PART 1

He had searched till the sun rose. Every corner, every house, every stone, unturned, and yet he found no one. The assassin had escaped.

Kaladin sat on a lone roof, Yvlana sitting next to him.

Felkuru had been out tracking down rogue Thrak that had escaped the battle and he would be returning soon. He could feel him approaching.

“It’s not your fault,” Yvlana said cautiously. “I don’t know why you care so much about the humans. Stop beating yourself up.”

“How can you say that?” Kal frowned at her. “You knew Erik, did you not? He was our ally and you speak of him as if he were no one.”

“I-” Yvlana bit her lip.

“I know why you have held onto your hatred of the humans but you need to let that go. They.” he pointed around him. “have nothing to do with what happened on Votis. They were not the ones who abandoned us. They have not wronged us. But you wrong them.”

“I have my priorities straight. They will turn against us. They always do. It’s only a matter of time.” Yvlana’s voice rose. “I care about two things. You and Lamir. That’s it. Our own people left us. Humans are no different. I thought you’d remember that. We have each other.”

“We need them if we are to overcome our enemies.” Kal frowned.

“We don’t need the humans or the Vog. We have each other. That’s all we need. Felkuru is holding you back too. I can see how much you rely on him.”

Kaladin cocked his head. He wondered if this was exactly how Felkuru felt when he spoke of the humans in such a way. All that time had changed him.

“You’re wrong. And thinking that way is dangerous. Not only will it make you paranoid, but it will also keep you from ever coming to peace with those around you.” Kal breathed. “If we don’t forgive, then we are destined to make the same mistakes. We are just like them. We all can change. We can make a difference. Change the outcomes you even now predict. If you have already convinced yourself everyone else is evil, then you are just like the people you despise. The Vog are also capable of this. Felkuru has been through much and I don’t like your tone. He is a dear friend to me.”

“What?” Yvlana looked at him, almost in disgust. “You have changed. Are you really going to lecture me on forgiveness? You?”

“I-I know.” Kal frowned. “I thought as you did once. But so much time has passed. I simply don’t see them that way anymore. Not even the Thrak. Felkuru was right.”

“What are you talking about?” Yvlana sneered. “What does that mean? What about the Thrak? What has Felkuru put into your head?”

“Nothing.” Kaladin shook his head. The conversation was getting out of hand. “I only meant that… we don’t know why the Thrak are the way they are. I used to hate humans as much as I did our own enemy. And now… I might be wrong about the Thrak as well.”

“You know how insane that sounds, right?” Yvlana spat. “The Thrak slaughtered over twenty billion of us. Including your precious humans.”

Kaladin lowered his head. He knew he couldn’t get through to her. He didn’t even fully believe it himself.

Mulguran. The demon who controlled, who corrupted. “Could he really be controlling the Thrak?” he asked himself.

“We can have a life here,” Kal said softly. “Votis is gone. We all know it. Hashem knows I tried to reach them.”

“Live with the humans? In peace? They will turn on us as they did in the past. There is a reason the past repeats itself, and that is human greed. We are a means to an end to them. Once we have served our purpose they will rid us from their lands. And when that day comes, I hope you will remember that I... was right to be paranoid.”

“I don’t believe that,” Kal said. “I won’t believe that. The Vog have shown me great kindness. The humans too can be our friends.”

“One way or another, the humans will turn against us. It’s in their nature.” Yvlana said with conviction. “Ten years from now, or a hundred.”

“I’ve had plenty of time to think about all that. Countless hours of repeating the same thought, over and over again. You want to know what conclusion I came to?”

“Please.” Yvlana rolled her eyes. “Enlighten me.”

“That we are all impossibly flawed. There is no amount of goodness that one person can do to change the way of the world. That is why we need each other. To break the cycle, we must first choose to go down a different path. One that is not hellbent on exacting our own personal revenge. In order to bring about change, we must sacrifice. All... must sacrifice for the greater good. We must set aside our petty squabbles and fix what is broken. Ourselves.”

“Kal. I see what you’re saying and it's a wonderful idea, but it’s also incredibly naive.” Yvlana said harshly. “That isn’t the way the world works.”

“But it could be.” Kal breathed. “If only we could choose to do right. Relinquish our own selfish desires, relinquish our hatred and strive to love one another. For the greater good.” he repeated.”

“What has that creature been spewing into your mind?” Yvlana scooted away. “Do you hear yourself? You’re spouting nonsense. The greater good?” she laughed aloud. “Kaladin, the greater good is what you decide is good. Everyone has their own greater good, which is why it always ends in conflict with itself. Who are you to decide what is good?”

“I don’t know,” Kal admitted. She had a point, he couldn’t deny that. “But I know that I must do something different. Hatred isn’t the way. Creating conflict out of old wounds long past is definitely not the way. That… I am for certain.”

“What of the Thrak?” Yvlana giggled in mockery. “Shall we forgive them too? The very creatures that have destroyed everything we have ever loved. No, Kaladin.” Yvlana shook her head vigorously. “In this. You are wrong. I will not forget. And I will not forgive. I will never forgive the humans and I certainly won’t forgive the Emarine who left us here to die. You should know that by now.”

Kaladin sat motionless, unwilling to speak further. He wanted her to understand, to see what he saw but it was pointless. She was still too angry with the world. And he fully understood why. It had taken him many years to get to the point where he was now. Even now, all his old doubts came rushing back.

Felkuru was so much better at explaining himself. He should talk to her, make her understand. But he knew that would be pointless too.

Kal sighed heavily then looked at her. “I hope one day you will look back on this conversation and then perhaps, by then, you will understand. You will see what I was trying to say.

“You’ve changed,” Yvlana repeated, shaking her head. She turned her blue piercing gaze away from him again. “What happened to you?”

“I was alone. For a long time, Yvlana. It made me rethink everything I ever knew.” Kal said calmly. “Felkuru was the only companion I had. At least until his daughters hatched. Life on Isulia was…” he hesitated. “different.”

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“What do you mean?” Yvlana frowned. “Alone?”

Kaladin shifted but didn’t answer. He knew he had said too much.

“Kal?” Yvlana looked concerned now. “Speak to me. What did you mean ‘Life on Isulia was different?’”

Lowering his head, he sighed deeply, all the memories coming back to him. “It’s a long story.”

“Explain.” Yvlana grabbed his shoulder. “Did you not sleep after you set the core bomb off?”

He paused for a long moment. He didn’t want her to feel sorry for him but at the same time, he did. He wanted her to know how much time had passed without her.

“No. I couldn’t.” Kaladin hesitated. “It shifted the entire bunker and the life support was damaged. Everything was damaged. I had to fix Pilgrim, which took me… a long time.”

“How long?” Yvlana insisted.

“Only two years,” Kaladin admitted. “But it took far longer for her to reset herself and then draw enough power to keep my cryo-pod functional.”

“How long, Kal?” Yvlana asked again, this time forcefully.

“The cryo-pod was functional after five years.” Kaladin started. “But by then, I didn’t want to sleep. I wanted to explore the new Isulia. I wanted to find you and Lamir but... that proved to be impossible as entire landmasses had shifted. Mountains had formed when previously there were none. There was little hope of finding you two. I searched for nearly ten years and another five trying to contact Votis or any of our colonies. I hoped that a passing ship would pick up my distress signal, but no one ever responded. No one came. I spent one more year making sure I wouldn’t lose power to the bunker before I finally slept.”

“Kal.” Yvlana’s mouth was open. “Why? Why did you wait so long?”

“I-I wanted to hear everything Felkuru had to say. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to find you. I wanted to escape. And I wished to find a way to signal anyone near us. I wanted our people to find us. I waited for a long time. But, no one heard my transmissions. So I finally gave up and told Fel to wake me when the time was right.”

“That’s insane.” Yvlana pursed her lips. “Is that why you’ve gone down this path of ‘peace and forgiveness nonsense’?”

“I suppose so.” Kal chuckled. “I had too much time on my hands. Felkuru and I became close. Brothers. We shared each other’s stories. We… felt the loss. We felt the pain. And so, we decided to do things differently from then on.”

“How so?” Yvlana asked curiously. “What did Fel do differently?”

“Well, for starters, he hatched his daughters and restarted his race.” Kal shrugged. “He wanted to start a new life. Without any violence and it was that way for a long time for the Vog.”

“Until the humans crash-landed.” Yvlana burst out laughing despite herself. “You’re proving my point, Kal. All humans bring, is strife and violence.”

“It wasn’t enough that the Vog were peaceful,” Kal admitted. “But he still tried. Even to this day. With Erik. His men killed his son and yet, Felkuru forgave them. Instead of killing them all, he banished them.”

“So, what you're saying is we need to banish the humans,” Yvlana smirked.

“Huh.” Kal shook his head. “What I mean is we shouldn’t jump at the chance of killing each other.”

“I see. I can’t convince you then.” Yvlana said.

“Probably not.” Kaladin smiled wryly at her.

“That’s why you're so close to Fel.” Yvlana changed the subject. “All that time. It must’ve been awful. I wish I could’ve been there with you.”

“Me too.” he smiled sadly. “Not all of it was bad though. We’ve been through a lot.” Kaladin sighed again. “We all have. That’s why I want to put the past behind us and look at what our futures may hold.”

“Why the change?” Yvlana asked. “You used to hate humans as much as I do. Now you want us to…” she sneered. “forgive them? Just like that?”

“They have done nothing for us to forgive them for,” Kal stated. “As I said before, they are not the humans we have come to know. They are…” he paused. “new.”

“They are anything but new,” Yvlana said coldly. “They have slaughtered and started wars. They have never stopped killing. No matter where they are. No matter who they are, humans have always destroyed everything.”

“We changed.” Kal pointed out. “So can they.”

“I disagree.” Yvlana snorted.

“That’s alright.” Kal smiled. “I don’t expect you to come to the conclusion I have in a few short days. It will take time. Until then, please try. It would mean a lot to me.”

Yvlana bit her lip and turned from him. “Felkuru’s almost here.” she pointed.

Kaladin looked at her, his feelings for her would never change. He loved her, no matter what. Even when she was full of hatred.

Leaning, he gently kissed her cheek. “I need to go meet him. We’ll talk later.”

“Of course you do.” Yvlana sighed in annoyance but enjoyed his kiss.

“He has something important to say. I’ll be back soon. I promise. Xerath has called for a meeting, it will start soon. I’ll meet you there.” Kal brushed her long blonde hair. “Whatever happens, know that I will always love you.”

She whipped her head around, looking him in the eyes. “I know. And I you,” she said simply with her piercing blue eyes.

They kissed for a moment longer, then Kal slipped off the roof and started jogging in Felkuru’s direction.

PART 2

“What is it?” Kaladin stepped up to the massive creature. “Yvlana is upset with me. Will this be quick?”

“I’m afraid not.” Fel stuck out his chest in a deep breath. “It’s about Erik.”

“What about him?” Kal frowned. “Do you know something about the assassin?”

“Yes. But it is not who you think it is.” Felkuru scraped the earth with one paw. “It was the girl.”

“Girl? What girl?” Kaladin asked.

“Amira. The woman who Erik loved. She was the one to kill him.” Fel sent him emotions and images. “Before he died, I forced one last connection and obtained all his memories and thoughts.”

“Oh.” Kal frowned. “That must’ve been horrible.”

“It was,” Fel said sadly. “For him. His sense of betrayal was great. He had the opportunity to kill her, yet he didn’t. I think the love he had for her kept him from doing so. That’s not all, I’m afraid. It gets even more complicated. She may have poisoned him, which ultimately led to his death, but she wasn’t the one who finished him off. She had a dagger to his ribs, and yet, she didn’t do it. Someone else did the stabbing.”

“I see. Th-that is odd.” Kaladin couldn’t help but feel sick. “What of the man who attacked Xerath? The assassin? They are not one person? But two?”

“Before he died, Erik heard his door open. Another intruder had joined them the moment he passed. So, I have concluded there are at least two of them, yes.” Felkuru explained. “But here is the part that breaks my heart, Kaladin.”

“Worse than being killed by the woman you love?” Kal chuckled in spite of himself. “What’s worse than that?”

“She did not want to kill Erik,” Fel stated. “Amira was being forced by someone, she called her master. Something to do with her mother. Searching through his memories, I found that she had multiple opportunities to assassinate him, but did not do so for whatever reason. She was being manipulated, I’m sure of it.”

“You mean-” Kal started.

“Yes,” Fel confirmed. “Mulguran. From her own mouth, she has confirmed it. Mulguran truly is real and is working in the shadows. There is no doubt now.”

As they spoke, Kaladin obtained the memories and emotions of Erik. It sickened him further but it also made him understand far more than he realized. Finally, he could see it for himself. All doubt washed away.

“So Mulguran did have Armin killed.” Kaladin bit his lip. “Then that must mean he is real too. He was guiding Armin to a better future before he was betrayed. You were there, what did he tell you?”

“As I have said before.” Fel shifted his weight again. “He has always been real. But Mulguran’s identity was never for certain. Armin insisted from the very beginning that he was real and that we could trust him. Mulguran was his greatest enemy and had Armin killed by his assassins. Perhaps the very assassin that killed Asar and now Erik. Two kings are dead now. We are playing a dangerous game, Kaladin Valhorn.”

“I don’t know Fel.” Kal turned. “It all still seems unreal. I trust you. I really do. But even you won’t give me his name. How can I believe he can be trusted if you won’t tell me? Mulguran, yes, through you, I’ve seen the power he has given the humans he controls, but I have yet to find any evidence we can trust the one who opposes him.”

“He asked me-” Fel started.

“Asked you not to tell me. Yes.” Kal scoffed. “I’m trying. I really am. But you’re not giving much to go off of. How can I trust someone who I don’t know? For all I know, this being is manipulating you just as Mulguran manipulates his servants.”

“Maybe Yvlana is right.” he thought.

“Do not doubt yourself,” Fel said cryptically. “You will find the answers soon. The time is quickly approaching. I fear it will be too soon.”

“This is what I’ve been preparing for.” Kal smiled sadly. “I either pass his test, or I don’t. It’s as simple as that.”

He didn’t like where this was going. Kaladin gritted his teeth.

“You already have,” Fel said.

“I hope, for all our sakes, that is true.” Kal shook his head. “I must get back. Xerath has called for a meeting. I’m sure he will need my help with something.”

“Beware.” Fel cautioned. “Something is brewing in the far west. It stinks of Mulguran. He is plotting something. He will make his final push soon.”

“I will tell them.” he patted his friend on the neck. “Thank you, brother. Get some rest. If what you tell me is true, then you’ll need it.”

“Sleep… will not prepare us for what is coming.” Fel lowered his head. “I fear for my daughters. I fear for the humans and your friends.”

“As do I,” Kal said. “As do I.”