Murdoc waited for the guard to unlock the door in lighter spirits than before, having just come back from the dungeon where Voltrick was held. He's grown quite attached to the fellow, and for those working under him, they've realized that they benefit greatly when they please Murdoc. He did not want to be known as a dictator as the rebellion had so rudely titled him, but a benevolent leader. He had his own sort of principles that he followed, and granted some may be different than others, but he felt it was just the same.

He mused over these thoughts hurriedly in his mind as the guard stepped aside and allowed him to go on into the short hall. He walked on the red carpet, noticing how dark it was with the gray brick walls and the set torches flickering with fire. Arriving before a broad wooden door, he removed a key from his pouch and began unlocking it. After two turns, Murdoc stepped into the large room slowly. There in the bed, he found Aidan curled within heavy blankets, fighting against a bitter chill he's developed after too much exposure on that snowy mountain Voltrick found him.

The poor cat had been shivering and had acknowledged Murdoc's arrival by motioning under the blankets.

"Dear Aidan..." Murdoc addressed, closing the door behind him before walking briskly towards the bed, "I see your chill hasn't passed." His voice held a tone of pity as he arrived to the side of the bed, seeing the top portion of Aidan's head from under the covers. The fire was going at full blaze and Murdoc noticed an empty soup bowl on the bed-stand.

Aidan stirred, peeking his head out to look at Murdoc with a downcast look, unmistakably tired of his illness. "It hasn't stopped for two days." He replied with trembling lips, leaning his head against the pillow further.

"I heard you were by yourself at the time." Murdoc mentioned softly, hiding the curiosity he felt about the subject.

The cat looked up at him with half-open eyes as though he were considering his choice of words. "I...was parted..." he finally said, glancing away from Murdoc. "He...They didn't...need me anymore." Aidan's voice cracked at the end as he began to recall that terrible night of his banishment. Murdoc didn't hesitate to lean over the cat, supporting himself with both arms on either side of Aidan, just enough so his torso wouldn't touch the blankets.

"Oh, Aidan..." he spoke with a gentle voice. From his palms, he felt Aidan quiver either from the chill or by his anxiety.

"I don't understand! I've done nothing wrong to them!" He exclaimed pitifully, as though what happened half a week ago had finally caught up to him. "I-I tried my best...a-and...!" Murdoc wiped away a few stray tears from Aidan's cheek.

"Hush. Enough foolishness. You're an angel. You couldn't have done anything wrong." Murdoc assured, cupping Aidan's face between his hands, moving to look in Aidan's eyes. He found there was a distant look in those green eyes and presumed the dose of the medicine was too much. However much he wanted, he knew that Aidan would have never voluntarily said these things to him.

"You haven't slept yet." Murdoc mentioned just as he finished examining Aidan's features, removing his hands.

"I was too cold." Aidan answered after a few sniffs as he worked to control himself.

"Shall I fetch another blanket?"

"Murdoc..."

"Yes?"

Aidan looked up at him with an air of importance, a strange and calm look upon his features. "Finish O'luca Viglione."

The idea struck him so suddenly Murdoc stared down at Aidan with a dumbfounded look.

"I've been thinking about it..." Aidan continued, glancing from Murdoc for a moment.

"W-What?! Aidan, you are surely delusional!" Murdoc found his breath again.

Aidan pressed up, holding himself on his elbow facing Murdoc. "I'm not. She's left you in charge ever since she's gone to a foreign land. When she comes back, everything will change."

"She is the Mistress, Aidan! The Mother!" Murdoc spoke through his teeth as though it were a terrible secret.

"She is also a terrible evil!"

Murdoc shook his head a few times before he pressed a hand against Aidan's shoulder, forcing him back lying on the bed. "No, no. We cannot talk of this any longer. How could you even think of this?"

"Have you ever known me to be wrong about something, Murdoc? She will take control of things more than the noble does!" Aidan fought with his brows stern.

Murdoc, again, shook his head. "Enough, enough, Aidan. Rest and I will think." he assured, pressing Aidan's chest against the bed as though he were afraid the cat might jump out. He was answered with silence as Aidan complied and shrunk back into the covers like before. Murdoc rose and let out a long breath, wondering where this idea came from. This was unlike Aidan. A sudden thought crossed his mind, frowning as he glanced to the doors, as though checking if they were alone. Perhaps...no...how could he even be near? Murdoc thought this as he examined the room before slowly stepping away from the bed when he was sure Aidan would go to sleep. His doubts shouldn't be taken lightly. And if they were true, he didn't know how he would react in anger. He led himself out, set to meet one man before the night was finished.

Murdoc hurried to the outside square where a few men were speaking with one another. One of them had a thin figure and long beige hair.

"Fyren!" He called with the faintest of growls in his voice, stomping towards the group with clutched fists. The other men quickly silenced themselves, seeing their general's anger, and quietly excused themselves all but for the man Murdoc had called for. Fyren happily turned to face Murdoc with crossed arms with pleasant curiosity.

"Yes, Murdoc Convel?" He asked sweetly.

"Enough of your pleasant talk!" Murdoc waved away, coming to stand before Fyren in a threatening fashion, "I've just come from Aidan's quarters..."

"Oh! Was it refreshing?" Fyren laughed as he ignored Murdoc's foul behavior.

"Shut up! He's asked me to do something I find suspicious for him to even mention." Murdoc began, ignoring Fyren for now.

"And what is that?"

Murdoc looked at Fyren carefully as he was trying to look through that playful expression. "Have you been to see him?" He asked finally.

Fyren grinned as his purple eyes met Murdoc's, leaving the wolf to imagine a puck. "I won't deny I've met him while you spoke to Voltrick Mundegard." He began with slurred words, "I also wouldn't lie that I've mentioned Mistress O'luca Viglione with him a few times..." to this he grinned as though he were keeping some details for himself. This only fueled the curiosity and anger in Murdoc.

"Told him what, exactly?!"

"Are you so angered by the fact that I've "poisoned" his innocent mind to think of killing, or are you upset about the idea of murdering the Mistress?" Fyren asked frankly, keeping his voice lowered so others would not hear them. Murdoc stared at Fyren in surprise, finding himself indecisive in the end.

"I don't blame you," Fyren continued, looking away towards the men on the other side of the darkened square, laughing away as they readied the horses. "O'luca Viglione has been away for two years now, leaving you in charge, yes? Perhaps you are so used to the power that perhaps her returning is quite a shock to you."

"...What are you saying?" Murdoc asked, wrinkling a brow at Fyren.

"I've been a good friend of the Mistress for a long time, so I understand her. You and I also know that she can get quite...jealous of you." Those purple eyes glanced back to Murdoc, who was standing perfectly still as an idea struck him suddenly.

"Also a reason she put you in charge of the Ministry..." Fyren added.

"She'll see Aidan..." Murdoc muttered with a distant stare.

"That's right."

"You don't think she would..?"

"There's no doubt."

Murdoc flared up, gritting his teeth as he glowered at Fyren, "And you told Aidan about that?! That she would kill him?!"

"And didn't he just ask you, of all people, to help him?" Fyren retorted, raising a brow to Murdoc. This silenced the wolf quickly. "He's either safe or dangerous here at the Ministry. Which one would you choose for Aidan?"

Murdoc frowned suddenly, "Why are you so concerned about him? You've just met him."

The cat laughed to this notion, "Hah! Well let's just say his personality demands the concern of others." he replied vaguely, "But it doesn't change what will happen when O'luca returns by the week's end."

Murdoc sighed heavily, finally looking around his surroundings. He suddenly noticed that many of the men were readying themselves for the departure to where Antonis and his group were hidden. Fyren noticed this.

"The men are just about ready to leave." he informed. Murdoc looked at him for a minute before turning away slightly, "Call it off." he ordered quietly, having just settled a deep debate within him, leaving Murdoc appearing exhausted. "You and I will leave there in the morning."

Murdoc walked away after his short commands, leaving Fyren behind who bowed respectfully to his parting. When the cat rose, he held a long smile as he saw first hand the seed he sowed sprout it's first bud.


+++


Murdoc arrived back in Aidan's room, the flames in the fireplace flapping about weakly now as time had passed. The crescent moon shone through the window giving some light. Aidan was sleeping soundly now, finding comfort somehow. Murdoc dragged himself to sit in a chair from across the bed, leaning himself in heavily, watching Aidan for a while. If what Fyren said was true, Aidan was surely in danger if O'luca were to find him, and no doubt have him executed on grounds that he was a rebel. Murdoc knew O'luca was aware of how he felt about Aidan; that alone would fuel the Mistress' jealousy. Why did she have to love him? Murdoc rubbed a hand against his features slowly to relieve his stress.

He had been so caught up in his own selfishness about Aidan and Antonis that he's forgotten about the circumstance of her return. She would change everything he's done. The first decision to get rid of Aidan. Murdoc looked back towards the sleeping cat. Aidan's safety is my priority now, he concluded, wrinkling his brows. Soon he found himself getting up from his seat and walking towards Aidan. He lowered himself, wrapping his arms across Aidan to embrace him from behind, leaning his head against the cat's back. Aidan did not stir and Murdoc kept like that silently for a few minutes.

"Aidan." he whispered just as he used to back then. He smiled a bit as he recalled Aidan was a heavy sleeper. "I will atone for my wrongs against you." he began, as though praying, "I'll do something I...did not expect myself capable of just yesterday." Murdoc fell silent again, this time for a long while, even lying on the bed to get comfortable.

"I'll never deny a thing you ask me." he whispered, opening his closed eyes distantly. "I'll make you happy." he finished, removing himself silently from this precious thing he had just sworn himself to. He had reflected on the things he had done to Aidan and was now resolute on making up for past mistakes. Murdoc rose his chest as his eyes held a look of determination and...courage. The sky had begun to turn a dark shade of blue, eluding to dawn. Yes, Murdoc would need courage for what he was going to do.

He walked out of the room and down the halls of the Ministry, arriving to the square he had met Fyren before. There he found the cat just where he had been standing. Murdoc stared at him in surprise while Fyren looked over to him, still smiling.

"I knew you would come here so early." Fyren chirped.

Murdoc was about to question how long the cat had been there, but chose to dismiss it. "Are you ready to depart?"

"I am."

They galloped on horseback down the main road from the Ministry's gates with Murdoc following Fyren, set to arrive where Antonis and his group were before noon. Murdoc found they were not as far away as he had imagined.


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