too. No one dared to bully me.” Not physically. Verbal and emotional abuse was another matter entirely, but Eridan knew he’d really had it easy compared to some other throwbacks. “I’m lucky I didn’t end up in the servicing department.”
“Servicing department?” Warrehn said. “Is that what I think it is?”
Eridan hesitated. “I’m not really supposed to talk to an outsider about—”
“Eridan,” Warrehn said, boring his blue eyes into him. “You do realize that you are an ‘outsider’ now, too, right?”
Eridan looked at him blankly before averting his gaze.
Right.
Thankfully, the click of heels on the polished floor saved him from responding.
Eridan turned his head and found himself looking at the regent. Or rather, the former regent.
He’d seen her pictures before, of course, but she looked even more stunning in person. Dark-violet hair, dark-blue eyes and milky skin made her look younger. She must be pushing sixty, middle-aged by Calluvian standards, but she didn’t look a day over forty.
She smiled upon meeting Eridan’s gaze and bowed gracefully, radiating warmth. “You must be Eruadarhd! Or do you prefer Eridan? How fortunate it is that Warrehn found you so quickly after his return home! Now we all can be a happy family again.”
Eridan blinked.
He looked at Warrehn, confused. After Warrehn’s words, he had expected a cold, calculating woman, not… not this.
Frowning, Warrehn shook his head slightly. “How did you know that I found my brother?”
Dalatteya smiled, her warm gaze still on Eridan. “I just spoke with the High Adept. He was kind enough to warn me of your arrival, Eridan.”
Oh.
Eridan’s suspicions were confirmed correct when Dalatteya’s gaze shifted to Warrehn. Her expression considerably cooled, a hard glint appearing in her eyes, though she was still smiling. “I’m very happy for you, nephew.”
Warrehn’s answering smile was more of a feral grimace, all teeth and no warmth. “I’m sure you are, Aunt Dalatteya. If you’ll excuse us. My brother is tired.”
“Of course,” Dalatteya said, looking at Eridan warmly. “But you absolutely must come down for dinner, Eridan. My Samir will be delighted to see you, I’m sure.”
Eridan smiled back. “Thank you, I’m very much looking forward to it.”
He and Warrehn strode away from the woman.
When they were no longer in hearing distance, Warrehn said, “What the fuck? Did Idhron screw with her mind to make her be nice to you?”
Eridan told himself he should be horrified. He told himself brainwashing was the most terrible thing that could happen to a person, no matter how bad they were. But he couldn’t quite eradicate the shameful warmth that curled in his stomach. Maybe his Master cared for him, in his own horrible, messed up way. The next moment, he felt angry with himself for entertaining such thoughts. Stop. Just stop.
Looking away, Eridan said, “You accused Master of brainwashing me, but that was what brainwashing looks like, Warrehn. It doesn’t quite look natural. Brainwashed people can’t even think critically of the subject of their brainwashing; they lose all their agency. If my Master brainwashed me, I wouldn’t even be able to argue with him.”
When Warrehn didn’t say anything, Eridan looked at him.
Warrehn had a strange expression on his face.
“What?”
Warrehn pursed his lips briefly. “Stop calling him Master, kid. He’s the High Adept of the High Hronthar; that’s all. If we’re unlucky, we’ll see him a few times a year at some official functions. He’s not your Master anymore. He’s no one to you.”
Eridan averted his gaze. “I know that,” he said tersely.
Warrehn sighed. “Do you?” he murmured before stopping in front of a door. “This one is yours. If you don’t like the room, you can choose any other, obviously. My bedroom is two doors down the corridor.”
Eridan gave a clipped nod. “Thanks.” He entered the room and shut the door behind himself.
He looked around.
The bedroom was large and beautiful, decorated in neutral colors. There was a huge walk-in closet full of different types of clothes, approximately his size. They all looked brand new. Warrehn must have ordered those to be made for him.
Eridan would have been touched by his thoughtfulness if there wasn’t a cold, hollow feeling in his chest, worsening now that he was alone with his thoughts.
He drew a deep breath of air in through his nose and held it in his lungs as he sank to the floor of his huge closet. He pulled his knees to his chest and hugged them tightly.