Jessamine despised the steady thrum of the locomotive. It was nothing like the calming waves of the sea, with wind blowing in her hair, or the great aroma of salt filling her senses. Sailing for her was a second love, akin to playing piano although these days it almost felt difficult to play. Yet, she'd have to play in public for this grand show for Shailud. She prayed when she had to, her hands wouldn't tremble like they usually did before practicing. Her voice always remained steady as it was much easier to mask, the instrument of her deception, hands...tools of war, not so much.

She debated opening her book on Uhkhtarian history, the most updated she could find, but knew it would only make her grow more ill at the constant movement. Wine. Wine might help. It always seemed to help the temporary upsets in her life, but she knew it wasn't a permanent fix. Nothing could fill the void in her heart, even if she tried to fill it with fantasies. She had to come, no, she forced herself to come to the conclusion that she'd never see Kaid again. Even knowing he could be here at this grand event, it was too great a risk to speak, even see each other.

If she saw those soft brown eyes again, she'd probably fall to her knees like a fallen angel. Or a rising devil.

Her thoughts were interrupted with the sound of her cabin door opening with a gust of wind before shutting, seeing Vrah step into her midst. Vrah was a friend, nothing more. At least, in her heart. Jessamine knew that the day she was born, she was to marry at the whims and wishes of her father, to repair whatever mess he created. Well, this time she created her own mess. And she had to become something she hated because it meant having to keep this alliance together.

It was held together by fragmented stitches. Ones she knew that might not last long.

Vrah, with wavy brown hair and light skin looked nothing like his half-brother, except maybe the broad nose and eyes. With both his stature and looks, just like Jessamine, he could probably capture the eye of any beloved he wished. He could have a harem of a hundred women all vying for his attention, and nobody would really care. Yet, Jessamine had loved an Uhkhtarian and it felt like the entire world shamed her for it like a whore. The word didn't hurt her stone heart. She'd wear that word like a brand, a tattoo, if it would always be attached with Kaid.

Vrah was a safe choice. He knew that. And there was nothing more demeaning than knowing he was second-choice. But he too, was playing a role. He had hoped by now that maybe Jessamine would fall in love with him, it had been two years after all. But it was clear with the hesitant kisses and absence of intimacy that wasn't going to happen. It never would unless she changed. Changing a woman who had seen all the horrors of the world was near impossible. Vrah was as always, a hopeful, optimistic soul.

"Should be arriving within a couple hours. Shailud will not be there to greet us initially but servants will help us to our rooms and for dinner. The letter mentioned something about a...ritual, I guess," Vrah shrugged, clearly not minding the tyrant would be absent on their first night there. If it hadn't been explained, Jessamine would have been concerned.

"It's a Mahrajan. And if my studies are correct, of a niema, I believe. It involves going to the nearest temple and praying for all of blessings given. It's a meditation of gratitude," Jessamine explained, hoping that clarified it in better terms, "and as far as I am aware, despite the outdated maps and geography knowledge, the nearest temple to Kanaf is a ten hour ride away."

"You've done your research," Vrah laughed softly, moving to the corner of liquor to pour them both some liquid courage. Jessamine by now had fallen to the habit, one she presumably learned from Kaid, that if she didn't know something she would go look for it within literature. It also could be that she didn't trust such information from the lips of others. If she didn't read or see it with her own eyes, hear it with her own ears, then she couldn't believe it. She was as cautious as ever, given Payne had nearly ruined everything under her guise. Vrah couldn't fault her for that, except when it came to their relationship.

But maybe she had a right not to fully trust him.

"Yes well, the writings of Uhkhtar practices are few and limited. I hope Kanaf will have a library, otherwise all learning will be from observation alone," Jessamine sighed, "what do you think...of him: of Shailud?"

She knew he had studied psychology. Compared to her own Oblivion to read and study a person's mind, not to mention control it, she knew it was leagues below. Even if her Oblivion gave her an advantage, she knew it wouldn't always see the big picture. Cornerstones were fickle. She wouldn't have enough time to fully determine Shailud's without making it obvious.

"I see a man trying to do what is best for his people. He needs to unify them somehow. Religion is a good enough tool to do so," Vrah explained, "which means in person he must be charismatic, even better if he is seen as handsome for Uhkhtarian standards. He needs to be a natural leader, a person that compels followers easily. His sudden rise over these months shows either thoughtful planning, or perhaps desperation for the people to unite. He wants his voice to speak for his people. However, we won't know just how strong his rule is until we see how his people like him."

"Mhm," Jessamine agreed with a hum, "I intend to look into that in the morning."

"Shailud stated to not leave the palace-"

"Precisely why it's a good idea. I'll be fine," she clarified.

"Kiev will stick out like a sore black eye, only just blonde."

"Kiev will be awaiting my return. I appreciate your concern, though."

She wouldn't dare offer Vrah to join her, because he wouldn't. Nowadays, he was the one that stood out, constantly wearing the latest Arillian fashion trend or gold jewelry to be a show of wealth. To Jessamine, she knew it was a sign of his insecurity, of never feeling worthy enough to be the heir of an Empire. Again, somehow a second choice, no matter how hard he tried. He wouldn't go on a tour of the new growing city unless he had at least three guards with him.

He played it safe. He knew the implications if he was to be assassinated. He learned growing up it was best to let spymasters do their own work, to rely on others to obtain whatever he wanted, whether information or a cup of wine. Jessamine liked these days to do her own work and research, and also maybe get some fresh air and shed the layer of Empress to be...normal, for once. It's how Kaid always made her feel, only because he had been the first person she was brave enough to be herself around.

Vrah moved to hand her a small glass of wine, his eyes glancing at the book and the blue sorrow of her eyes, "Do you miss him?"

Her eyes fluttered up immediately to his, her face hardening slightly at the question. Her jaw trembled slightly as she didn't know whether to lash out at such a question or answer honestly with a wave of sadness. It was a ridiculous question because he knew the answer to it. Which is why she didn't know if he asked it purposefully, or mindlessly. Vrah was an intelligent man, but sometimes Jessamine swore he asked provoking questions with utter disregard and stupidity.

"Why do you do this?" Jessamine asked, refusing to take the wine from him. His outreached hand shriveled back, confusion in his eyes and body language. Her question, asked with authority, made him shrink slightly in front of her. Vrah was afraid of her, another reason why this relationship was doomed from the start.

"Do what?"

"Every time you interject him into a conversation, it turns into a spat," Jessamine pointed out.

"I just thought that, you know...we're traveling to Uhkhtar. He's Uhkhtarian-"

"You're using him as a scapegoat, Vrah," Jessamine rose from her seat, only slightly towering over him due to her heels, "with how often you constantly seem to bring him up, it's like you were the one that was in love with him." A gross thought, but it was only a metaphor.

"Was, or is, in love with him?" Vrah asked, soon correcting himself, "He was the brother I always wanted, someone I wished could have been born at my side, guided me through life instead of having servants and governess's raise me. I knew nothing about him for twenty three years of my life, and then all of a sudden his presence changed everything I thought I knew about himself."

"You compare yourself to him," Jessamine swallowed before lying, "You compare yourself to a dead man."

"He was perfect-"

Jessamine scoffed at that, "Kaid had his flaws, as do the rest of us."

"He was perfect because of your love for him. You act as if I don't know the horror stories: how you forced Caladin guards to slit their own throats, how you made a woman lose her good sense of mentality and made her crazy, how you wanted to paint the oceans near Vitross red as blood. You were a madness we believed to be incurable. Assassin after assassin, expensive ones at that, did nothing but add fuel to your fire. And then you construct a mad plan for the Lungor throne, by finding its hidden heir. If Kaid Al-Yami can change a woman like that, then he's perfect indeed."

"You need to choose your next words carefully. That woman is still in the room with us," she warned, gravely and lowly.

"His existence ruined every truth I knew, yet there is this part of me that needs him. I thought I knew who I was, the man destined to rule Lungor and do so however I wished. And that changed in a blink of time. It became a secret I'm born to carry on my shoulders, knowing eventually I will sit on a throne where Lungor authority is held by the eldest son. Not youngest, most experienced, or most groomed to take a throne like Vitross is...eldest. And nothing will ever change the fact he is my older brother."

"Kaid was never a threat to your place on the throne. He may have been in our speculative plan but that all changed," Jessamine stated, "and he was not a threat to who you are. You're trying to point the finger at yourself because that's how heavy your burden is. Maybe, you should point it at the person responsible: your father. Do you believe yourself to be worthless? Weak? Is that what your father tells you?"

"Don't bring him into this-"

"Him?! The man who imprisoned that brother of yours for thirty years? The man who is the one making you believe you're unworthy, that you have to do something to prove your value? You don't have to prove anything, to anyone, Vrah. You are your own man, your own person. Kaid didn't change me. I changed myself. He was merely the wind to guide me through a dark and terrible storm, but I was the one at the helm. You, Vrah, need to be the one steering your own destiny and to stop letting others get in your way. You are not your brother and you don't need to be."

"I need to be, if you are to love me," Vrah corrected, seeing her swallow, and this time not out of anger.

She took a deep breath and approached him, letting her hand rest on his chest, "Vrah, I do care for you. I just...I need time. And I know men lack the patience for such, I know that I torment you in ways I can't ever understand. I'm just afraid to fall in love again. When you take that throne, we'll be on two separate sides of the Continent. And yes, there's portals and railroads and ships to connect us together, to close such distance. And with all the craziness going on right now, it feels like there's nothing to stabilize us."

Vrah took her hand, pulling it up to his lips to kiss her knuckles, his eyes showing warmth and comfort. Despite his ramblings, she seemed to know what to say. She believed in him, and he could see that in her own eyes. To have a woman who believed in a man, if that didn't ignite a fire in the engine of fate, then what could? As much as he disagreed on her opinion of his father, he knew that would all change with his inevitable passing.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"There is, my dearest Jessamine. There is hope because you inspire it. We will work this out with Shailud, and hopefully we will get answers that will quell this instability. If it all turns to shit, I will keep you safe. But I know you: you're cunning. Whatever shit is thrown towards us, we will just throw right back at them."

Bloodshed couldn't happen. It didn't matter if it was thrown at her, despite coming in waving the mirage of a white flag. Shailud would be foolish to strike a hand pretending to help him, even if he knew it was all for pretend.

"See? There's that confidence I like," Jessamine smiled, placing a short, quick kiss on his lips. That alone seemed to quell his worries. Vrah was right, however. His fears there was no room in her heart for him was correct. Kaid could shatter her heart a thousand times and it still wouldn't widen the void in her heart, a void that couldn't be filled by anyone else.

"To Uhkhtar then, where all this began," Vrah smiled sweetly before thinking: and where it all might end.

—----------------------------------------------------------

Kaid covered the blacksmith shop as Mara was out in the market looking for some meals for dinner. It had been awhile since he had Mara's recipe of lamb and gravy covered vegetables. That woman certainly knew how to cook, and make weapons, and do everything in between. She truly was remarkable. And anything that proved too much for her, like the repetitive hammer of smithing a hot blade, she certainly gave Kaid that responsibility.

There was something mentally smoothing about pounding hot iron, watching hot orange sparks fly, bending something other than time for his own purpose.

But for right now, Kaid was content with merely beginning to sharpen the knives and blades that were soon to be finished. He didn't like the idea of having to make weapons that could be used for war, but he had to keep telling himself this could help against Lungor.. He couldn't fathom if this was used against Vitross guards. But war couldn't come. It wouldn't. Jessamine would fix that, just as she was planning on doing.

Little Kai walked inside, going straight to his little corner of cushions and grabbing a book.

"How was school?" Kaid asked, knowing the school here was merely for the younger kids who barely knew how to read. There wasn't anyone willing to really teach him things at his excelled reading level. Kaid had done that before, but he and the kid weren't on good terms since the incident with the Guard.

And Kai said nothing, ignoring him as he bothered himself with continuing his book. Kaid grunted, not loud enough for the kid to hear before seeing he left the gate open. He placed his blade down, dipping his dirty hands in some water to wash before going to close it. But dark hands did so instead, closing the gate to the shop with a loud creak.

Shailud.

He was maybe only a few years older than Kaid, but stress had added a fair amount of gray to his dark brown, long hair. To some, Shailud may seem like a man who walked with wisdom and kindness. He knew exactly what to say and who to say it to. Shailud symbolized tears in a place where rain hardly poured. But Shailud was a monsoon when only a droplet of tears were needed. In his effort to help here, he would destroy everything in his path. Shailud knew that. So did Kaid. Sabine probably feared it as well, but she was powerless.

Not everyone agreed with his stance and policies, but nobody was brave enough to stand up to him.

"Shailud, welcome. Mara isn't here at the moment, she went to the market," Kaid stated, figuring that was who he was looking for.

"Musa, the poet right?" Shailud asked, his voice deep, borderline demonic with a hint of scratch from the sand, "My men stated you won a good fight a few weeks ago. You're not only sharp with a pen, but with a sword as well."

"Correct, but I have no interest in joining your cause," Kaid, or rather Musa, answered assertively, "I already assist in helping make your blades."

"Where do you hail from, poet?" he asked, approaching closer to glance at all the weapons still needing to be tempered or grinded to perfection.

"You know just as much as me. Perhaps I hailed from here and my parents became refugees, trying to find a better place to raise me. I know little of such information," Kaid answered.

"Sabine says you've traveled all over the Continent."

"Yes, sir. I worked as a mercenary in a small clan originating from Skale," Kaid lied. It was common knowledge that Skale didn't have a full army. Before their stronger alliance with Lungor, they had relied heavily on mercenaries or bandits to do dark deeds or perhaps quell any rebellions in smaller villages.

"So, you fight for coin instead of justice," Shailud assumed.

"I fought for coins. Now, I fight for myself, for my family."

"I see," he hummed, "well, I'm not here to conscript you. Men like us, Musa, we both know who is capable of leading and who can only follow. You, my dear poet, can't follow. But, you still have your uses elsewhere, like this smith shop. I'm here to check in on my latest order, but also offer another following soul, a job."

"You don't have any recent orders with us," Kaid glanced confused, moving over to the log book.

"Mm, your cousin did mention to being discrete. I didn't think she'd be so discrete to hide this from you. No matter. She said it was item five-zero-one. Should be at least in your log book."

And sure enough, it was, with no description of what it was about either. Odd. What would Mara have to hide this for? What on earth was she making for Shailud and why wouldn't she tell him? Kaid hid his confusion, going over to the back to find the order.

Little Kai had heard the conversation, coming over to Shailud, a man even the child looked up to as a strong leader. Obedience was chosen, not exactly taught. Mara and Kaid couldn't really sway the boy from trying to find a man to admire. They also couldn't force him to listen to Kaid, of all people. But admiring Shailud was dangerous.

"A job, sir?" the boy asked.

"That's right. I'm in need of a servant boy. You see, some very important people are coming to Kanaf. And I need all the help in the palace to help around, serve drinks, clean the floors."

"The palace!" Kai gasped, "Do I-"

"Yes, you get your own room and everything. Your mother is more than welcome to come with you. It's only temporary, but if you do well, you will certainly rise high in my ranks. I just need a boy that stays out of trouble," Shailud explained.

Absolutely not, Kaid thought. This was a horrible idea. Mara would hate the idea. And from the way Shailud mentioned this, it didn't seem optional. Kaid was about to walk back out there and retort the idea, that is until he opened whatever order Mara was making for him. And he couldn't believe it.

She was making the usurper blade. A blade only Kaid possessed, a cultural blade that symbolized power taking control in the name of justice. Clearly, Shailud had asked this in secret because no Uhkhtarian knew where the blade was. Nobody knew Kaid had possessed it, except the one that had been in the Confederacy: Esthero. And he was supposedly far away from here hiding in Lungor.

He means to take control by force, all built upon lies. You must intervene.

Kaid shook the thoughts and voice of his mother out of his head, not even wanting to indulge such a thought. He couldn't get involved, not without people getting hurt. This wasn't exactly his battle to wage, even if it involved falsely making a blade that belonged to Kaid. Kaid held the real one in a sheath tucked between his desert pants and thick leather boots.

Shailud was taking this basis of religious prophet, a false prophecy, and wanting to shape it into his favor.

Kaid took a deep breath before walking out with the blade, which was clearly still unfinished. It still needed a heat treatment and all the corrections after to make sure it was the knife Kaid had hidden in his boot. He didn't know how to feel. He felt angry he was blindsided by this, but he also knew if Mara had told him, he would have firmly disagreed. And now? Shailud was trying to recruit his 'nephew' into a contract that would put them all in a bind. The closer Kai got to Shailud the more danger he was in, but the boy didn't see it that way.

"Here, it still needs a heat treatment. It's an interesting blade. I've never seen one like it," Kaid laid, showing it to him.

"Good. It looks good. It is not needed for a few weeks anyways. Thank you, Musa, and give my compliments to Mara," Shailud looked pleased, nodding as Kaid put the blade away. This was worse than Kaid thought could happen. It was making him paranoid. Sabine told him Shailud was looking for someone, and Shailud asked to make a blade that only Kaid could have, one the world didn't know he possessed.

How long could Kaid go without getting involved in this fight? Intervene too late, jump in too early...people could get hurt. People always got hurt. But he couldn't dare let it be the people he cared about.

"Kai, speak with your mother about the offer. If she agrees, we can move you into the palace as soon as you'd like," Shailud smiled at the young boy. Kai seemed to glance at Kaid, seeing the firm look on his face. If anything, it only encouraged the boy to be excited about such a prospect. Helping out in the palace? Well, it would certainly keep him out of trouble and give him something to do. His 'uncle' should be happy, not grumpy like he has been lately.

"Yes sir," Kai smiled in return, feeling Shailud ruffle the dark curls in his hair.

"Good. It is important for the youth to be involved. They are the future of our people, after all. And even though you're not Uhkhtarian, Kai, that doesn't make you any less. You're one of us, now. Understood?" Kai nodded, Shailud smiling before glancing at Musa, "I'll be in touch, poet. Think about my offer, both of you."

"Have a pleasant evening, Shailud," Kaid retorted, going back to sharpening those knives. Yeah. He had a lot to think about, and Mara had a lot to answer for.

The evening was ruined despite the delicious lamb meal. Kaid and Mara waited for Kai to go to bed before arguing, but it wasn't like the boy wasn't awake peeking through the door to watch their little spat.

"Why didn't you tell me? Shailud is asking you to make a blade that will even turn those who think he's a radical in his favor. You're giving him the very tool to lie! Gods forbid he uses this blade as a mere reason to usurp Jessamine-"

"What choice did I have?! What reason would I have to say no? If I said no, he'd grow suspicious I know something about this blade. And I'm not Uhkhtarian, I have no knowledge of such religion or history. He would know that we know something. I had to make this blade," Mara shouted back, "I'm doing what I can to keep us alive, to keep us safe. And all you're doing is writing poems and flirting with the cute Shurta!"

"But we're not the only ones who know about this blade. What about Esthero, hmm? That male, bitch of a mind witch that killed Sebastian!" Kaid raised his trembling voice.

"Esthero lost his Oblivion," Mara said, lowering her voice.

"What? What are you talking about?" Kaid asked.

"Look, I don't know much. We only communicated updates. Esthero was much closer with the others, and he noticed all of them started to disappear, one by one. And whenever he caught up with them, they had their powers taken," Mara lowered her voice to a whisper, "Esthero told me he was going to investigate this...this Pestilence. You know, the one everyone's been talking about. I hadn't heard back from him, not until a few days ago. They took his power too. Now, I know you don't care for him, but you know how good he was. And if they took his-"

"This person could try to take ours too," Kaid admitted, seeing Mara nod, "and all of the letters between you two...?"

"Discrete and minimal. None of it should ever come back to it being from me, nobody would know where the letters came from. You have my word, I was safe," Mara assured him.

"I...I'm sorry for raising my voice, Mara," Kaid apologized, swallowing his pride.

"You had a right to be angry. But, I couldn't tell you. I know you're stressed about Jessamine arriving-"

"I'm not stressed about that."

"Bullshit. You crave to see her again, and you also crave to want nothing to do with her," Mara retorted, crossing her arms before taking a deep breath, "look, I know the implications of what making that blade for Shailud means. But...I've done some research. That blade is strong, you know that. It hardly made a dent when it plunged into-well, you know what I mean. I can do a faulty heat treat. I can ensure if Shailud picks a fight with this blade, it will shatter and break like glass."

"And if it does, everyone will know it wasn't the true, real usurper blade..." Kaid hummed, now seeing the bigger picture, "but if that happens, he will blame you."

"Well, people here like you enough already, Musa. If the blade fails, the people will turn on him, and hopefully that means protecting us. Otherwise, we get the hell out of here," she explained, "or..."

Or, Kaid swallows his dignity and goes back to Jessamine.

"That's not an option. The entire world is hunting me."

"All the more reason, if they find out you're alive, to be safe under her protection."

"It will undo everything she's done these past two years."

"I guarantee if you ask, she'd say yes in a heartbeat," she pointed out.

"She doesn't love me. Maybe she never did," Kaid lied to himself, "she's moved on."

"You haven't, though. You tried a bit with Sabine and it hasn't worked."

"You were the one a few years ago trying to tear us apart, you know," Kaid rolled his eyes.

"I know, a girl makes mistakes every once in a while. I am human after all," Mara smiled, "but I know how happy she made you. And I think you know how happy you made her too."

"What about Kai? Shailud is trying to recruit him," he immediately changed the subject. He couldn't withstand another talk of Jessamine, otherwise she surely would haunt his dreams tonight.

"That's something we can't stop, I'm afraid. It will keep him away from trouble on the street. But, we will have to reiterate to him that if he is to see Jessamine or interact, he can't admit to ever knowing her. I think he's smart enough to follow that," Mara sighed, "but if Jessamine recognizes him, then she will protect him, right?"

Jessamine had a soft spot for children, so the answer was definitely yes.

"And, if I'm allowed in the palace, that might mean getting a better smithing shop. And, one step inside to whatever Shailud is planning. We have to take advantage of everything we can get," Mara pointed out.

"This whole thing feels doomed from the start," Kaid sighed, but nodded, "But, I trust you. You're the only one I trust, Mara."

"Keep telling yourself that. I'm sorry too, for yelling. How about we take it out on each other in training tomorrow morning. Sounds fair?"

"Sure, you're in need of an ass kicking," Kaid smirked, which only made Mara happy, seeing him smile.

"Goodnight, Kaid. I hope you have pleasant dreams," she wished him goodnight, knowing he had more nightmares than dreams of peace. But maybe tonight would be different.

"Goodnight, Mara," he nodded, knowing he just might put that record into the player, listen to piano for a bit...and hope to have dreams of a woman with dark red hair, painted with freckles, who smelled of lilac and sea salt. Whether it was a dream or nightmare, Kaid supposed it all depended on how it all ended.