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Nithel brought a hand to his bare chin, rubbing it. His eyes lowered some in thought.

Then his chin jerked to the side, hands coming down. Alessio. Bowing to the man.

“Respectfully, sir, you are a ignominious liar.” Was spoken before Nithel could think further.

Nithel stood stunned a moment. Face stoic, watching Alessio for a time, before dragging his eyes toward the son of Aden. Nithel’s back was slightly straighter, and he was warm inside. The youth… He was strong.

Nithel took a step nearer him while Alessio, and his disdain stared at each other. Then the words of his friend took his breath.

“Your conscience knows what you did the in the dark.” His voice is almost pleading. His face pained for the suffering of the sufferer. It struck Nithel like a cord. This man was lost too, the son of Aden. He needed as much help as any. Do I stay near Olavir, or Alessio?  His chest felt like a stake was driving into it, but he could only choose one.

“I’m going to check the mirrors to see if any of them are false or had trapdoors behind them, with your permission…Commander sir?” Alessio spoke quicker now, and likely would have went ahead without Olavir’s permission.

Nithel wanted to follow. But would he get another chance with Olavir?

The assumed dictator smiled. “By all means, you may. Don’t let me, the ignominious liar, keep you.”

Alessio had already turned to go. Nithel started to move his feet to follow.

“But come, let us understand one anther. I have merely stated what I know of your situation, introduced myself, and mentioned my uncle.” Nithel’s ears tingled. His voice was like a snake. He believed he owned the world.

“As far as I can see, you are a guest in his castle,”

Snakes ate their guests.

“which I am overseeing at the moment, and therefore you are my guest. You step up bravely, accusing me of lies.”

Nithel turned fully back to Olavir. He was insultin, Nithel breathed. The man was. But unless Alessio did something, neither would he.

“For what purpose, young one? To what avail?”

Nithel waited, not looking at Alessio, but expecting an answer.

A short silence reigned. The boy was broken.

“The purpose, sir?” Alessio didn’t move, but his voice did. Creaking more, and betraying he was hurting to all. “There was a time I thought the best of everyone, those that treated me the worst most of all. It was because I silenced my own misgivings that…”

He had closed himself off.

Another silence, this one shorter. And the next words spoken, barely broke it. “I’m not going to let anyone get hurt because of me again. And so I will not hide my opinion of you to give you the heightened chance to fool someone else. Sir.”

He then disappeared. Nithel ran his front teeth along each other. His chin at a normal height, but his eyes lowered as he thought.

Then, after running his eyes over the group, he backed up two steps. After that, he turned, and followed.

Mirrors. Everywhere along the wall. They all showed a perfect image of himself. A slight flame in his chest that grew if he watched too long. But he was on a mission. To find Alessio.

“No…that’s a lie.”

Nithel froze.

“I said stop, stop!” Alessio, cried out, and slammed the palm of his hand into the ‘mirror’. His head lowered, his chest moving as it worked for more air. Then his eyes lifted, and stared at the image. There was pain there. Disbelief. Fear.

Then his head lowered again, and he sunk to the stones. FAcing the mirror still.

Nithel’s face was expressionless, except for his eyes. He stood away for a minute. Waiting.

The youth’s head didn’t lift.

So Nithel approached, and put his hand over Alessio’s left shoulder. For some reason he felt it wrong to touch it. Then he lowered his own head. His eyes, sorrow’s day, looked down on Alessio’s head, and pity filled him.

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