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❝SO HE HAS GONE.❞
*ృ༅*. Silver knows why Shadow has disappeared. Knows why Espio has brought him a message bearing one word: Sayonara.
Espio does not need to answer the question that is disguised as a statement; his bowed head says enough. His bowed head also says too much.
"He has not abandoned me." There is no need to convince himself of this. Silver stands from his chair to be level with the chameleon, edging toward defence. "I don't know his methods, but I know his disappearance is for my safety."
Espio meets his eyes—honey-gold that matches his own—and the chameleon is unreadable. It gives Silver anxiety, unhelpful thoughts of random scenarios of what could be said.
"Shadow Lancelot is no traitor," Silver enunciates. He wants to scream it.
"He left the service of the Emerald Crown to serve under a human," says Espio smoothly. "Traded Green Hills for Soleanna. Traded a king for a princess. It is unclear where his loyalties lie."
"That does not make him betrayer." Not like someone we know. Silver's hands become fists as the mere breath of the idea of Sonic.
"But I find it makes him untrustworthy." This is no disdain or mistrust in Espio's tone; he is simply expressing a concern, an opinion. "Why is he not with you, at your side, to protect you from the Exile? Your knights know the protocol. As King, you come before ev'rything." A pause, a whisper, a grim reminder. "You come before his human lover."
In his chest, Silver is seared with white-hot fire. It takes all of him to restrain a blooming temper. Not at Espio, but at the chameleon's repeating of a vicious and untrue rumour. "She is not his lover. Only his love."
Espio shrugs, unbothered. It makes no difference to him. "We know nothing of the Exile. He is unpredictable. You are in danger. Have you a plan, my King?"
"Not a proper plan." He has no shame in admitting this, as weak as it makes him. But he is a child yet and will not pretend otherwise. "I'm waiting for him to show, if he will." He pats the sword clipped to his hip, to the golden Excalibur. "I wait for him to come to me."
Silver meets Espio's matching eyes. "And if he comes, I'll cut off his head."
That, at least, wrenches a smile out of Espio.
♚♛♜♝♞
❝HE IS COMING.❞
*ృ༅*. Espio steps out of camouflage and into the twilight beside his king. Silver hardens, stiff as stone.
"Are you certain?" The fear in his throat doubles at Espio's nod. Only three twilights have passed since Shadow disappeared; this is the fourth.
