The two Inspectors sat in a long waiting room on the tenth floor of the Doene Capitol building in the Ignatium.

The walls were of dark lacquered wood, ornate moldings rimmed the rooms edges, with dignified faces carved into each corner. The eyes of each face stared down toward where the guests were seated.

An Acolyte dressed in the Red and White of house Doene sat behind a heavy wooden desk in the far corner of the room by the Lord’s door.

She was scribbling notes onto missives. Every once in a while, she would load a paper into a tube and send it down one of the multitude of pipes arrayed behind her.

The two Inspectors had been watching her work for half an hour. Waiting for their meeting with Fatcher Doene, Lord of the Fourth Doene District.

The room was cold, yet sweat poured into the Kint’s collar.

Why had he made it so tight?

He glanced at his partner anxiously.

They hadn’t spoken a word to each other on the hours-long trip to the Ignatium. Hadn’t even made eye contact.

He needed to recover this somehow, to break the tension.

“You say this is a friend of yours?” Kint joked, commenting on the wait time.

Elsha did not reply. Eyes forward, face stern.

They were out of sync. Elsha, aloof to his longing stare.

He kept glancing at her, willing her to say something, praying for things to be alright between them.

She’d agreed to help him, that was a step.

But, why? Why would she agree to help and then refuse to talk to him?

His tension eased a bit when she turned to face him.

“Is there something wrong with you, Kint?”

He let out a breath.

Those weren’t the words he’d been expecting… but it was a start at least.

“Isn’t it obvious?” He replied, grinning.

She stared, dark eyes penetrating.

Kint swallowed.

“I–I don’t know.” He frowned, anxiety returning.

“Why are you doing this?” She asked, cocking her head to one side.

“What do you mean?” He replied, chest tight. “To save the District. To save our lives.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“You’re not dumb, Kint.” She noted. “You play dumb sometimes, but you’re not very good at it.”

Sweat beaded on his neck.

Elsha paused for a moment, observing him.

She looked… Disappointed.

“I used to think you were smart, but I’m not so sure anymore.”

She met his eyes.

“Because a smart person would not be here right now. A smart person would not have pushed Lord Crecius this far.”

“I didn’t push him.” He argued. “Outside forces–”

“YOU are an outside force, Kint.” She cut him off. “You cannot deny your part in putting us here. However small it ended up being in the grand scheme of things. You’ve placed yourself at the center of all this.”

Kint opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. He looked down, hands fidgeting in his lap.

Elsha continued.

“You’re up against Lord Echrus, Lord Crecius, and the Prophet’s church… A smart person would go the way of Mayor Fezzeline. So why aren’t you? Why make this plan?”

His stomach was tight, knots turning over each other.

“It’s not impossible, this plan of yours.” She mused, “It’s even kind of logical. But, your best chance of survival?”

She leaned over, gazing into his anxious eyes.

“Not even close.”

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Kint grimaced.

He was nervous, sensing what she was driving at.

He needed to nip this in the bud, explain her concerns away, somehow.

“I have to beat him, Elsha.” Kint ground out. “I can beat him. I know I can.”

She cocked her head, observing him as she so often did with those predatory eyes.

“So it’s Pride, then?” Elsha questioned, disappointed. “Your daughter's life, for pride?”

Breath left his lungs. It felt like he’d been punched in the chest.

She shook her head.

“I don’t believe it… I can’t believe that.”

She looked him in the eyes.

Such intensity.

The world closed in around him.

His lungs tightened. It was hard to breathe.

“I know you, Kint.”

He let out a nervous laugh.

She stared into him, unflinching.

“We’ve said a million words to each other, you and I… But never a single thing of substance. And yet, I know you… deeply. Just as you know me.”

He grimaced.

Elshas smiled ruefully.

“Eight years of deflections and diversions have given me the map of your soul. A million things you haven’t said, slowly revealing the contours of your heart. I know where your secrets lay, Kint, just as you know mine.”

She put a hand to his cheek, holding him there, forcing him to meet her gaze.

Her eyes grew stern.

“So trust me when I say that I know you… and I will not accept pride as an answer to why you are abandoning your daughter.”

Her words hit like an arrow, piercing him directly through his greatest shame.

His heart thumped in his chest, sweat glistening on his forehead.

She had seen him. Maybe not all of him. But she had the shape of it.

He wanted to run. To turn and sprint from the room.

But her firm hand held him there.

She had seen him.

Ferreted out his hidden truths.

Guessed at his secret pains.

She had seen him.

…

…

His eyes widened…

And she was still here…

She knew him so well.

Held his heart in her hands…

And she was still here…

“There’s something pushing me, Elsha.”

He swallowed, throat raw.

“Something beyond me...”

Her eyes tightened.

“The Shattered?” She whispered.

He shook his head.

“I don’t know…I don’t know what it is… But it’s leading me somewhere… A place I need to go, I think.”

He looked down, uncertain.

The old Inspector was uncomfortable laying himself bare like this.

“This is like Syfeeli, isn’t it?” She questioned. “How can you be sure it’s not leading you to the same fate as him?”

“I can’t.”

He shook his head, meeting her eyes. There was no judgement there, only earnest concern.

“I don’t know if it’s good or bad, Elsha. But it’s something I need to see through. If I don’t…”

He bit his lip.

“I just… I have this feeling… If I look away any longer. If I run now…. I’ll be stuck forever. No help to anyone. Especially Nessa.”

…

That was it…

That was the truth…

…

Silence.

He was drowning.

Oxygen pressed from his lungs.

He’d revealed himself in ways he never had before.

What would she think? How would she react?

He couldn’t breath until he knew.

Kint looked at her, eyes pleading for a response.

She nodded slowly.

“Alright…”

He met her eyes, hopeful.

“Does that… make sense?”

“No.”

His face fell.

Elsha smiled.

“That didn’t make a lick of sense.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “But it’s true… I don’t know how, but it’s true.”

Kint grinned, heart swelling.

“I’m an idiot… aren’t I.” He chuckled.

“It’s a fair bet.” She laughed.

They laughed together.

Giddy at this newfound trust, this reforged bond.

With the painful admissions out of the way, they sat for another few minutes, ironing out the plan.

Eventually, Elsha stopped him, face taking on a somber tone.

She bit her lip, looking away.

“I can’t go in there with you.”

There was a great sadness in her eyes.

She and the Lord had a history more complicated than just friends, it seemed.

Elsha looked up, giving him a wan smile.

He could ask what this was about… but no…

“Alright…”

He nodded slowly.

“Then do me a favor… Check on my daughter. Make sure she’s safe.”

His partner smiled, eyes confident.

“I will.” She nodded.

“Good.” He affirmed, stress leaving his shoulders. “We’ll meet back at the bench by my house.”

“The Lord will see you now.” The Acolyte called from across the room.

Kint stood, taking in a calming breath.

The Inspectors shared a look.

He turned to go.

“Kint.” Elsha spoke up.

He looked back, curious.

“Be wary.” She warned. “Fatcher isn’t cruel, but he’ll try to catch you off guard… And he’ll want something from you. He wouldn’t have taken the meeting if he didn’t. Just… don’t give too much away, alright?”

There was a gravity to her words that concerned him. Years of context compressed into sentences.

He nodded.

He would be careful.