A new master.:(
Arion's heart was a frantic drum against his ribs as he approached the grand doors of the Council chamber. He could hear the low murmur of voices from within. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, he raised his hand and knocked. The sound was a small thing, almost lost in the cavernous space, but it was enough. The doors swung open, and a servant gestured for him to enter.
He stepped inside, and a hundred eyes turned to him at once. He was no stranger to attention; as a celebrated warrior, he was used to the gazes of admirers and rivals alike. But this was different. These were the eyes of the most powerful people in the kingdom, and their stares felt less like admiration and more like scrutiny. He felt a wave of nausea.
At the head of the room sat the King, his expression one of bored authority. But it was the two figures flanking him that truly caught Arion's attention. On one side was Kyon, his face a perfectly blank slate, his posture a study in regal composure. He looked utterly emotionless, as if Arion were just another piece of furniture in the room.
Beside him, however, was a mirror image. A man with the same raven hair, the same sharp jawline, and the same dark, intelligent eyes. He was a perfect twin to Kyon, but where Kyon's face was a beautiful, serene mask, this man's held a cruel, predatory smile. He was Cassian, the older brother, the one Arion had only heard whispered about in the barracks.
The shock was a physical blow. Arion's breath hitched, and a weary sigh escaped his lips. "One is already hard to care for, and now there are two?" he thought to himself, a wave of profound exhaustion washing over him. The idea of navigating the complex, manipulative personality of one of them was a terrifying prospect. The thought of two was a nightmare.
"Arion, the Dragon-Slayer," the King's voice boomed, interrupting his thoughts. "You have been summoned for a new assignment."
Arion's head snapped up, his gaze flitting from the King to the two princes. Kyon remained impassive, but Cassian's smirk widened, as if he knew something Arion didn't. The room felt like a cage, and Arion was the unsuspecting bird just walking into a trap. He had faced down dragons, but the real monsters, he was beginning to realize, were men who wore masks of beauty and power.