The boy with silver hair and golden eyes was practically unrecognizable.
Kel was certain he was the same person she had met many months ago on a bumpy wagon ride to the Serin Empire's central war camp.
But the way he carried himself--even the expression on his face--were completely unfamiliar to her.
Before, he'd looked intimidating most of the time. His natural face seemed to always be scowling, and occasionally he'd open up as a soft and innocent young boy.
Now, however, he was polished, crafty, and confident.
She hadn't paid close enough attention before, but now Kel couldn't help but wonder just what had happened to him since that ill-fated patrol when she was forced to leave him bleeding to death on the forest floor.
Something had changed in him. Something deep inside.
"We don't have time for this nonsense."
Calix responded curtly to the boy's inquiry.
"You already know why you've been called."
"... I see."
Unlike Calix, who was exhausted and irritated, Taegus was patient.
"I'd prefer if you define exactly what you expect from me," he smiled, lowering his voice before adding, "and exactly what you plan to give me in return."
"Finally, we're getting somewhere," Calix scoffed. "State your terms, and I will give you a simple yes or no."
"I was a foot soldier with insignificant little hopes and dreams until my life became turned upside down by this war," Taegus narrated.
While he spoke, he leaned back leisurely in his chair, even in light of the Emperor's threat not to waste his time.
"Your war," he emphasized. "Anyway, I'd like to start over now, this time with something more valuable than hopes and dreams."
"Ha!" Calix snorted. "Power. After being left to the mercy of others' power, you'd like a taste of it yourself?"
Taegus licked his lips.
"A taste would hardly satisfy me."
Calix chuckled, tapping his fingers on the table.
"You may not know this," he grinned, "but I like honest, ambitious people the most."
For the first time in the conversation, the silver-haired boy seemed caught off guard. He'd been expecting the Emperor to be surly and snappy, not to find humor in his request.
Kel silently scoffed from where she was sitting. How foolish, to think he could be in control of a barter with the Dragon Emperor.
"I'm happy to fully satisfy your desire," Calix leaned forward, resting his chin lazily on his hand. "But know this, boy: once you've sold your soul to me, I don't intend to ever give it back."
The boy gulped.
Surely, he was thinking he'd made all his moves perfectly. He showed the Emperor early on his ability to get information from Altair, one of the traitors. He'd even been summoned by the Emperor directly, rather than having to offer himself.
Yet, with ease, the Emperor had put him in checkmate.
Only a person watching closely would notice him shiver at the realization.
Unfortunately, it was too late to back out now. All three people seated at the table were well aware of that fact. The boy's only option was to accept his fate as a slave to the power granted by the Dragon Emperor.
Kel thought now that he had dropped his sly expression, Taegus very much resembled his old self. Perhaps, inside, he really hadn't changed so much after all.
And that's why he was a complete fool in thinking he could compete on the Emperor's level.
Kel changed her mind about her earlier observation. Taegus hadn't been put in checkmate.
He'd never been considered more than a pawn in the first place.
"Are you really going to let Taegus be the regent of this territory?" Kel questioned after the wearisome meeting finally came to an end.
"Do you not like that idea?" Calix returned. "Of course, I can change that."
"No, no that's not it," Kel insisted. "I just.. thought you hated him?"
"I like anyone who would sell their soul for power," Calix smirked. "Especially when they sell it to me."
Kel opened her mouth and closed it again, scrunching her eyebrows.
For some reason, she couldn't picture the boy in such an important position. No doubt, the Emperor wanted it that way, however, so he could control the boy just like a puppet.
"I've had this thought before.." Kel ventured, "but you're pretty twisted, aren't you?"
"I'm a tyrant," Calix couldn't hide his mischievous smile. "Have you forgotten?"
"You never give me a chance to forget," Kel sighed. "Now I'm going to have a nap, so keep your twisted delusions to yourself for a little while, Tyrant."
A week of constant worry and almost no sleep had taken its toll on her. She was too exhausted to even think properly anymore. Just an hour or two would be perfe-
"Excuse me, what are you doing?" she questioned as Calix slid into the bed behind her, wrapping his arms around her.
"I'm taking a nap too," Calix replied immediately, nuzzling his face into her hair. "Now, let's go to sleep."
Kel huffed and pushed the clingy Emperor away.
"I'm pretty sure I just said to keep your twisted delusions to yourself," she growled, shoving a pillow in between them. "Now go sleep over there!"
"And you say I'm the tyrant," Calix grumbled, scooting to the other side of the bed.
No, you said that, Kel thought to herself.
She had to admit, though. For a tyrant, he was quite obedient.
"Hopefully, Taegus will have better luck than us," she mumbled sleepily, curling her legs up. "And hopefully those guards outside have quick reflexes."
Thane and Lucy had been given a break to go get some rest themselves and replaced with two more members of the Emperor's Shadow Guard that had been traveling with them disguised as ordinary knights.
Whether they did indeed manage to block assassins before they roused the sleeping Emperor and Queen, or Kel was just too exhausted to worry about waking up and saving her life from another attack, she slept peacefully for the rest of the morning.
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