A music box. The intruder had given him a music box. If he hadn't had been able to watch the Mundane world, he wouldn't have known what it was. Even with that knowledge, he was still wary of the thing, almost dropping it when he opened it and it began to play. Music. Real music, not the hollow sounds that he could hear through some of the magical items that had found their way to the temple.
At first he'd thought that the intruder was trying to bribe him, but the box was obviously old. The lid was scratched. If someone truly meant to buy his complacency, they would give him something expensive, not something worn but still special to someone who could not leave the temple.
In the old days, when he was still mortal, Alec would have thought that the gifts were a sign of courting. But that couldn't be true. It had to be a trick even if he hated the idea of the only music he'd heard in centuries was part of a lie.
He was still puzzled over the box when he felt the world shiver again, a warning but not as frightening as before. Like reality was only partially surprised by someone crossing the gates. Sighing, he conjured up his weapons, not sure if he should expect and army or just one person. Jogging toward the gates with the cats following, he slowed when he saw that the intruder was sitting on the border.
The cats milled around Alec, waiting for their companion to decide what to do next. Alec began to speak, ready to order the being away, but the first thing he said had nothing to do with his duty. "Why did you give me the music box?"
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At first he'd thought that the intruder was trying to bribe him, but the box was obviously old. The lid was scratched. If someone truly meant to buy his complacency, they would give him something expensive, not something worn but still special to someone who could not leave the temple.
In the old days, when he was still mortal, Alec would have thought that the gifts were a sign of courting. But that couldn't be true. It had to be a trick even if he hated the idea of the only music he'd heard in centuries was part of a lie.
He was still puzzled over the box when he felt the world shiver again, a warning but not as frightening as before. Like reality was only partially surprised by someone crossing the gates. Sighing, he conjured up his weapons, not sure if he should expect and army or just one person. Jogging toward the gates with the cats following, he slowed when he saw that the intruder was sitting on the border.
The cats milled around Alec, waiting for their companion to decide what to do next. Alec began to speak, ready to order the being away, but the first thing he said had nothing to do with his duty. "Why did you give me the music box?"