Keep your Enemies Close

A commotion roused Rowan from his daze. He couldn't stop thinking about the discrepancies of Veridin's story. When he saw priest Julas, along with another figure, being hauled into camp by Veridin, even more suspicion arose. The traitor in Viscount Brandy's soldiers, his majesty's sudden approval, Veridin's strange behaviors, and now priest Julas caught sending information to someone; Was it really all a coincidence? As he drew closer, Veridin's dismayed expression wiped away his unease.

"What happened here Veridin?" Rowan looked down at Julas.

"I wanted to talk to Father Julas, but he was acting frantic and suspicious. When I followed him, I found him talking to this man here. I can only hope this is all a misunderstanding…"

Rowan placed his hand on Veridin's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll handle this. You get some rest."

"Then, I'll leave it to you."

Veridin dipped his head and walked away. He glanced back with a stoic expression to see Rowan taking the suspects away. He turned away with satisfaction. This would disrupt the high priest's plans for the time being.

Anaroth opened his eyes when Veridin approached. If he had been an enamored maiden, he would have compared those eyes to the darkness and mystique of the night sky. He wasn't. He saw the twinkle of mischief in those violet eyes staring down at him. Those mysterious pools of purple that were as striking as the eyes of a predator. His golden hair glimmered in the firelight, turning orange like that of a tiger. Unlike all the information he had received about this man, he was neither righteous nor selfless. He was a cynical liar, actor, and a fraud in Anaroth's eyes. What Anaroth couldn't discern was why this man dropped nearly all pretense around him.

"You're back," Anaroth spoke in a flat tone.

"You didn't miss me?"

"Who would miss their enemy?"

"Isn't the saying 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?"

"If I could have signed the peace treaty when we first met, I wouldn't be here." Anaroth moved away as Veridin sat down beside him. "Of course, you knew that."

"How strange." Veridin leaned back against the tree behind them.

"What?"

"You know me better than people I've lived with my whole life."

Anaroth looked out over the soldiers resting by the fireside. "Those people are not just idiots, but you never dropped your act around them either."

"That may be true."

Veridin's eyes narrowed in amusement. Light danced in his eyes as he stared at Anaroth. The silver figure under the tree was calm and serene. It was only his words and eyes that betrayed the turbulence beneath the surface. Fun; He was fun to be around. He was fun to talk to. Veridin had never known another person that he liked to be around. Everyone he met was either boring, or annoying. No one felt like his equal. Is this what it feels like to have a friend? Veridin chuckled softly.

"You just captured a spy, yet you're laughing?"

"Can't I? There's no rule that says I have to feel remorse for an hour after something like that."

"Common sense does."

"Do you think either of us are bound by common sense?"

Anaroth glared at him. "You may not be, but I am."

"You say that like I'm some unnatural existence."

"Aren't you?"

"Who knows."

"Do you ever speak normally?"

"This is how I normally speak."

Veridin smiled as the silence followed. This was how their conversations usually went. They would go back and forth, trying to pry something out of the other until one of them conceded: usually Anaroth. When that happened Veridin would bring up another topic and they would start all over again.

"Did you hear what happened to the priest?"

"No, you were too far. I only heard you laugh."

Veridin went silent. Anaroth glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. His smile had faded. Veridin always seemed to have a response for everything, yet when it came to himself he would either avoid it or ignore it. A moment later, he turned to Anaroth.

"Did the soldiers give you any trouble?"

"How could they? They're only normal humans."

"You know that's not what I meant."

"Fine. No. They didn't. Actually, they were just as curious as that other one about magic."

"Did you show them?"

"No."

"Are you still hesitant about them?"

"I should ask you instead, why did you lie about your mana?"

Fire flickered in Veridin's eyes. "I had my reasons."

"I'm asking you what those are."

"Can't you tell?"

Anaroth's eyebrows furrowed as he looked away. His face betrayed his inner thoughts: If I could, I wouldn't have asked. Of course Veridin had some kind of grudge against the church, but it felt like it wasn't that simple. He sighed and looked back at Veridin.

"What do you have against the church?"

Veridin smiled. "I don't have anything against the church itself."

Anaroth's expression relaxed. This was the first piece of information that Veridin had volunteered since their journey started two weeks ago.

"Then who in the church are you going up against?"

"You're smart enough to figure it out. It wouldn't be any fun if I told you everything."

Anaroth's grit his teeth. He had fallen for such an obvious trick once again. He loathed the fact that he kept getting swept away in Veridin's words. Just like a hunter, Veridin set his traps with irresistible bait; Giving one piece of information, only to turn around and drive you crazy. He had a knack for making someone infuriated and impulsive.

"What can you tell me then?"

"I could tell you a lot of things."

"Like?" Anaroth could barely hide his exasperation.

"Like the nobles in the capital won't respect you."

"You mean they'll act like you."

"That's harsh. I treat you with respect."

"So you say. Then what will they do to me?"

"Not much. They'll probably test the waters by making you humiliate yourself. They twist their words. Not as well as I do though," Veridin chuckled.

"That's good to know. I'll forgive you for earlier."

"Forgive me? I did nothing wrong."

Had those words held any sincerity in them, Anaroth would have bit his tongue. "Do you enjoy irritating me?"

"Why yes, I do."

He froze, unsettled. "You admit it?"

"What good would it do to not? I suppose it would have irritated you more, but I can do that quite easily."

He was right. Even that offhand comment got on Anaroth's nerves, but there was something else behind it. "What's the use in telling me all this?"

Veridin's gaze shifted to the fire in the distance before he closed his eyes. "I don't want to see you irritated by anyone else."

"How considerate." Anaroth responded dryly, but he could hear the sincerity in Veridin's words. "Really, what a strange person you are…"

Silence followed his words. Minutes ticked by before Veridin turned back to him. His eyes widened when he realized Anaroth was sleeping peacefully. He was dignified, even in his sleep. Yet only in his sleep did his features hold the same softness that Veridin had witnessed before. He didn't look real, as if he was just Veridin's imagination. Something compelled Veridin to reach his hand out but he froze halfway. Veridin whispered softly as he lowered his hand.

"You're the strange one, falling asleep in front of your enemies."