Tale of Four

Tristan quickly undid the merging. He could handle being seen through, he could handle being threatened, but not being able to lie was the one thing he couldn’t handle. He had spent his whole life doing so with the sole reason of survival. To take that from him was his only weapon. The white light in his eyes vanished, bringing back his deep black pupils as Annabell, reformed from smoke, out of his body, the dove landing on his head.

”Tristan wanted a friend. Don’t bully him, he doesn’t want to use Edmund for the other stuff anymore.” Annabell quickly said, trying to defend Tristan and make up for the previous mistake she hadn’t accounted for.

”He wanted to use my son?” Mary said, hiding her mouth. Tristan could see in her eyes that she was fascinated by the dove, unable to stay mad with it, but using it as a chance to tease the bird instead.

”Not anymore. Tristan wants a friend. Don’t be mad.”

”Annabell.” Tristan grabbed the dove off his head. Looking at Mary, he was glad her anger was gone. Even if she was mad, he approached for a different reason; she couldn’t stay mad before Annabell, able to tell that the small dove was unable to lie. ”Stop talking. You’ve done enough.” Annabell opened her beak once again but stopped and nodded, nestling into Tristan, watching with a sharp glare.

”Your bird is quite fascinating, Tristan.” Mary said with a light chuckle, ”I expected soemthing like this, just not an inability to lie. All summons have their own personalities; as such, becoming one with it means you also are heavily influenced by its personality, its strongest traits manifesting.”

Mary gracefully retook her seat, the bear, at the first opportunity, placing it head on her lap. ”And unfortunately for you, your dove is a creature whose purity extends beyond its white feathers.”

Tristan gulped and took a deep breath, ”Then, is the same for Edmund and yourself?”

”Of course, but unlike you, I don’t have to say what it is.” Mary teased and looked to her son. Tristan followed her gaze and saw scales forming over Edmund’s cheeks, like those of a fish. The boy opened his eyes and smiled.

”How is it, mother?” Asking with excitement, unaware of what happened around them, Mary smiled and nodded.

”You’re getting quicker, Edmund. How long do you think you can stay like that on land now?” Edmund thought for a moment.

”Twenty minutes. But in water, I don’t know. Forever maybe.” Mary smiled.

”Good. Once you’re able to make merging instantaneous, we will move on to the next step. Is that understood?” Edmund happily nodded and turned to Tristan.

”Did you do it? If not, it’s okay. Mother siad it takes people a few days before they can.” Tristan’s lip twitched.

”I already did it,” Tristan said through a thin smile, making Edmund’s eyes widen in shock. Looking at Annabell, he frowned

”Then why didn’t you let me see it?” His words caused Mary to snicker. Looking over at her husband, he shook his head, not wishing to get involved.

”Maybe next time,” Tristan said and looked to Mary. ”Princess. I will take my leave first. I wish to... ponder what just happened.” Mary waved her hand and sighed.

”That’s fine. I need to take Edmund to continue his training.” Tristan nodded and looked to Edmund.

”Tommorow. Do you want to spar again?” Asking he waited carefully, slightly nervous about his answer. The young boy’s eyes lit up as he nodded. With a sigh of relief, Tristan said his goodbyes and left.

Mary’s gaze hardened the moment he left. ”Edmund, give me a minute. I must talk with your father.” Edmund nodded and closed his eyes, getting used to the changes in his body. Taking a seat beside Lord Wells, Mary’s smile dropped. ”Why would a boy like that look into Lady Death?”

Wells turned to face her and took a deep breath. ”Do you think he follows those heretical teachings?” Mary rubbed her ring and thought for a moment before shaking her head.

”No. If what those heretics preach is true, then it would be impossible for him and that dove to ever merge like that if he were a follower.” Wells looked to his wife and grabbed her hand.

”I wouldn’t be too sure.” His words made her look at him, staring into his deep eyes, ”You say the dove is a pure being, correct?” Mary nodded, ”Purity comes in many forms. One of them is purity in faith. If he devoted himself to such a God, it may not be too strange. The other option is that the bird may not care what her summoner believes. She has such pure love for him that she allows whatever he does.”

”My love, you know what those people teach. I cannot imagine a being who is incapable of lying to allow her summoner to worship such a God.” Wells shrugged.

”I wouldn’t be too sure. I understand their teachings are dangerous, but they are not entirely evil. Many find comfort in them. After all, how could it spread throughout Everlight if that wasn’t the case?” Wells slowly said before sighing, ”Despite my words, I think you’re right. I don’t think he worships Lady Death. If anything, I guess he was looking into it out of interest.”

”Most likely. But it is a dangerous topic for a nameless Princeling to study.”

”His Grace has yet to give an order to ban such a thing, Mary. No one would know that unless they begin that investigation.” Wells countered, making the woman sigh.

”Can you take over Edmund’s lessons? Don’t worry about the deeper aspects, just guide him as you’ve seen me do. I need to see my brothers.” Wells nodded. Unsummoning the bear, the blue smoke rushed into her body. Saying goodbye to Edmund, Mary marched towards the council room and took a seat by the side, seeing the council at work. Sitting still like a statue, she soon had the people forget she was there and finish what they were doing.

”Your Grace. Chancellor.” Mary bowed, getting groans from the two who wished she would treat them normally in private. Taking a seat, Mary watched the two for a moment before talking. ”The issue with Lady Death must be solved soon.”

”Why?” Anton lazily asked, leaning against his hand.

”Because people are beginning to look into it. Right now, it seems to be curiosity, but if someone within the Palace falls for those fake teachings, it may become a situation that can no longer be controlled.” Mary said without pause and watched as her brothers fell into thought.

”Who?” Brandon finally asked, seeing Anton wouldn’t speak, ”Whose looking into this, sister?”

”Brandon, I know of one, but that does not mean more are?”

”Who?” Brandon asked again, running a hand through his golden hair.

”The boy, Tristan, I mentioned last time. I taught him about the Cosmaton summoning today, as brother Walter never had the chance. He didn’t know anything about it, but it also meant he didn’t know what it does to a person.” Mary smiled, covering her face with a fan, ”He is incapable of lying when merged and told me himself he was looking into it.”

Brandon leaned back, fiddling with his monocle. ’Incapable of lying. Mary isn’t someone to misread that.’ His eyes narrowed as he looked back at Mary, ’What kind of summon does he command that can’t lie. Something innocent. Good nature. Probably pure...’ His thoughts paused, and his lips curled, remembering the pure white feathers of a dove he once saw.

”Sister.” Readjusting his monocle, Brandon leaned forward, ”Is his summon a dove by any chance?” Seeing Mary’s gaze narrow in suspicion was all he needed. ”Your Grace. This must be dealt with, it seems.”

”Brandon. What is it?” Peeking out of the corner of his eye towards Anton, he saw a strange, questioning gaze, wondering why he suddenly knew Tristan when he hadn’t before.

”The other day, a certain dove was watching me.” Brandon looked at Mary, ”Pure white feathers, like light itself, I assume.” Mary nodded, bringing her fan up to hide more of her face. ”Your Grace. This could be the start of a plot right under our eyes. And at the centre of it, a princeling who has lived within our home, invisible to everyone’s eyes.”

Anton’s finger bounced on the table. ”Mary.” After making a decision, he spoke, ”Watch the boy. Try to gauge if Brandon’s fears are right. I will have a King’s Guard on you going forward, just in case.” Anton closed his eyes for a second, ”There is already a tournament being held for my crowning in a month. Use the King’s Guard as an excuse to train Edmund if he suspects why they’re there. Everyone knows our relationship. Play it up. Say I couldn’t refuse my little sister.”

Mary snapped the fan shut and placed a hand on her chest, bowing. ”Brandon. Look into this boy’s history. Find out if your fears are true.” Brandon copied Mary and bowed. Looking ahead, Anton took a deep breath, interlocking his fingers.