

Abigor seems to recognize the weight of my words and runs his hands through his thick mop of curls in distress. He knows that I am asking him to choose between myself, and his family. Under the usual circumstances, I would never subject my friend to such a torturous decision, but this situation is by no means a standard one. He turns to lean his elbows against the stonework above the fireplace as he makes his decision. 

There is a long moment of silence before he finally speaks, his voice soft in the large room. "You have my loyalty, Alex. You always have," He heaves a heavy sigh, and turns to face me. Silhouetted by the fire behind him, he holds his hands towards me, expressing his honesty. I wish that I could see his eyes with more clarity. "My parents have always been liers. Do not be angry with me for withholding this information from you... Please. I did not keep it from you to betray you. I did it to protect them... They may be horrible people, but they are still my blood. I would never have let any harm come to you, you must know that."

I narrow my eyes, not at all liking the way this conversation is headed. I feel as though I am about to lift a boulder to reveal a family of serpents. "Explain. I will listen fairly."

Abigor rubs the place between his eyes, shoulders high with tension. "I know. You are nothing if not just, Al," He pauses to swallow hard before continuing. "My mother and father want me to betray you. Please," He steps away from the hearth, and I can see the pleading in his eyes in the different lighting. "They will have me killed if they know that I forsake them."

"They would destroy their own son?" I whisper in disbelief, trying to conceive the thought, wondering vaguely if my own parents would do the same. I do not believe that they would, not even if I commit a grave, damning sin. I glance briefly to Illius, judging his expression. 

The mask that he sculpted for Felix and Suilain is still in place, even though the man in our presence is a friend. He has one arm braced on the desk behind him, the other resting habitually by the golden-hilted sword at his belt. Illius is left-handed, so using the right to lean on the desk behind my back is a protective display, rather than a mindless routine. As if to prove my observation correct, he leans closer to me, making his arm brush against the small of my back. His eyes are seel as he watches Abigor pace the floor in front of us, biting at his knuckles anxiously. Illius is not sure if he believes him or not, but I see no reason for our friend to lie.  

"Explain in more detail, Abby. How did they try to coerce you into deceiving me? What is it that they wanted you to do?" I ask, focusing my attention back to him. The fact that he was willing to admit something like this at all serves as evidence in his favor. If what he says is the truth, then I will know, without a doubt, who he is loyal to. There are two ways that this day may end, and I am hoping for the one that does not result in my friend being jailed. 

Abigor clasps his shaking hands together in front of him and takes a deep breath. "For quite some time, actually, they have plotted against you. When they saw that I was able to become your friend, they called after me. I thought that they might have changed their mind about me, and wanted me to be part of their lives again. However, they quickly made it clear that they only wanted to use me to get to you, since you trust me. I was around fifteen, perhaps? You were still only a child. They wanted me to join your Guard so that my place in your life would become absolute..." 

He trails off, seemingly afraid to continue with unveiling his parents' plot to overthrow me. Illius leaves my side and lunges forward, grabbing Abigor by the collar of his shirt. He brings the young Duke's face so close to his own that their noses are nearly touching. 

"If you know what is best for you, you will finish speaking. Now." I have scantly seen my Captain react so violently to someone before. The tone of his voice reminds me of the way a wolf snarls in defense of its young, and it effectively makes Abby withdraw into himself.

"I- I never would have done it! I swear on my life!" His eyes leave Illius to find mine, pleading. They shine with fear, and I do not disbelieve his words. Every fiber of his being screams that he is telling the truth, so unless he has quite suddenly learned how to act with phenomenal skill, he is being honest. 

Abby swallows again, grabbing hold of Illius' wrist as the grip tightens on his tunic, twisting the fabric closer around his throat. "They... they wanted me to poison you. They thought that with your parents gone, that there would be no one else to rule in your place but them."

Illius releases his tunic, shoving him backward with enough force to knock him off of his feet. "The Traitors!" He bellows, full of more rage than I have ever seen him express before.

 I grab my Captains arm to stop him from storming from the room, no doubt ready to burn the kingdom to the ground in search of the Duke and Duchess. Though my touch is gentle, it holds him in place as if it were a metal cage.

I am stunned to hear the report, though it does not surprise me as much as it should. For some time now, there have been many people in the court that are vocal about their disapproval of my ruling. They believe that my uncle should have been placed in charge instead of me. However, no one has had the audacity to avidly coordinate a plot against me before now. At least, none that I have heard about.

Illius' muscles are tensed beneath my hand, but his advancement forward has ceased. He breathes deeply, casting a look down at me. "You cannot let this pass, Sandy. This is a grave sin against you. Please, allow me to collect them to receive punishment." His voice is strained, hardly able to restrain himself from raising his voice in anger.

"No," I state simply, holding his steel gaze with the full intensity of my authority. I hope that he cannot sense how nervous I am to be left alone, grateful for the steadiness of my voice. If this one family is pitted against me, there could very well be others. "You will stay with me. Felix and Casimir will see that they are brought in. You are too emotionally invested to be involved in this."

My Captain closes his eyes and exhales, not arguing with my decision. He knows that I am right. If he went off to find them in this state, he would harm them and tarnish both of our reputations. "Very well. What about this one? What do we do with him?" 

I look at Abigor, who finally picks himself up from where he was thrown on the floor. He keeps his gaze trained on his feet, shame rolling off of him in waves at the way Illius speaks about him as if he were a stranger. He remains silent, head hung.

"We protect him," I say, causing him to glance up at me with hope shimmering in his eyes. "Our friend did a brave thing. He chose me over his family, and there is no greater display of loyalty than that. Now, I must reciprocate it."