“Sounds right. My apologies for the interruption, and please continue.”
The Yponávarchos waved her hand dismissively at his apology, and continued as if the question had never come. “The second contract is somewhat more atypical, and I have made some last minute modifications since we no longer need the deniability clause for worry of Aurelia coming looking for a deserter.”
Atreus snorted, and Arthur chuckled.
“This contract,” Cassandra continued unaffectedly, “offers you a place within House Leos as one of our Hetairoi, to fight with us and serve us in the capacity of a sworn Knight. You would answer only to my husband, Menelaus Leos, the Duke of Pallikári. In return, House Leos would not only give you a home, a very lucrative stipend, and address any desires you may have within the bounds of law, honor, and tradition—but would also fund, with our considerable resources, the creation and development of your very own Eidolon.”
Arthur’s eyebrows had risen slowly when she’d begun, and by time she was finished they were in his fringe. “That’s… very generous.” he said while being careful not to insult her accidentally. “May I ask, my lady, if there is more to it?”
“Of course there is.” Cassandra said with a warm bell-like laugh. It almost made him shiver. She was ridiculously attractive, in both voice and features. “Per the terms of the second contract, you will be required to share with House Leos any Eidolon technology you include in your design, though you will receive the rights to any patents—shared with the House—that emerge as a result of your efforts.”
Arthur took a moment to absorb her words, and couldn’t help but chuckle when he did. Cassandra was a truly shrewd woman, and it only took him a few moments’ puzzling to understand it. She wasn’t just beautiful, she was brilliant—and her rise to Yponávarchos suddenly seemed far less than she deserved.
“So you give me a blank cheque for Eidolon development, let me keep the income from any technological leaps I desire to patent, and benefit as a minority shareholder in those patents at the same time.” he listed off while ignoring the faint throb in his head. At least it was no longer sharp blades. “You do all of this, while also maintaining plausible deniability if anyone from the inner sectors comes knocking.”
“In essence? Yes.” Cassandra confirmed shamelessly.
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“That’s a good offer.” Arthur said bluntly. “Too good of an offer.”
“Ah. You caught me.” She said with a wry smile. “I suppose it was too much to hope that you wouldn’t.”
“I dislike being deceived more than I dislike flattery.” Arthur said without ire. Cassandra had been honest and honorable in her dealings with him thus far, inasmuch as he could tell. The fact she hid something wasn’t what concerned him. Hiding things was what aristocrats did. He had certainly hidden his fair share of things in Pendragon.
At least, he assumed so. It felt like he had.
His concern was the gravity of what she was hiding, and whether or not it made the deal untenable.
“I understand that.” Cassandra said with a genuine smile. “And the truth is, Kyrio Magellan—”
“Just call me Arthur.” he cut in impulsively, and with no real understanding of why other than the fact it was exhausting to be referred to by formal titles constantly.
“Very well, Arthur.” she assented with a smile that, surprisingly, seemed warmer as a result of his request. “I will be candid. My family is currently in a somewhat dire position, and your addition to our ranks would be—in all honesty—something of a miracle we are desperate for. I am afraid, Arthur. I am afraid for my husband, for my daughter, and for all those that depend on us; and I have neither the power nor the means to protect them.”
Cassandra’s stormy eyes focused on him unerringly.
“In you, however, I see a chance to change that… and I will do whatever it takes to seize it.”
Arthur listened to her in silence and, when she was done, sat up straighter in his chair. His eyes moved across Cassandra’s face, over to Atreus, and then toward both Perseus and Endymion.
When he spoke, it was to the older of the two non-psionic Kidemónes.
“Is this why you brought me here, Endymion?” he asked in a measured tone.
“Yes.” the Kidemónas said with unashamed pride.
“I see.” Arthur said while looking back to Cassandra. His mind was working rapidly over everything, from the return of his memories and all that they carried with them, to the new realities of his situation, to the truths the Lion Duchess—a fitting name, in truth—had given him, and finally to what he was even doing in Graecia. Again he wondered why Nataliya had sent him. Again he wondered what it was she expected him to accomplish.
He found nothing in his mind. No hints, no inklings, no idle thoughts or implications.
If he wanted to learn more, though; he knew he’d need to stay in Graecia.
To do that and be able to truly find what he was sent to find, he needed allies.