via
https://ift.tt/3bdxJQysecret-engima:
(look what I worked on! Not much, but still! Tagging
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hamelin_born as thanks for reminding me that this WIP needs to exist outside just Tumblr HCs.)
…
Regis couldn’t breathe. He didn’t dare when the- the thing in human skin held his chin in a vice grip and awaited his answer. The hand tightened, and Regis could feel the darkness worming up pale fingers, threatening to infect him and he wheezed through a fear-knotted throat, “To kill her. He ordered me to kill her.” The hand loosened, but the deadly look sharpened as the daemon in man’s skin tilted his head in a silent order to continue, “He told me-. He told me that there is a test all Lucis Caelum children must undergo when they reach the age of magic. That the test is to determine if they are Cursed. Cursed children are … abandoned to die in the wilds. He said that someone must have taken Umbra to Galahd and was now using her to power the Wall.”
“There,” purred the man-daemon as his hand fell away from Regis’s chin. He stayed uncomfortably close as he continued, “That wasn’t so hard was it? So, you were sent by your beloved father to kill your cursed sister, and presumably any spawn she had birthed. And yet you expect me to believe that you heard all of this, then came to Galahd with your heavily armed retinue and snuck past the border patrols all the way here just to … visit. The sibling you were ordered to kill. Without harming her.” One eyebrow went up, highlighting the blackness weeping down his face and Regis shivered as the man smiled, deadly sharp and feral, “Give me one reason I should believe you. That I should not kill you right now in the most agonizing ways possible and make your friends watch.”
And Regis had nothing. No words to say, no plea to make. What could he say to these people who looked at him like he was the monster and not the man weeping blackness from his skin? What could he say to the … daemon king that wouldn’t be laughed at and scorned as lies?
The smile grew sharper, then faltered when a loud clatter and pop of magic sounded from one of the few high windows. Shouting started as various Galahdians lunged to catch whoever had entered, only for more pops of magic to sound and something small and fast to warp down from the rafters to collide with Regis’s chest and knock him over with a rush of lost air. Familiar babble sounded in his ear, a tiny toddler on his chest, and suddenly all Regis could think of was that a child was here. Nyx was here. His nephew was in here and the man-daemon was right there, reaching for him-.
Regis let himself flop onto his side, kicking his bound legs as hard as he could, catching the startled redhead in the side before Regis twisted to curl as much of his body around Nyx as he could, a futile and desperate shield.
The silence was the loudest thing Regis had ever heard.
secret_engimaMelodies and Manuscripts Secret Engima Rambles Thrown to Wolves verse all of galahd: this man is kinslayer & kinslayers badregis: tries to shield smol galahdian child from a perceived threat even though he’s trussed up like a turkey and has no hope of survival all of galahd: wait watardyn: … this idiot is mine now.
Yes. Yes, this is just - just perfect. Regis’s utter terror of Ardyn, knowing the man is a monster in human guise, and yet - lashing out at him, determined to protect a child, to protect his nephew - yes. Yes. And that is perhaps the one thing that could have served as a satisfactory argument in response to Ardyn’s question, the one reason that would lead Ardyn to believe him - and he does it unthinkingly, desperate to simply protect a child.
That gets Galahd’s immediate attention, and probably cuts off the angry mob before it has a chance to form.
And - I know you’re not going to take it in this direction, I now that this is your story and not mine, but I just - I just have the mental image of Ardyn retiring to his throne, the Scourge drawn under his skin once again until he looks deceptively human, and Ardyn looking at Regis - (and isn’t it telling that at this point in time Regis still doesn’t even know Ardyn’s name - although he’s probably pieced together that Ardyn is the one in charge here) -
“Let it be known that Regis Lucis Caelum of the House of Heavenly Light has proven to my satisfaction that he is a descendant of the Mother, and that through deed he has shown his kinship with the Cantor. Let it be known that he has not come to these shores seeing to drown his blade in the blood of kin. Therefore, Regis Lucis Caelum of no Clan and his retinue shall be given the courtesy shown to the Lost and Storm-Bourne, albeit with - a suitable escort, in recognition of their skills. And I myself shall pay weregild to Clan Presidium and the border patrols.”
“Also, let it be known that Nyx Ulric of Clan Ulric is up far, far, far past his bedtime. Erebus, would you be so kind at to collect your son and bring him back to his mother? Callida must be very worried.”
Golden eyes land on an incredulous Regis as his bonds and those of his retinue are cut. “A word of advice, Regis Lucis Caelum. Callida of Clan Ulric is not your sister. Not unless she claims you as such, and it would be - a very, very great mistake to presume otherwise. After all. She has reasons enough to refuse any connection to Mors Kinslayer, Mors Childkiller.”
(Your picture was not posted)
