Kaid could feel the whispered doubts on the back of his neck like the evening wind. All his life had been sown with doubt. Doubt of never being good enough, never seeking truth, or never being able to obtain anything worthwhile in his life. Jessamine was the first to rescue him from such a fate, oddly enough because she had attached an invisible leash of her own.
That leash was gone, replaced by a string that now was tethered equally around their hearts. It was frayed by the distance between them for these two years, but no longer. Kaid knew his purpose in this life was to mend. In order to mend the world, he’d have to mend that string around his heart, he’d have to mend the political disarray from a place he used to call home as a boy.
There was plenty of skepticism. Shailud was the kind of man who trained since the day he could carry a blade as a child. It wouldn’t be Kaid’s first time fighting a man with such experience. Kaid’s lack of a left hand was visual enough to the crowd around him that he didn’t stand much of a chance. The only thing was, everyone that dared to pick a fight against Kaid fought for all the wrong reasons.
Fights were more than just experience, muscles, or technique. Motivation could be everything. The reason the heart continued to pump blood despite all odds could not be easily defeated by a blade. Shailud was fighting to prove himself the rightful ruler. In that aspect, he’s already lost the war, even if he won this battle. If Caladin taught him one thing it was that everyone had a deadly sin. Exploiting that sin was the best assurance he could use.
Shailud was expecting a fight to the death. Kaid knew shattering that false emerald blade in his hands would do more harm than stabbing his own through the man’s heart. Mara had already attested to the blade falling under a faulty heat-treatment, meaning at just the right strike, it could shatter like glass. If Kaid had to chip and fray that blade bit by bit to hit that sweet part, he’d do it.
Jessamine held Kaid’s folded sword in her gentle hands, knowing there was no way of warning Kaid without being obvious. All of those who suppressed their Oblivions would eventually implode; the pressure was too much to withstand. Even better, if they were hypocritical in their feelings towards Oblivion. In some aspects, the hypocrisy was because they were once victimized. The moment they used such fear to harm others, being an Oblivionist themselves, that’s when they crossed a line.
Shailud has crossed that line, in multiple, dangerous ways.
Shailud paced in the small space given to them, back and forth, his eyes on Kaid who remained still. Shailud acted like a predator circling his prey, waiting for the perfect angle to strike. Kaid knew in his fight with Proffit, Kiev, and even Payne, he always countered and played on the defensive. Shailud would expect the same, which was why Kaid needed to change that.
Kaid made the first lunge, his blade reaching for Shailud’s thigh in hopes to cut. Shailud wasn’t caught off guard, immediately parrying it. Kaid striked again, only to be blocked. Again. Again. And again. Shailud’s smirk only grew with each defensive victory for him. Yet, he did not strike. He was trying to weaken Kaid’s composure, and after over ten well defended strikes, Kaid was beginning to feel it weaken. Kaid’s wrist and hand ached from the grip and powerful strikes to parry him. He hadn’t made a single cut into Shailud’s dark skin.
He had slowed time with each strike, each one of them perfectly crafted to make sure Shailud couldn’t counter without consequence. Yet, Shailud seemed to see each strike at him like a premonition, warning him of Kaid’s potential to win. He had read about this before, somewhere, somehow. The pages of words across time flashed in his brain, his memory trying to pull up whatever he could find.
Books had their advantage, even in a world where most decisions were derived from violence. In most instances, saying the pen was sharper than the sword was incorrect. Knowledge, however, could be life saving. And the immediate thought of Shailud having foresight was beginning to set in Kaid’s confused mind. Foresight. Foresight could defeat all careful planning. Kaid could spend a year pausing time, carefully strategizing how to strike at Shailud, and no matter what the man would see it coming if it caused danger. The more dangerous a strike, the more his Oblivion would warn him of such danger.
So, Kaid knew he had to alter his strategy. Altering strategy, changing one’s mind was not a sign of weakness. Adaptability was a strength. Kaid would not waste any further energy into a fight he wouldn’t win, not with the way he’s handled it. He still had to aim for that blade, which was already showing divots and dulling along the edge. Shailud would continue with his own strategy, that was certain. Shailud would continue to use his brutish methods until he realized it was too late.
Now, it was too late.
Kaid focused all his strikes on the blade, not Shailud’s torso or any openings to strike at his body. Shailud easily countered each one, not without confusion. It wasn’t until Shailud decided to lunge at Kaid that it changed. With a quick side step, Kaid slammed his blade down onto the bridge of Shailud’s. A high pitched ding echoed, the sound of a blade clattering into the sand caused the entire audience to gasp. Shailud only held the handle within his hands. The rest of the emerald beauty rested comfortably in the dirt.
In a diaha, with only one weapon chosen, there were no options to obtain another weapon. Kaid knew this. Hence why breaking this blade gave him the most strategic advantage, one he knew he’d have if he just gave it a little time and a lot of effort. And all the sweat that dripped down his skin was worth the shock on everyone’s eyes.
“You cheat!” Shailud yelled, his anger getting the better of him, “Where is Mara? Where is that bitch who made a faulty blade-”
“You admit, she made the blade?” Kaid asked, still panting heavily and recovering his breath. It was then Shailud made his greatest error: admitting out of aghast rage the real deceit. Kaid had not chosen to fight to kill this man, instead, a fight could reveal all the secrets a man had, Oblivion being one of them.
Shailud began to stammer, almost foam at the mouth in anger at himself. The whispers around them grew louder. Those once doubtful eyes that had gazed upon Kaid were now on Shailud, full of betrayal and shame. Mara slowly pushed through the crowd towards the edge, everyone giving her room to take the floor.
“Shailud asked me to make the blade, yes,” she admitted, “I feared the ramifications of not doing so. Yet, Shailud was planning on burying that secret with a plan of his own. You used my graphite to blow up the wall a hundred yards from here. You planned to accuse me of killing an Empress I had once tried to kill before.”
Shailud remained silent, his heart racing, real fear finally piercing his veins like frigid cold. Greed had overwhelmed him. Lungor and Pestilence had fed his gluttony, knowing that if someone would eventually take the fall it would be him. Shailud had been used, and Kaid didn’t feel sorry for him at all. Shailud would use people for his own measures to climb up the ladder of power. Only thing was, the rungs at the bottom were weak, collapsing before his very eyes from the weight of his greed.
Shailud turned his eyes to Sabine, hoping there would be one last person to remain at his side. Yet he could tell from her expression of anger that she would not attest to him. She could ally with him no longer. Sabine was always wanting what was best for her people, and it was clear Shailud would do anything to his people to keep the power he had. Ironic enough, his power at the moment was very little. Whatever Lungor promised to him must’ve been a tempting offer.
“You knew about this, didn’t you!? You mind-witch bitch!” Shailud turned his anger towards Jessamine. The Empress remained calm, in control as she always did in moments like this. Everyone who stood around her had from Vitross held this calm smirk, knowing that perhaps Jessamine had planned this all along.
“You should be grateful Kaid was the one who challenged you,” Jessamine answered, “He’s giving you something I wouldn’t have.”
“And what’s that!?”
“Mercy,” Kaid answered, still holding his blade but keeping his distance, “You steal from these people with taxes they can’t afford, only to feed your luxurious pockets. You accuse my friend of blowing up a wall at a grand party, one you did yourself resulting in plenty of injuries. You created plans to kidnap my Empress, torture her, threaten her. You did all of this because someone offered you power in exchange of information…information about a man who’s been under your nose this entire time.”
Kaid walked closer to him, picking up the broken blade on the ground before glancing at Shailud, “I’m giving you a chance to walk away in exile. I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself elsewhere, to learn to rebuild yourself in a way that doesn’t allow you to step on anyone else.”
“No. Kaid, you might be used to running away from your fate. I am not,” Shailud laughed, “I do not accept defeat, nor exile. They are both one in the same. I still deliver what I promised, unlike you. You may have exploited my weakness, but I know yours as well.”
Jessamine immediately felt a cold chill on her neck, burning synapses into her brain. Her Oblivion was immediately blocked at a miniscule brush of a hand at the back of her hair. That hand immediately grasped it, Jessamine feeling her neck tilt back and a blade pressed to her throat. Alec, Kiev, and Mara all drew their blades in response, seeing Proffit as Shailud’s last and only ally remaining. Kaid immediately felt fear seize him, before realizing that’s what Shailud wanted.
“Oh, so the rumors are true then. The whore of Vitross lays herself with a prison rat. You may have been born here, Kaid. But that doesn’t make you one of us, not when you ally yourself with this filth. You are from Caladin and always will be. Nothing you’ve done or will do can change that,” Shailud smirked, despite not being in the best position to do so, “Make a choice, Kaid. Surrender in this diaha, and I’ll consider letting you live. Do so, and your Empress walks free.”
Kaid watched Jessamine’s stoic, calm front from the corner of his eyes. Her fingers gently moved across the folded sword in her hand, thumb just around the button holding it all together. To anyone else, it didn’t appear at all like the weapon which was purposeful. She had once come to terms that she could still exist without her Oblivion. Even in this temporary situation, the feeling was quite mutual.
Jessamine harshly elbowed Proffit behind her with her left arm, the action barely loosening his grip around her neck. In doing so, she flicked Kaid’s sword forward as it unfolded, latching into place the sharp blade it always was. She did so perfectly, as if she had practiced this a thousand times despite barely holding Kaid’s weapon in her lifetime. The blade and slight freedom was just enough to show she was not just an Empress.
She would’ve been able to fight Shailud too, but again, she wouldn’t have given him mercy. Nor would she give it to the Blocker behind her. Proffit froze briefly at the sight of seeing her armed, and she fully used that to her advantage. She slipped below from his grasp, immediately turning when the blade was no longer at her throat to gut the man, digging that blade further and further until she saw the pointed tip protrude his backside.
She ripped it out cleanly, the grey blade doused in red blood before glancing at Shailud.
“You were saying…?” she asked, hearing Proffitt’s body fall with a slump behind her. Kaid smirked proudly. Jessamine didn’t need protection. She didn’t when she had Payne, which made her fully reliant on him. But she didn’t need it these past two years either. That didn’t mean she didn’t need Kaid, and he came to terms with the same. He didn’t need Jessamine to protect him, but he did need her.
“You know, I’ve changed my mind,” Kaid glanced down at the emerald blade in his hands before inching closer to Shailud, “You should have taken mercy when you had the chance. One thing about prison rats…we have pretty vicious bites.”
“Kaid, wait! We can make a deal. We can-” Shailud’s voice broke as his hands tried to stop Kaid’s forceful thrust. But even both his strong arms couldn’t stop Kaid’s singular arm, digging that blade into his gut. Kaid twisted the blade in anger, eyes glaring down at Shailud to watch the life leave his eyes. Plenty of men were given second chances. And plenty of them wasted them.
“You’ll get your reckoning…one day,” Shailud whispered with his last, shaky breath before collapsing in the dirt. Kaid pulled the blade out, mimicking that of what Jessamine had just done to his partner in crime, watching his body collapse in the sand. The parched dirt grew moist with his blood.
Alec was quick to move to Jessamine, worry in his eyes, “Are you alright?”
“I’ve had worse,” she retorted, but was surprised at her brother’s softness and obvious concern.
The crowd remained silent, not really sure of how to respond. Everything they had grown comfortable with in the past couple years was now lopsided, gutted clean and they didn’t know how to occupy the empty space.
One man bowed to his knees at the front, his torso directed at Kaid. Then another followed. Another and another, all aimed at Kaid. Those that remained standing were Jessamine’s party, Mara, and Sabine, who stood with worried eyes to the side. This is what she worried about. Kaid only needed that blade and that alone to take everything she had worked hard for. While she did not doubt he would make a good leader…she didn’t know how to feel. Such power corrupted, even the best of men like Kaid.
The entire situation had been meddling with those of higher powers, Kaid the highest of them all.
Most men would feel a strength at seeing men and women bow before them. The power that lingered in the air after a bloodthirsty kill would be enough for Kaid to want to send these men into war to reclaim this empire all in the name of justice. He could use the resources here, compile an army, and he and Jessamine could remove Lungor permanently. Here, he could take his place.
All you have to do…is take it.
The voice left his head, Kaid blinking away the initial emotions in his heart before feeling disgust, shock and doubt for his own abilities taking over instead. Kaid did not wish for power. He did not want men to bow at his feet, to follow his orders. While he was a leader, he could not lead while others were beneath him. Such was not in his nature.
“Get up,” Kaid demanded, seeing nobody do so, “I said get up! You do not bow to me. Not now, not ever.”
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The bodies rose with confusion, all glancing around at who they could place their faith in next.
“I am not your leader. Nor can I be. I lied to you, I betrayed all of you by hiding here and putting you all at risk. Shailud is right. I am not from here. I may be Uhkhtarian by blood, but my home lies elsewhere,” Kaid let his eyes linger towards Jessamine momentarily, “I suggest a better ruler to be in place, chosen by the people and not by blade. This blade is not meant to designate who rules. The heart is what matters. And there is nobody with a greater heart here today, than Sabine.”
All eyes turned towards her, and it was clear to see surprise in her eyes. She thought all her work would always go unnoticed, the same as her love. She never seemed so outright with it, never told her brothers aloud that she loved them. She thought her people would never know how much work she put in for them, long hours of studying economics, punishing trouble, or planning on protecting graphite mines from greedy hands.
Now, she was given an opportunity to do so.
“I…I would like to request the same as Kaid, I do not wish for bowing. I still and always will remain your Shurta, your peacekeeper. We will lead Uhkhtar together, if you’ll let me,” Sabine responded, her voice wavering at first before ending strong. The people, still confused and dazed, nodded slowly in agreement. It was a change from what they were used to, ruled by Priests or Priestesses who commanded to do their bidding. Change, however, was never a horrid thing.
“Then, it is settled. I ask that we give Shailud a proper Uhkhtarian burial, despite his betrayals to us today. We can burn him here in this courtyard tonight,” Sabine ordered, “In the meantime, I will need to attend to our guest who came all the way from Vitross.”
Jessamine nodded towards her counterpart, giving Sabine a polite, subtle bow. She would not bend her knee for any ruler, other than Kaid in less regal, more erotic ways. But she would recognize another leader when she could. Sabine was a good choice. As traumatizing as it might have been tonight, there could be no better, more ‘peaceful’ way for her to become a leader here.
The crowd began to disperse, getting materials for the funeral proceedings as Kaid approached Jessamine. Kiev was the first to offer a small whoop, Vitross Guard custom at such a victory.
“A year in a coma, you skinny bastard, they take your hand and you’re just as strong as ever!” Kiev laughed, walking over to congratulate him. Kaid welcomed the camaraderie, smiling in return. Alec’s subtle smile faded, at seeing his childhood friend lingering amongst filth. Same as his sister.
“I didn’t lose that much weight, did I?” Kaid teased, seeing Jessamine disagree. If anything, he did lose some body fat now transformed into more muscle. To her it didn’t make much of a difference as long as he felt happy and healthy.
“You did. About two percent of-” Cadize interrupted, before realizing his statistics were overshadowing the moment, “Well, I am glad you were well healed. I didn’t know you would jump first thing into a fight…but I should have known better when it’s you.”
“Thank you, Cadize, truly. You are an absolute blessing,” Kaid thanked him, seeing Cadize return the smile. Everything felt like normal, or a return to normalcy for Kaid. Perhaps it was true that a little time was needed for wounds to heal, or at least begin the process. While two years had been a torment, it felt well necessary. “Cadize, I have to apologize. I stole from you, betrayed you when I went to Caladin and-”
“Nonsense my boy. I think you did what you had to. If only you had told me earlier, I would have made a larger stock for you to take on the world,” Cadize smiled, not bothered by it in the slightest, “you followed my advice well, you’ve got a great group of friends by your side.”
“It feels almost like yesterday, you patching me up after Caladin,” Kaid returned with a soft smile.
This entire week had been filled with bloodshed after a long period of keeping his hands clean. There were plenty of hopes this marked the end of such, if anything, it was just the beginning.
———
Kaid awaited outside Jessamine’s temporary palace chambers as she cleaned herself and any remnants of blood. Kaid changed mostly due to the sweat, changing into a light kaftan and breathable pants for evening. He had no intention of attending the funeral tonight. There was a lingering worry in Kaid’s mind as he knew they’d go straight to Sabine’s office to fix this mess. What would Jessamine ask of her? She wouldn’t come all this way to dispose of a ruler and then not make any sort of demand. Uhkhtar didn’t have that much value to her.
When she exited, she had changed as well, wearing that simple black long sleeve dress he loved so dearly.
She slowly handed Kaid’s folded blade, feeling his hand overtake her own.
“Looks like you were practicing with it while I was gone,” Kaid observed with a slight smile.
“I may have had a replica made, just in case I was able to possess your sword once more and needed to use it,” Jessamine replied, returning that small smile. If anything, she had done it to have some sort of remembrance, to remember that unique blade he had fashioned just for himself. Kaid knew this was now the time to ask for her forgiveness, but she interrupted his thoughts. “Kaid, is this what you want? Is this what you truly want? I was wrong to be upset with you, to blame Caladin as the reason for you not choosing me.”
“You had every right to be upset. You were right, I can’t tell you that I love you and not choose you. I see now, both of us were wrong. I hated the fact you stayed with Vrah to keep me safe, I hated what you sacrificed for me. I realized I would have been making the same decision,” Kaid took a deep breath, “Jess, surely you know there will be ramifications for bringing me back.”
“I know,” she nodded, “Same as rejecting Vrah’s proposal. I’ve made plenty of decisions for my people, all at the weight of my mental or emotional health. Is it wrong to ask for one thing, for me? For you?”
“No, it is not wrong,” Kaid answered with a whisper, “All I had ever wanted was to be free of Caladin. I got that, thanks to you. Now, I want you as you are. I want your pain, your sorrow, your darkness and your lightness. I want you as an Empress. I want you as the most beautiful, intelligent, cunning, gorgeous woman I’ve ever set my eyes on. I knew it from the moment I first met you, and I felt it again when I heard you sing. You sang so beautifully, as if an orchestra stood behind you, yet it was just you and a piano. I want your complexity and simplicity, Jessamine. If you’ll have me.”
Jessamine couldn’t help the smile, the cave in her dimples as she glanced at him. Gods, how could she ever love another man? She surely couldn’t. Surely no man spoke as desperately elegant as him. No man could look at her and say such beautiful things.
“I will have you. I have the most loyal, passionate, magnetic man in front of me. I’m afraid the Divines could make no equal, no copy of you. The world has tormented you and yet you shine brightly as the sun to warm me. You must know, nothing, nobody could make me as happy as you make me,” she returned with a whisper. Her eyes glanced around at their empty surroundings, making sure it was clear before she rose slightly on her toes. Her lips met his gently, enjoying the electricity sparking every vein in her body at his touch.
“Do not be afraid of what could be to come, the pain of what our enemies can contrive against us. Whether I have a year with you, a week, a day, or a lifetime…time will not stop me from loving you,” she whispered against his lips before smiling, “plenty of people will be happy to have you back. Christine, Kassandra, the servants and citizens…but none as happy as myself.”
“So long as time exists,” Kaid started.
“So will my love for you,” they said together, laughing softly.
Things were alright in the world once more. Kaid liked to think the Paradox didn’t happen due to his reversal of time, but rather the world fighting to put these two souls back together. Yet, so many had died to be sacrificed for this. Kaid couldn’t let that happen in vain. Things would change. Things had to change.
Their love certainly didn’t have to.
Jessamine and Kaid walked into Sabine’s office, seeing a tired but relieved Shurta. Piles upon piles of documents and maps were upon her desk, her new desk at that. There was plenty of work to be done, but she was grateful to be the one to begin making changes.
“You two look exhausted. Are you sure you don’t want to do this tomorrow?” Sabine observed.
“We plan on leaving first thing in the morning. I have plenty of work to catch up on,” Jessamine sighed. Sabine noticed the word ‘we’, finally realizing Kaid would be leaving with her. She should’ve known all along, but perhaps the distance would be good. She could focus on her work, not her slight heartache.
“Well, I suppose the first thing you want is an alliance-”
“No,” Jessamine interrupted, before realizing it could come across aggressive, “We shouldn’t label anything as an alliance.”
Even Kaid was surprised at the no, same as Sabine. What did Jessamine want if not an alliance?
“If you form an alliance with me, should war be on the rise, you're the closest region to Lungor. You have no standing army, mere raiders scattered across the desert. While I know them to be capable fighters, I cannot put this vulnerable country at risk. You need to grow, develop, become a unified nation before ever thinking about war. If you form an alliance for me, that chance of growth is nonexistent,” Jessamine explained.
“So…what do you want from us?” Sabine asked cautiously.
“You keep your options open. Trade agreements are fine, allowing the railroad even better. We can establish a non-aggression pact with each other,” Jessamine answered, “I am more than happy to contribute costs to the damaged city wall. I am also willing to pay for any medicinal costs to the injured citizens. If you’d like, I can throw a turbine into the deal to smooth out your irrigation problems.”
“And you ask for nothing in return?”
“I am repaying a debt. The problems of today are the cause and effect of our ancestors long ago. My ancestors wronged yours. Consider this an attempt to rebuild,” Jessamine swallowed, “the only thing I ask for, is to make a similar deal with Lungor.”
“Wait, you’re asking me to make a deal with Lungor?” Sabine crossed her arms, glancing at Kaid. Kaid wasn’t quite sure what that would benefit, but it could avoid a war being fought in this region.
“If you’d like. I don’t know what Vrah will offer you. All I know, he will want some graphite mines. If you ask something from him, make it worth it. Make him give something you want, the same desperation he has for graphite. At the moment all I value is intelligence. Your desert landscape is the main entrance Lungor has into my Empire as the seas are already monitored. If you see movement, I’d appreciate a heads up.”
“And the turbines…these aren’t the same ones that could poison the water supply, hm?” Sabine asked cautiously.
“That problem has been fixed. The only malfunction that may occur is the turbines not working properly. If you have any doubts, I’d be more than happy to share the blueprints and demonstrate my good faith. I came to Uhkhtar with good intentions, and I mean to leave with them as well. I know you will make the right decisions that could benefit us both.”
Meaning her Oblivion Academy. Jessamine knew all too well that if the relationship between Uhkhtar and Vitross grew, more would be inclined to attend. The less people feared the magic around them, the more they’d want to learn it. Jessamine was playing the long game, a game she was now getting very good at larking.
“I think it’s worth a try,” Kaid chimed in politely, trying to ease any invisible tension, “If Vrah comes to you with a better deal, so be it. But I know what Emperor Bashir wants. He wants Uhkhtar as his own territory, said so from the meeting I was present in here with Jessamine. I’d take any of their offers with a grain of sand.”
Sabine seemed to nod, knowing her hands felt tied. Jessamine had good intentions no doubt, but that was her entire plan. Her generosity would be noticed, opinions of her swayed in her favor. In doing so, should Lungor or anyone else attack her, she’d be seen as the victim. People would come rushing to her aid just as she was doing so now. Whether her kindness was a facade or not, Sabine wouldn’t know the truth. All she knew was that Lungor wouldn’t be so upfront with such generosity.
“Okay, you have a deal. The railroad can stay, at the flat rate you promised Shailud. I will want to tax Vitross imports, however, to lessen the burden of my people here,” Sabine agreed.
“I see no problem in that,” Jessamine agreed herself, knowing that her people would pay a little extra to see their goods spread across the Continent in hopes of better wealth. The railroad itself cut transportation expenses in half anyways.
“We will think about a turbine. I will want to hear Vrah’s offer first. If he catches wind you gave us a turbine, he might grow wary or suspicious,” Sabine noted, surprising Jessamine. Okay, so she was understanding the importance of this conversation. Good. That meant to Jessamine that Sabine truly cared, cared enough to get herself involved in these schemes.
Schemes are what ran an Empire. Behind the tabletop discussions, council meetings or financial studies was a darkness no leader could avoid. Real problems had to be solved with double edged swords, spying against allies for intelligence, or using trade as a means to supply a greater war. Some would go as far as mending a realm’s tension in the bedroom. Regardless, Sabine would have to find something to keep Lungor at bay, and also Vitross. Luckily for her, Vitross had other affairs to tend for now.
“Please, send the bill of the cost of the wall and any injuries. I will gladly repay it,” Jessamine smiled softly, “and should you ever need anything, a Sender can give us information within hours. Should you like it, you are also more than welcome to visit Vitross at any time.”
Sabine didn’t think too kindly on that invitation. There was plenty of work to be done here, and she didn’t know how to feel about going to Vitross. Dark clouds and black seas were such an opposite of golden sun and sand.
“Is that all?” Sabine asked, seeing Jessamine nod, “Is it alright to ask Kaid to stay, briefly?”
Jessamine showed some surprise, but found no fault in allowing Sabine to talk to him. She trusted Kaid, and she had to learn to trust Sabine if she were to eventually become an ally. Jessamine had to be patient and give her some time. Time was the true catalyst for growth, even among empires and kingdoms sworn to be against one another. Jess glanced at her Guardian, nodding in approval before leaving the room in a bit of a hurry, and without much of a word.
Kaid shifted awkwardly, “Sabine, you can trust her.”
“I don’t trust her, but I trust you, despite your lies,” Sabine retorted, “If she wants me to act as some spy, so be it. I ask that you do something similar.”
“Me? My loyalty is to her, I will not go against-”
“That’s not exactly what I’m asking. The Jessamine that stands before me today is different from the one I met many nights ago. Your presence keeps her head straight. She is a different Empress when around you. I need you to guarantee to keep her head straight. While she has the brains of politics, you can be the one to steer her neck in the right direction. Can I count on you to do that?”
Like he hadn’t done it once before, unknowingly.
“I can,” Kaid answered, glancing at her, “I know you’ll make a good leader, Sabine.”
“You could have taken it all for yourself.”
“Power is not what I want,” Kaid shook his head.
“Power might be what you need to get what you do want, though. And that’s Lungor, isn’t it? You’re a threat to them, more than just the Time Paradox, more than just your powers to control time,” Sabine observed, “Why do they want you?”
Kaid knew it was better to keep that secret close to his chest.
“I destroyed their prison, set loose a bunch of them into the Continent, unknowingly gave more power to an Empress they were already afraid of. I suppose that and a reversal of time is enough to hunt a man down,” Kaid shrugged slightly, “I suppose you can ask Vrah if given the opportunity.”
“Is your plan to remove the Lungor Empire entirely?” Sabine questioned.
Kaid laughed softly at that, running his fingers through his tangled curls for a moment, “No. No, I’m not very good at destroying establishments. Caladin is proof of that.”
“But you are good at usurping,” Sabine noted, seeing a darkness in his eyes that she had never seen. Behind the poet’s good nature, behind his lies to protect, there was that craving she had witnessed with his bar fight with Proffitt: he yearned for violence in the name of justice. This went far deeper than that. Despite his fervent denial to not want power, if power was what he needed to kill his father, he’d take it. If power was needed to protect Jessamine, he’d lather himself in it like a deadly perfume of poison.
Who is to say he already hadn’t?
“Yes…yes I am,” he did not deny.