Drabble Post - First Vane - Spy (FMA)
So, yes, I am continuing my dragon!Royverse. This may yet get some tweaks, and I'd really like a better title.
Spy
Whispers followed him through the halls. Outwardly, he ignored them with steady steps and a stone face. Inwardly, he strained to hear every word.
“Hasn’t been the same…”
“…wife and child both… Nothing left but ash.”
“Improvement, if you ask me… Always going on like that.”
He imagined something very public, very painful, and very embarrassing for that last one. But, his imagination was where it would have to stay. He couldn’t be caught indulging in petty vengeance. It wouldn’t suit the persona he’d carefully crafted these last few months.
Not that it was entirely an act. The best fictions needed a grain of truth, after all.
Behind him, the whispers abruptly stopped.
“Ah, there you are, Lord Hughes.”
Lord Maes Hughes turned quickly at the familiar voice.
King Bradley was approaching him with a jovial smile lifting his moustache.
“Your highness.” Hughes bowed deferentially and, at a gesture from the king, fell into step beside him.
“How goes the dragon hunt?” Bradley’s tone was light. As though he were asking about a sport hunt.
It made it easy for Hughes to fold his face into a frown. “Badly. The dragon slayers thought they had it cornered in the mountains, but it vanished.” His frown deepened. “I warned them this beast was clever.”
In a fiery rant that had guaranteed they would dismiss his warnings as the ravings of a man driven mad with grief. But, he warned them.
“Mmm.” Bradley nodded thoughtfully. “It’s eluded even the Royal Guard and our alchemists more than once. Dragons are canny opponents.”
“Too canny,” Hughes growled. “But, the trail isn’t cold yet. I’ve sent word to search for caves-”
Bradley held up a hand, face suddenly serious, and Hughes fell silent. “I know you feel strongly about this, Lord Hughes,” Bradley began. “The loss of your family and your ancestral home is a terrible one.”
Honestly, the manor was no great loss. Home was with his girls.
“But, there’s no need to continue in the same manner that has failed again and again,” Bradley continued. “Call the dragon slayers back. I believe it’s time for a new plan.”
Hughes felt a stab of unease.
“Your Highness… I…”
Bradley was abruptly all jovial good cheer again. “Don’t worry.” He clapped Hughes on the shoulder. “I won’t entrust this assignment to anyone else. But, it’s time to consult with some of our other resources.” He turned. “I’ll send for you once they’ve been contacted.”
Then, he was striding away down the hall.
Hughes watched him, stiff and silent. So, Bradley was finally tired of his failures. And, sooner than he had expected.
After a minute, Hughes squared his shoulders and continued the way he had been going. The easy part of this gambit had just ended.
Well, never let it be said he’d run from a challenge.
He paused to look out a window facing east and pictured a little village just beyond the mountains, nestled against the border.
‘Watch after my girls, Roy.’
Spy
Whispers followed him through the halls. Outwardly, he ignored them with steady steps and a stone face. Inwardly, he strained to hear every word.
“Hasn’t been the same…”
“…wife and child both… Nothing left but ash.”
“Improvement, if you ask me… Always going on like that.”
He imagined something very public, very painful, and very embarrassing for that last one. But, his imagination was where it would have to stay. He couldn’t be caught indulging in petty vengeance. It wouldn’t suit the persona he’d carefully crafted these last few months.
Not that it was entirely an act. The best fictions needed a grain of truth, after all.
Behind him, the whispers abruptly stopped.
“Ah, there you are, Lord Hughes.”
Lord Maes Hughes turned quickly at the familiar voice.
King Bradley was approaching him with a jovial smile lifting his moustache.
“Your highness.” Hughes bowed deferentially and, at a gesture from the king, fell into step beside him.
“How goes the dragon hunt?” Bradley’s tone was light. As though he were asking about a sport hunt.
It made it easy for Hughes to fold his face into a frown. “Badly. The dragon slayers thought they had it cornered in the mountains, but it vanished.” His frown deepened. “I warned them this beast was clever.”
In a fiery rant that had guaranteed they would dismiss his warnings as the ravings of a man driven mad with grief. But, he warned them.
“Mmm.” Bradley nodded thoughtfully. “It’s eluded even the Royal Guard and our alchemists more than once. Dragons are canny opponents.”
“Too canny,” Hughes growled. “But, the trail isn’t cold yet. I’ve sent word to search for caves-”
Bradley held up a hand, face suddenly serious, and Hughes fell silent. “I know you feel strongly about this, Lord Hughes,” Bradley began. “The loss of your family and your ancestral home is a terrible one.”
Honestly, the manor was no great loss. Home was with his girls.
“But, there’s no need to continue in the same manner that has failed again and again,” Bradley continued. “Call the dragon slayers back. I believe it’s time for a new plan.”
Hughes felt a stab of unease.
“Your Highness… I…”
Bradley was abruptly all jovial good cheer again. “Don’t worry.” He clapped Hughes on the shoulder. “I won’t entrust this assignment to anyone else. But, it’s time to consult with some of our other resources.” He turned. “I’ll send for you once they’ve been contacted.”
Then, he was striding away down the hall.
Hughes watched him, stiff and silent. So, Bradley was finally tired of his failures. And, sooner than he had expected.
After a minute, Hughes squared his shoulders and continued the way he had been going. The easy part of this gambit had just ended.
Well, never let it be said he’d run from a challenge.
He paused to look out a window facing east and pictured a little village just beyond the mountains, nestled against the border.
‘Watch after my girls, Roy.’