Chapter 46

"When his company was men of deception, a chameleon as himself would draw his colours from such dark environment. But it would be diabolic, should such hues seep into his very heart and rein his psyche."

~

Passing the Avenues of the Central Provinces,

Kingdom of Tristendyre,

The first Phrinight of the Second month,

XXI Year of Regency

Within the cabin of their carriage, there were only the Chief Physician, the Royal Archer and young Aldric.

Without, there was a compartment wherein the coachmen reined the horses and held Ingrid Luna-ward captive such that she would not hear the exchange of their confidential conversation from the sound of the wind and the hindrance of the walls.

"Where have you been this day? Why did the Regent claim that you were on a journey abroad?" asked Lady Minerva, being prim and strict.

Now, the crown Physician had known Jaycob since he was a lad in training and had watched him climb the ranks rapidly.

His friendship with Imogen was something she had closely observed and finely enough to know that he had never been deceptive with his allies.

However, it had been a few years of acquaintance with the mysterious man before Lady Minerva knew that he made no allies of any he stood friends with; none save the innocent ones. It had seemed as if he was a man that was difficult with trust.

The candid and honest in heart whose intentions differed not from their visage were persons he did not dither to believe, but any others that were common people saw a smile on his face where there could be a waiting knife for them behind him.

Lady Minerva was not one to plunge her way into the most private chambers of his heart, but she had seen what his mask wished to hide, for she was a Chief Physician in the Kingdom who had dealt with the armies of soldiers in their most crippled moments.

His identity was nebulous to place, for his surname was rare, save as a Christian name. There were various by the name Oreius, but none holding such to be their families'.

Howbeit, his origin and past were barely her concern. In fact, neither was the honesty of his psyche, unless he was to use the means of his deceit within her frame of judgement.

He was close to the heart of the Regents whose every thought was treacherous. It was casual inclination that as their near accomplice, he would imbibe their ways of double-dealing and cunning.

But there was a fragment of her own soul that wished to rein the erring persons of the next generation to become sincere and unprejudiced.

In her passing study, she had known that Jaycob had not entirely mastered the art of looking into the depths of one's eyes whilst his mind brewed words that strayed from the truth and bid his tongue to speak.

His eyes drifted away from his subject, much like he was doing at that very moment when she had put her questions forward.

"Why would you not believe that I have not gone and retuned before the moon's rise?" asked he, rubbing a finger over his mask that stood upon the bridge of his nose.

"Because I am aware that you never left", said Lady Minerva, crossing her arms.

"And by what means are you as certain?" asked Jaycob and the woman sighed.

Unlike him, she was accustomed to answering questions without deflecting from their approach.

"I have my sources that overhear even the Regents' private words", said she.

"Do you speak of the young kitchen maiden from the castle that crept into the core of the Under-Ground Dungeons?" asked he, and Minerva looked up in shock.

She had not expected him to have known of Crescence's infiltration, for that would put the damsel into the arms of much peril.

The man chuckled and offered, "I will not disclose; I am aware she is innocent. She brought Imogen and a prisoner more some bread, and I am not a man as vile as to discourage such heart."

Lady Minerva nodded as she cleared her throat. "But you were very much in the Kingdom?" asked she, receiving a hesitant nod.

"How did you acquire to possess such Rivenhove?" asked the Physician further.

She had seen him in confederates and councils and courts, dealing confidently with eloquent speech, never missing a throb. Natheless, at that present moment, it was almost jocund how tentative his behaviour seemed to be.

"There is far too much that I hold within; must you earnestly probe as deeply and shed your concerns into such unrelated courses?" asked he, half a smirk lifting his mouth like he was not at ease with sharing such reasons.

There was, however, a very sincere moment there, when Lady Minerva realised that it was not the subject of their conversation that he hesitated to divulge; it was the person– her person, her very self– that he did not wish to lie to.

After all, speaking falsehood was not new to him, but for the sake of her society that he respected, he was refraining from uttering untruth.

The Royal Physician needed means to earn his trust by invading the forts of his confidence in people, for she already held her own throne in his heart if he desired not to play deceptively with her.

The Lady's present proposition was barter: that she would yield a gravely secretive message to him, in exchange for his faith and words. And revealing information to one she counted her dear child would not hurt her.

"I do understand your frets, but if you are not acquainted with the art of disclosing your deeds and practice, I will refrain. Nevertheless, I will leave this word with you: harbouring all in that single heart of yours would cause it to only age quicker and break into despair. We are humans that crave fraternity, not lone wolves with simply the moon for a companion", said the Lady, leaning forward.

Jaycob's dark eyes from beneath the mask looked up to meet hers and she smiled compassionately. The man reflected hers, seeming calmed.

"I had merely wished to ask you, since I had received a letter that a dangerous mass of Rivenhove and Threstwich was imported into the Kingdom. They have forged my name to attest their request and that is bothersome, for I am unaware of the needs of such deathly orders", said the Chief Physician, "I wished to know wherefrom you had received them."

Jaycob seemed like he was pondering deep.

"The Regents did use the great sum for muting the senses of the inmates of Hazenvale; I assume you already are aware", he began.

Lady Minerva seemed caught when he mentioned of her knowledge of the event, but she paid it no mind; the lad seemed to read far too much into other people's perceptions.

"I am, and I did assume it was the Regents' hand behind the false coining of my name upon the supplication; but I wish to amass evidence against them", said she.

"What will you do with the corroboration?", asked the Royal Archer.

"It is necessary to hold such against dishonest men, no matter how powerful. I will fight my way against them if I must, when they downtread the people feloniously", said the Lady, her words enkindled and passionate.

"Would you need my assistance in the matter?" asked Jaycob, like he would not hesitate to aide.

That had been quite an impressive gesture, for she had expected his undivided faithfulness to the defence of the Regent.

"Ah, it is alright; I received such news from the source they had ordered from", said the Physician, earning a look of amazement aroused from his face. "I shall have to request him for the documents as evidence", she finished.

"That is convenient", said Jaycob, but he was still partially pensive regarding her disclosure. "I knew that the Rivenhove was ordered, but I did not know of the Threstwich. That is grave news."

Lady Minerva felt an ominous feeling embrace her at that mention. She had expected that all these affairs were entrusted with him and was appeased be-cause in his depths, he was a good man and she could woo his competence to her side of Justice at any time.

However, if he was not as esteemed by the heart of the Government as she had perceived, there was far more darkness that was deep into the lair of wickedness.

~