A Snake Deserves No Pity

A/n: It’s been too long since I’ve updated this ;___; or ANY of my stories. I promise to be on a lot more now! Reviews make an author happy!

“I don’t... I don’t quite know how to get started,” he mumbled as they sat in the silence of the drawing room. “I’ve been thinking all this time about what I would say when I finally arrived and now that I’m right here in front of you I don’t quite know what to say...”

Klaviere gave a small smile and gently flicked his fingers towards the slim man seated before him. Tyson glanced at them briefly and took note of how thin and delicate they looked. He moved his gaze up to the man’s face and watched as he smiled gently at him. “That’s quite all right. I’m not going anywhere. Take your time, young one. I have no wish to rush you.”

Tyson smiled a little in return and clasped his trembling hands in front of him. “W-well.... Let me think for a moment, please.”

He took several deep breaths as his mind ran over his story, the one he’d gone over countless times in his head. He knew the tale quite well. It was just putting it all into words that was beginning to prove difficult for the young man. But he allowed himself to breathe and think, feeling himself slowly relax over the few moments of silence he took.

The god didn’t seem at all as he’d imagined. In his minds eye he’d conjured up a vast, portly sort of figure with a rounded body and a big booming voice. This peaceful, beautiful creature lying patiently across from him was the complete opposite. He felt a little calmer around this sort of person. The only oddity about the being from his silent observations was his unusual eye color, but other than that he seemed quite... normal. Exquisitely beautiful; yes. But normal.

“I suppose it would make sense for me to begin at the start of it all before I ask for your help, yes?” he questioned quietly over the crackling of the fireplace. Klaviere nodded his head just the slightest bit and Tyson gave a nervous smile, dropping his gaze to a patch on the couch where the reflection of the flames flickered against the pattern.

“It all started a few weeks ago, when a man from our village was very angry...”

“Back already?” sounded the irritated grumble from the end of the hall. Rogan turned his head and gave a light smile at the sight of the person standing there. The look on the mans face was so formidable that anyone who didn’t know the scholar and the worker would wonder why the large guard looked so happy to see him.

“Yes. Klaviere wanted me to leave them alone, so I did.”

“Are you sure that’s wise, Rogan?” hissed the second figure in a suspicious tone as he paced forwards towards the man, his forehead furrowing behind his spectacles. “I don’t trust that stranger. He has trouble written all over him. The master could do without those sorts of people-”

“The master could do with someone visiting him once in a while,” Rogan cut in a little sharply. “He’s been very lonely up there you know. The poor guy... I don’t want him to get hurt just as much as you,” he added in a more gentle tone, his features softening. “He’s looked after every one of us for all of this time and I don’t think I could forgive myself should I allow any harm to come to him in return. But we should trust his judgment.”

He reached out and gently touched the scholar’s forehead, shifting a strand of loose hair out of his eyes in a gentle motion that caused the smaller male to flinch a little. “I know you’re worried right now, but you have to try and relax. The guy isn’t going to do anything. Just let the master have someone there for him, okay? He’s lonely... and living alone isn’t what makes you happy,” he added, his voice rather serious by now as he ran his fingertip gently over the scholar’s cheek, “no matter what you might think... Just leave them be Kale, yeah?” he questioned as he removed his hand and smiled lightly down at his companion.

The man flushed slightly and shot an irritated look up at the guard, turning away with a rather cold motion. “Fine. But don’t think I’m happy about it,” he barked as he stormed off in the general direction of the library. With a small smile, Rogan cast a prolonged look up the staircase where the lord’s room was. He glanced down at his hand with an odd expression, letting out a small sigh. “... Damn,” he muttered, turning and moving outside to attend to his own duties.

“So you see, that’s why I need your help...” Tyson finished at last with a pleading look at Klaviere. “Do you think you could do anything...?”

The man had fallen silent before him, tapping his lips with his finger in a thoughtful way. He was quiet for quite a few moments before finally breaking the silence that had surrounded them. “Yes,” he said softly. “I believe I could. But I am afraid there is a slight flaw to my solution,” he added, which still didn’t stop the relieved expression spreading across Tyson’s face.

“What is it? If you need money I can pay you. My village doesn’t have a lot; we’re quite poor really, but anything we have we’ll give you. We have many beautiful women if that’s what you want. We could give -” Klaviere abruptly held up a finger into the air and Tyson fell silent instantly.

“I am not talking about payment, child. I have never asked for anything in return and I do not wish to begin now. I merely ask for your hospitality when I arrive. No, it is merely the fact that this sort of issue cannot be addressed from here. I must travel with you to your village and see to this matter personally. However, due to a certain... condition that I face, I find trouble moving in the harsh winters. The cold could kill me. You said that this wouldn’t be an overwhelming problem until next summer, yes?” he questioned. Tyson nodded slowly in response. “In that case, I ask that you await until spring when the cold and windy weather has vanished before I travel with you to the village. Unfortunately this means you shall have to remain here under my care until then. You may send a letter to your village should you wish, explaining this. Are the arrangements to your liking?”

Tyson didn’t really know how to respond to this. He’d hoped the problem could be sorted out instantly, but it seemed that there was no other way. He would just have to deal with it. Instead of arguing (especially since the god had agreed to sort the issue out for free) he nodded again.

Klaviere gave his guest a signature calm smile, brushing back a strand of his auburn hair with his fingertips. “Very well. I would see you to the door, but I am afraid I am too weak at this present moment. Feel free to wander around. This is your home for the next few months or so after all. Tell one of my servants to set up a room for you. Any complaints and tell them to come straight to me, understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Tyson replied in a trembling tone, a little overwhelmed by Klaviere’s kindness. “Thank you, my lord.” The god gave him an approving smile as Tyson turned and exited the room, closing the door with a soft click behind him. He gazed into the fireplace with a thoughtful expression, his body curled tight under the blanket to try and keep in the heat.

“Oh no, child,” he murmured aloud to himself. “Truly, it is I that should thank you.”