Conspiring

                                    

                                          
"A gift?" Muriel's tone was deep with judging, his words spaced and slow as if he wasn't quite sure I'd been hearing him correctly. "You want me to make Lucio a gift?" 
                          
I nodded my head, leaned back on my stool, my arm draped over Inanna's shoulders. We were in Muriel's hut -- Muriel, Asra, and me. We would meet there every night after Lucio went to bed for about thirty minutes. The meetings would always end when Muriel had to go, of course, to Lucio's quarters for something none of us really wanted to talk about, but they were always timely. Always worth something, as short as they might've been. It had been about a week since I had first discovered Asra. A week since I had fake questioned Muriel for Lucio and presented him with nothing but an assuring nod and a confirmation that Muriel wasn't cheating on him. A week since I had first started living my double life, lying to what seemed like everyone but Asra and Muriel. 
                          
I even lied to Julian whenever I'd get to see him. The way that he trusted me regardless of what I said made guilt twist in my stomach. I'd tell him the truth eventually but... not yet. Not until this mess was cleared up.
                          
Asra was standing by the fire, watching the embers pop and burn. He had turned around upon hearing the interaction between Muriel and me, however, and cocked his head while he listened, a soft smile curling on his lips. 
                          
Muriel remained stubborn. "What could I make?" he asked. "I'm not that good at anything... anything he would want, anyways." 
                          
Asra gave a laugh, and started up to Muriel's side, crossing his arms over his chest and cocking his head. "'Not good at anything'?" he asked, lifting a hand to jab his finger into the pin on his chest. "You make the best protection charms in all of Vesuvia. Anyone would be glad to get one from you." 
                          
Muriel blushed a little, and shrugged his shoulders. "I still don't think how making something for him helps," he muttered, looking up at me. "How does that explain everything I did?"
                          
"You kept disappearing. We could say that you were leaving often to make him a charm. They take a while to make, as far as he's aware. A little over a week." I got to my feet, sending Asra a look, trying to get him on my side to help me persuade Muriel. "Just make him one charm. It'll be more than enough for him." 
                          
I spent more and more time at Muriel's than anywhere else now. Lucio was a little irritated that I had full access to the castle (aside from Nadia's wing without direct permission) but still decided to spend all of my time in Muriel's little hut. I'd gotten fairly close to Asra in my time, too. He taught me new spells when Muriel was out feeding the chickens or visiting Lucio. My abilities had developed rapidly over time, which I took quite a bit of pride in but Lucio silently envied.
                          
Asra, catching on to my persuading, placed a hand on Muriel's shoulder. "It's a good plan, Muriel. The best one we've got, at least," he said, smiling at the still blushy Muriel beside him. "Lucio will be too caught up in a gift to realize anything off, and you'll get to know that he's safe on top of that. I don't really see a downside." 
                          
Muriel gave a low sigh, turning his head down a bit to look at the floor. After a few moments he nodded his head, and looked back up to me. "Alright," he said. "I can make one in a few days time... two if I work on it enough. Do you think that's too long?" 
                          
Asra shook his head. "It's perfect, Muriel," he promised, taking his hand from Muriel's shoulder and moving back to the fire. "Speaking of Count Lucio, however, I think you should get going soon. He's probably waiting for you. Appra and I will stay here for a bit." 
                          
With a silent nod and nothing else, Muriel turned and retrieved his cloak from its place on the wall. He didn't normally wear it in his hut -- which was odd to see at first, due to the fact I'd never seen him without it anytime prior -- but he always wore it out in the palace. He tugged it over his shoulders, and turned back to us, offering a blushing nod and a gentle wave before turning around and leaving, giving Inanna a pet on the head before making his way out. When the door closed, it was just Asra and I, and the crackling of the fire.