Chapter Text
"You were allied with the Church of Seiros, were you not? So why do you fight with the Empire?"
The mage wore red rather than the usual black, her face was carefully disguised by magic to look human, and she wore gloves with the Empire's double-headed eagle insignia embroidered on them. But Randahl could smell an Agarthan from miles away. Even now he kept his ears hidden from view unless he was among those who already knew and whom he could trust.
"Simply put, I grew tired of how the archbishop chose to handle certain things," he said. "Why do you ask? Surely the Empire would be glad to know people are walking away from the Church of their own volition." The mage's expression flickered for just a moment, and she made a show of folding her hands tightly in front of her.
"Of course we are. We just want to ensure that we don't have any rats among our ranks," she said much too pleasantly. "Anyone who was cozy with the Church very well could be. Did you only work alongside the archbishop, or did you have other duties at Garreg Mach?"
"Other than being a student? No."
"Really? Are you sure?" Nope, sorry, not gonna trick me. I know who you're going to report to and he's not getting jack shit out of me. Even if they were more interested in messing things up in the Empire and brainwashing Dimitri to fight to the death, Randahl would sooner stand waist-deep in lava than tell them anything about the Abyss.
"Absolutely."
"Hm." The mage smiled. "Well, no matter. I simply wished to ensure we could trust someone like you, after all, but if Lady Edelgard and Lord Hubert trust you, then I suppose I can as well." She bowed. "And now if you'll excuse me." She took her leave, and Randahl rolled his eyes.
"Some people know nothing about subtlety. Too bad she's probably gonna get a smack from that guy when she comes back with nothing."
He heard a snicker, followed by a dark chuckle, and turned around to see Edelgard and Hubert standing nearby.
"I knew there was another reason we trusted you," Edelgard said. "There's little we can do about them for now, but at least you can sniff them out and deny Thales further information." Randahl smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"She's not the first one who's given me the can we trust you, you used to work with Rhea business, remember?" Hubert cleared his throat.
"I do hope you're not calling me out. I was just as suspicious of the Professor, remember?" Randahl laughed.
"Don't worry, this was after you changed your tune," he said. "I get people being a little nervous, but anytime one of the Slithers asks I know what they're trying to do." His smirk softened into a smile. "But you have my utmost loyalty, and not just because you stand against Rhea, either." Edelgard smiled.
"And you have our trust."