Buri sat back against the holding cell and closed his eyes. His mood wavered between anger and embarrassment over his forceful attempt to pass into the royal living quarters. The guards outside of Grar’s mansion had been patient with him, but the foolishness of being denied entry when he’d been summoned by the Princess was more than he could abide.

The larger of the guards seemed eager to have Buri’s forgiveness, frequently apologizing and acknowledging his relation to the Army Chief. The smaller of them would likely have had Buri’s head off were he allowed. It was he that Buri imagined throwing down a mineshaft.

When the princess entered the antechamber, it was the smaller guard who was quickest to bow. “He struck Tanvir across the face, Dread Highness,” he whimpered when Klar demanded an explanation. When the larger one opened the cell door, the Princess bowed and offered Buri her hand. He stared at her for a moment, unmoving, assessing her posture. Her eyes and body spoke the same words, that she was sorry, and for more than his being held by the guards. He sighed, rose, and bowed. Klar withdrew her hand and nodded.

They walked in silence for a time, until Klar lead him to a secluded porch outside the mountain. It was late evening and the sun had faded beyond the Brow, bathing the sky in a tide of soft lavender glow. They stood side by side, each gazing into the slowly blackening night. “I missed this view,” Buri decided to say.

“We missed you,” said Klar. “I imagine there’s nothing you want to hear, from any of us. But I want you to know that I’ve never forgiven myself for not coming to see you off, and for not trying to stop them from sending you away.”

“There was nought you could do. And you’re wrong. There’s a great many things I want to hear, from a very select group of people, but I know I’ll never hear them.”

“Is there anything you want to hear from me?”

Buri breathed deep. “That you’re well. And that you’re at peace with your mother’s death.”

Klar turned to face him, but he kept his eyes fixed on the sky. When he refused to look back at her she looked down, then back at the gathering night. “Why do you say that? You’ve been gone for twenty years. What could you know of...”

“You wore her gown when the humans came.”

“Yes, I did. She left a great many gowns behind, and all of them are lovely. Why shouldn’t I wear them, from time to time?”

“Am I wearing my father’s doublet? Or his breeches?”

“Why would you speak of him? He abandoned you. It was your mother who was taken from you. Buri, when I came to you that night…”

It was more than he could bear. He turned to leave, but Klar reached out and gripped his arm. He’d forgotten how strong she was.

“I was going to wait,” she said, her voice shaking ever so faintly. “I was going to let you decide to come to me, or not.”

“Then why are we here?” Buri’s voice was hoarse.

“Ror wanted me to speak to you on his behalf.”

Buri turned sharply and glared at Klar, then shook his arm free and made for the door to the mountain.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Please wait.”

That voice. Buri halted. Memories came flooding back to him, memories that he had buried deep.

“Please, Buri.”

He stayed in the doorway, but refused to turn around. “Speak.” His voice was cold.

“Ror has his flaws, many of which will doubtless be all too familiar to you. But he has grown in some ways, and feels a deep love for the people of Thrond. All the people of Thrond. Since you were taken from… from us, he began to change, and is much kinder than he was then. He wanted me to tell you that he regrets what happened to you. Don’t say that he doesn’t know what’s happened to you! He realizes that, but he still cares. He has a great deal of love for you. I wouldn’t have agreed to vouch for him if he weren’t sincere.”

Could Ror be the one? Buri felt his hands tingling. He had just told Klar he missed the view of the evening sun, but with a sickened feeling in his gut he realized what he really missed was holding a sword, or mace, or maul. He had changed,too. Had those guards pressed him any further…

“To be honest, Buri, I don’t know what Ror hoped would come from me speaking to you. I don’t think that he wants anything in particular, save your friendship. You know, Halfur once told Ror something quite profound. At the time it seemed ridiculous, but standing here now I believe he had a stroke of wisdom.”

“Halfur was always wise.” Buri’s mind was racing, he had to tell someone about Koll, but it had to be the right one. It wasn’t enough for Koll to be free. The eyes of the kingdom had to be opened to the true crime. Not the petty ones most of the doomed were guilty of, but the great crime committed by all of Thrond.

“Yes, I suppose so,” Klar continued. “Well then, if you feel that way then perhaps you may see the sense of what he told Ror. It was long ago. Ror had beaten half the other boys bloody in the sparring hall, even though they’d all yielded a dozen times each. Halfur sheathed his sword, looked Ror in the eye and stated quite plainly that you would never be impressed with him for beating people weaker than him. Ror’s argument was that all the other boys were weaker than him, so Halfur told him that he’d best stopped beating people up altogether.

“I hadn’t considered then that Ror was being such a bully just to show you how strong he was. But it was true. In his childish mind he thought that if he proved how strong he was, then the oldest and strongest of the boys would like him. He’s always admired you, Buri. Even more than the rest of us. I hope that, in time, you can try to build a friendship with him. I think, I hope, that doing so will help you to find peace.”

“He admired me? That’s why he preyed on weaker children? To win my friendship? And you think this makes sense?”

“To a child, yes. Buri, none of us had any idea what we were doing back then.”

“None of us?”

“Buri…”

That voice! Snozzle that pathetic, whimpering tone she keeps hiding behind. Buri sighed heavily. Allright, Dread Highness, I’ll give you your chance. “Ill speak with him.”

“You will?!” Klar stepped forward as if she were going to embrace him, then caught herself and withdrew.

“Yes,” Buri replied.

“Thank you. And thank you for speaking to me as well. I’m sorry about the guards, and, well, everything.”

Buri had no words, only feelings, old feelings he had thought himself free from. He tried to look over his shoulder and wished Klar good night, but all he could do was leave.