She bit her lip and watched him carefully, hoping there was something written in his face which would provide surety for the actions she knew in her gut she was going to take. He was anxious looking and insistent, but that was as much as she could see. Her gut was telling her what he said was true… though she also knew there were different kinds of truths, including half-truths which were oft as good as lies.
Still…
“How… how do you know he, my lord, is in danger?” She took his arm again, leading him back down the hall and toward her master’s rooms. She noted he looked more relieved than satisfied and decided to take that as a good sign.
“I can’t be sure, at least… not positive. But I’ve seen things, disturbing things and he’s at the center of it. I saw them when the scrolls went missing… or thereabouts. I assume it was at the same time because it was a day later when I was myself attacked and captured. Luckily I saw that coming as well and was able to arrange a daring and heroic escape for myself.” He smiled wryly before continuing.
“I went the gorgons to see if they had seen anything and use their scrying pools since my own visions are often times ambiguous, only to discover that they were no longer there. And I fear…” He sighed again, heavily. “I… I didn’t know where they were or what had been taken from them, or that I had been blamed for it until I was cornered on my way to find Thelios. After having dealt with all that, I needed someone familiar, someone I could trust.”
She frowned. “I really wish you’d stop using their names like that. Someone might overhear.” Her rebuke was somewhat softened by the gentle tone his expression of pain evoked in her. It seemed sincere.
Then again, seeming and being were two different things, she reminded herself. She musn’t let him sway her too much.
He let out a mild snort. “Too late for that.” He muttered darkly. “I’d bet good money the ones who have the scrolls and plan to use them already know his name. I do, and a moment ago you were sure I was the threat.”
“I’m still not so sure you aren’t.” She murmured.
“Well, it’s good of you to take me to him if that’s the case. Foolish too I suppose.”
She cast a look at him, remembering too late that her glare was useless. “Not at all. I’m quite sure my master can handle you. He’s been anxious to come after you, and he’s not fool enough to do so if he didn’t think he was more than capable of looking after himself. I’m merely shortening his trip.”
His brow raised, but he said nothing to that. The walked in silence a moment before she prodded him to continue with his tale.
“Ah, well, after I was cornered and subsequently clued in to who was looking for me, I knew exactly where to come to find him.”
“So, your vision showed you my master, and that was enough to conclude he was in danger?”
“Well, that and nature of the magic being worked. I’ve had time to mull it over and come up with a few theories on what’s been going on. One of the better theories involved your master specifically, and since he was featured heavily in my visions, I tend to favor it.
“His mother was blessed, you see.. or cursed, depending on how you look at it, to have sons who would be greater than their father… or fathers. It’s fairly common knowledge, and more than possible that whoever has the scroll knows this and wants to use it against his father in that way. There’s simply no way he could be turned on his father except through magical impulsion, so if that were the goal, then this would seem the logical course of action.
“His father, in turn, has guardianship over a great many things of interest to a great many people; objects of power and great wealth that quite a few would love to get their hands on. Only they have to get past and through him to get to it, and he lets very few into his presence, let alone any he mistrusted… which is most people. Thelios doesn’t really give a damn about power or wealth, everyone knows this, including his father. This makes him one of the few who can gain access to his stronghold without raising suspicion. He’s a wily old worm that one, not much gets by him.”
“That’s quite the theory.” she murmured, trying to sift through the unprecedented wealth of information, looking for inconsistencies… and finding none that she could discern. But then she didn’t know any better. “Though,” she considered aloud, “it explains why he would be sent to speak with his father and not one of the others. But… doesn’t his father know about the curse, er, blessing? Wouldn’t that make him wary?”
He shrugged. “Like I said, everyone who knows Thel-your master, rather, knows that even if he could, he wouldn’t bother. He’s too much like his father.”
“In what way?” She pressed when he stopped, eager to hear more. It was rare that anyone was so forth coming with her, let alone about a subject which was as dear to her as her Master was.
“They’re both content to just sit on their little hordes, play guardian, and be left well enough alone. That’s not to say they’re not both happy to expand when the opportunity arises, but they aren’t either of them ambitious enough to put too much effort into it. They’re more… possessive than acquisitive.” He nodded thoughtfully, then chuckled. “Yes. I’d say that’s it. I’ve never tried to put it in words before, but that-I think- is it.”
It sounded accurate to her as well. She couldn’t help but remember what Demitri had said about him to the man that had grabbed her all those months ago, or her master’s reaction when he had foolishly attempted it again. The thought of Thelios’ hand sliding over her stomach… the way he held her at night… she felt a hot flush run up her throat and cleared it as if it might also clear the heat from her skin.
Phineas didn’t offer anything more. “So… this is enough for you to think that some one wants to use him in this way?” She asked, persisting.
He nodded. “It’s only one of many ideas, but it isn’t a bad one, if a bit vague. Besides, even if it’s not the case, Thelios is the only one who would defend me in this group. That might cause problems for whoever is behind this, and that in itself endangers him. Though I still think this has something to do with his father. I saw something… it was unclear, but it definitely pointed in that direction.”
“And you said he only let’s my master visit him?”
“Well, the dragon’s are all welcome… the Favorites, they’re called. For obvious reasons. I suspect it’s because he understands their minds and motivations in a way he doesn’t understand many of this other children. He has quite a few you see.”
“But Thelios welcome as well as these favorites?”