Fear's Union

Chapter Eight

—Keles—

His head was banging. It was not pleasant. Keles strode through the immaculate open space of the Citadel, head dipped. It must be at least part due to the smoke inhalation, but there was something else. It was more than that. The standard by which he measured himself had changed. He was vastly inferior, and he had a headache.

The Citadel was still bristling with the population of Altunia. The crowds were creating a din which compounded his pain, and he growled. Why didn't they go back home? They probably needed direction, but he was busy. They could sort themselves out. He didn't really care; not now. He would be selfish for once.

So much had been spinning through his mind that he was struggling to piece it all together. But all threads ultimately led to one place – he was less than he had been before. He was a shadow of Kato. He was inadequate. Every fibre suggested he should detest that man, but he couldn't. Not anymore. The feats were simply too... There were no words.

And he also owed his life to the man. That grated.

"Have you made up your mind?"

The bumbling man strolled arrogantly beside him, but it didn't annoy him anymore. Kato's everyday persona was certainly bewildering, but not annoying. Not anymore.

Kato was short, and his physique was slight too. His hood was down and the mask was off, and his face was even plainer still. He had short brown hair, a round face, and dark eyes with an unusual gold band around the pupil. That was the only intriguing thing about the man, that band of gold in his eyes. That and the fact he was a dragon slayer.

"I fear the choice was made for me."

Kato stopped abruptly, getting caught up in the tangle of his own legs. He only just side-stepped an oncoming citizen. How could this walking disaster be the same man? It was ridiculous. Once Kato had returned to his side, he puffed out assertively.

"I do not like to think that I coerced you."

"Not intentionally, no. But your acts offered me little resistance of will. I am a man of intrigue, and you are intriguing. It's simple really."

Kato gusted. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is a compliment." It was hard to believe he'd said it.

He was reconsidering his options, he really was. This man was awkward to be with, frustrating, and even annoying. Genuinely annoying. Did he really want to expose himself to a prolonged period of this? Really? But it was obvious. Of course he did. When the opportunities were so great, the means became almost irrelevant.

But before that, he had to free himself, and to do that, there would need to be two difficult conversations. Well three actually, but only two were really hurdles. Archmaster Hephesta would accept his resignation. Of that he was certain.

"Will you stay here until I return?"

Kato shook his head sharply. He did not like to wait. Was that all he really knew of the man?

"How long will you be?"

"Perhaps ten nights. There are matters to be sorted before I can step out of my old boots. Are your suspicions so urgent that we need to leave immediately?"

Kato seemed to glaze over, switching from social inadequacy to absent wisdom. He really was incredibly volatile. "Nothing can wait anymore. Time is the enemy no-one recognises until it is too late."

What an oddball.

"Nonetheless, you will have to stick around to relay your part in events here."