Paradox Interluder (Usurper #2)

11

Chebi glowed with the city alit with orange torches and fires, lighting the way for people of the caravans to rest, eat, and trade. The sight of it alone was a welcome one for weary travelers, especially for the likes of their party. Mara trudged from behind, constantly monitoring if anyone was following them, while also keeping eyes ahead. Jessamine led the pack, as usual. Her brother followed closely behind, occasionally engaged in small talk with her but he never once looked back, unlike his sister who kept her eyes on Kaid.

Kaid walked through the middle, clearly struggling from Mara's perspective. This was no stroll along the soft black Vitross sands. The dunes made it hard to gain good traction and he only had one proper arm to keep him steady when he slipped. The gait which he walked was borderlining exhaustion, so Mara quickened her pace to catch up to him.

"Are you doing okay?" she asked softly, seeing him perk up slightly at the question.

"Yeah, I'm okay. We are almost there," he nodded, motivating himself to keep pushing.

"Did you and Jessamine...talk?" she had paused, wondering how to best word her inquiry.

"We did. Wasn't that the point about lying about being squeamish? You were never the type to fuss over blood or gore," Kaid answered with slight amusement.

"Gore and blood are different when it comes from someone you care about," Mara retorted, "So, did you guys make up?"

"We apologized, yes."

"We? What did you have to apologize about?" she scoffed slightly. Why would he apologize for something he hadn't done? Then again, he seemed to lose all rationality when around her, that much was certain. Kaid could seem weak around her, weak minded that is. It wouldn't surprise Kaid to be the kind of man to apologize for something, when he did nothing wrong, to avoid contention. Yet, he was also a man to take accountability whenever he could. What would that mean if the world charged him for the Time Paradox?

"I nearly killed her in Caladin. I let my anger get the better of me," Kaid answered, not hesitating. The guilt he felt at such an admittance merely radiated from his chopped off hand. That was where all his guilt and shame resided.

Mara paused, thinking he was joking, "You never told me that."

"I figured it wasn't important," he hummed.

"She was there in Caladin with you? I thought you went alone."

After seeing what he had done to Mattias (rightfully so), and especially now after the train...did Mara have anything to worry about if she ever angered him?

"Yes, at first I thought she arrived to stop me from obtaining the answers I needed. If anything, those answers revealed Payne's plot against not just me, but her as well. I didn't realize it at the time but she came merely to help me. She came because she promised to help me destroy that place," he muttered, "and I betrayed her just as she betrayed me."

Clearly, if what he said was true, which Mara believed...then Jessamine certainly did have a reason to be wary of him. Yet, she didn't seem to act like such when they talked earlier before this long hike. Kaid even offered Jessamine his boots since she wore no shoes, which she politely declined given they were far too big for her. While the trust had been broken, it was clear both of them were trying to mend it. Time, time and patience might be the glue they needed.

Their betrayals at the time stung one another like a nail puncturing their hearts. Now, it was nothing more than a beesting with forgiveness as the answer.

"How are you not angry about your hand?" Mara finally asked. Kaid didn't look at Alec with any malice. He bore that same inquisitive expression, eyes finding ways to study the Empress' brother. Kaid questioned how and why Alec was here, especially why now. But there was no anger.