Sain sat in a chair alongside Gera as they waited for the two Gardeners to finish their discussion in the study, unable to hear anything up the stairs and down the hall. The interior of the mansion was well kept and orderly despite the appearance from the outside. An elderly woman with completely grey hair was running about the kitchen, busily preparing a snack for the timid pair as Donavin stirred his tea with a teaspoon before leisurely taking a sip. After meeting Lough, the master of the house, Donavin had introduced the elderly woman as his wife Zoletta and explained their circumstances to her.
"Really now, Master Lough is known to be irresponsible, but siring a child with a colorless! No offence dears, of course! I really must give the young master a piece of my mind!"
Donavin smiled with a pained expression at the old woman as he responded, "Zoletta, please, this happened a long time ago. If Master Reazon hadn't found the poor boy, it is likely no one would have known, least of all Master Lough himself."
Zoletta simply let out a snort as she continued to work. "That is no excuse! We raised him better, Donavin! Even if he is viewed as a disgrace by nobility he still needs to maintain a certain level of refinement!"
"Refinement?" Sain thought to himself as the image of the drunken, disheveled man came to mind. "How is that refinement?"
Gera appeared to be having similar thoughts, as she lightly pursed her lips and looked at Sain.
"And you poor dears, left to live on your own with no support from his father! Utterly irresponsible!"
Gera and Sain wanted to intervene and explain why she didn't need to continue to badmouth her master, but neither of them could find a suitable lie to ease the tension of the situation.
"So, tell me about yourselves, my dears! What have you been doing until now? Where are you from? How have you gotten by on your own?" Zolletta fired off questions rapidly.
"Uhhh-" Sain began with a look at Gera as they tried to formulate a response, when Donavin came to the rescue.
"My dear, they were found as colorless in the outskirts of the city, belonging to a merchant of oddities. I know this is a revelation for you but please, give the pair them time to breathe at least between your questions!" Donavin exclaimed with a doting smile.
"Revelation indeed!" Zoletta said grumpily. "I don't suppose you could have told me what you were up to, going out to get them with Master Reazon!"
"It was not yet confirmed that they were related to Master Lough, and I didn't want to get you into a fit over something that may have simply been nonsense!" Donavin replied hastily to try and cover himself.
Muffled shouting could be heard coming from the study upstairs, to which Donavin sighed and placed his tea on the table.
"That would be my cue, dear." Donavin sighed as he rubbed his temples. "Wish me luck and keep the tea warm if you can."
"Oh, shove off!" Zoletta said, passing him the tray of snacks. "Now you be sure and give the young Master a piece of my mind while you're up there!"
"Yes love, I will do my best." Donavin responded, pecking the busy woman on the lips before rushing up the stairs towards the study as Zoletta shouted at him from behind.
"Don't you forget, I haven't forgiven you either for keeping me in the dark, old man!"
***
Lough glared at Reazon and Rhyme across his desk where he sat. Reazon and Rhyme, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease despite the mood of their host, looking for all the world as if they had simply been discussing the weather instead of the prospect of some illegal activity that would ruin Lough's reputation.
"So let me get this straight." Lough said with agitation, a vein visibly throbbing on his forehead. "You want me to claim this boy-"
"Sain!" Rhyme interjected cheerily
"Fine, Sain then!" Lough responded in exasperation, "as a love child I had during my rebellious phase, with the colorless woman you brought with you? Knowing that the child himself is a twin and his very existence is Illegal, my harboring him, let alone falsifying his identity so as to train him, is a serious crime that could result in the execution of all parties involved!"
Reazon nodded while Rhyme chimed in from his shoulder, "He catches on quick, doesn't he? I would have thought the excessive drinking and general misconduct over the years would have dulled your wit, but evidently I was mistaken!"
"Shut it, lizard!" Lough roared angrily before returning his attention to Reazon.
"But seriously, Reazon, what are you thinking? This sort of scheme could get us both killed for no true purpose! I know that your mentor meant a lot to you, but-"
"Lough, this isn't just about my mentor!" Reazon interjected forcefully. "You know as well as I do how deep the darkness in this country goes. The laws that have been handed down may have been to protect the people in the past, but now they serve simply to keep those with power in power!"
"And what about it, Reazon?" Lough replied with a soft sigh. "You expect that this child could change that? Because of his bloodline? You won't change the laws by breaking them, Reazon. I should know…"
An awkward silence enveloped the room. Lough looked across at them, shaking himself from his contemplation.
"What about the boy's opinion in all this? Have you bothered to tell him about what you hope to accomplish?" Lough continued.
"The boy has been through enough revelation for now. I don't intend to bring the matter up until at the least, he has had time to process his own circumstances and gained some semblance of control over his abilities." Reazon responded with a nod
"So you intend to use the boy and lead him on with no real purpose other than his own survival? How is that different than what we experienced, cousin?" Lough grumbled angrily.
"Even if it is wrong, it is necessary." Reazon responded with a sigh.
A soft rap on the door interrupted their argument and Donavin entered carrying a tray of snacks and placing them on the table before sitting down beside Reazon, opposite Lough.
"Young master-" Donavin began softly before being interupted by Lough.
"Donavin, I know both of you have your reasons to protect the boy. I am aware of your loyalty and courage, but the both of you need to understand what it is you're risking here!" Lough said with some exasperation.
"You think we don't?" Reazon said quietly. " If we are caught, Donavin and Zoletta will likely be killed quietly as accessories to the crime. I will be hunted for betraying the tenants of upholding and enforcing the law, and after being caught will be subjected to a trial and likely public execution. As for yourself it is likely you will face similar circumstances. We know the risks, cousin. That is why we came to you instead of any of the others who find the current circumstances of Chalice...distasteful."
Lough simply gazed at his two friends in concern as they gazed back with determination. Letting out a sigh, he began to massage his temples as he wracked his mind for a way to dissuade them from continuing this mad quest of theirs.
"The child is important, Lough." Rhyme said softly, extending his forked tongue. "Although we find each other distasteful, you know I would never lead Reazon astray or into avoidable danger. The child is necessary, and his destiny is larger than any of you three can comprehend. The futures he creates simply by moving through this world are nearly limitless. He must be trained, and you must help us do this."
Lough looked at the serpent with visible reluctance and frustration, opening his mouth to refute the beast but closing it just as quickly. Rhyme simply continued to watch Lough, the third eye on his forehead the only one open, staring unflinchingly at the disheveled man.
"Please. cousin," Reazon spoke softly "we need you to be on board with this."
There was a long pause. The air seemed heavy as they waited on Lough to respond. After a few minutes a soft sigh escaped Lough's lips.
"Fine then. I think this is a fool's errand and it will get the lot of us killed, but knowing you lot you would simply find another, less safe alternative if I turned you down here. Best I am involved to keep an eye on you and keep you out of trouble. Know this though lizard, I do not trust your motives. You may claim to have Reazon's safety in mind, but I will watch you as I watch the boy."
Rhyme's serpentine lips spread apart, revealing a set of venomous fangs in a toothy grin that made the serpent look almost eerie.
"I would expect nothing less!" Rhyme responded, the two eyes below his third opening ever so slightly.