Chapter 392: Time to See Dumbledore [bonus]
The elves cleared the hot dishes and brought out dessert and after-dinner wine.
Narcissa poured for herself and Lucius. Regulus's sparkling water was topped up as well.
Lucius sipped his wine, and the conversation drifted outward, to matters beyond the manor.
"It's been a busy stretch." He swirled the glass, excitement he couldn't quite flatten out of his voice. "The Dark Lord rarely appears these days. Most assignments go to those beneath him while he handles his own affairs elsewhere. Where he goes, what he does, none of it is explained to us. Even I can't place him. Sometimes word arrives after passing through two or three hands."
Regulus listened over his glass, giving away nothing.
Voldemort had pulled himself out of sight, handing recruitment to Lucius and men like him, keeping for himself whatever nobody else could do and nobody else could be allowed to know.
All that expansion and courting of allies was scaffolding to him. It had never been what he cared about.
What he cared about was outliving everyone. Deathlessness. Transcendence.
And every step of that road he had to walk alone. Creating a Horcrux, hiding it, guarding it, not one part of it could be touched by another hand.