Kassian’s head rolled back onto his shoulders and he sighed, exhaling a cloud of vapour into the air.
When he didn’t reply, Vighon pressed. “You said until recently you didn’t care.” The king left it there, opening the space for Kassian to talk about it if he wished. He had come to value the Keeper and not just for his skill with magic. The northman could see something of a great man under all the mage’s grief.
Kassian glanced over his shoulder at Aphira, his fellow Keeper. “We’re going to win this,” he repeated, as if starting again. “When we do, we need to be ready to rebuild the realm.”
Vighon tried to contain his smile. “We?”
The Keeper took a long breath, his eyes struggling to meet the king’s. “All I have left of Clara is the pain. Her memory deserves more than that. And the conduits of this world deserve more than being hunted by Alijah’s beasts. I believe there is a way to serve both.”
Now Vighon was very intrigued. “By conduits you mean…”
“People touched by magic,” Kassian clarified. “The survivors of Valatos alone must number in the hundreds and they’re all out there, lost and afraid. And they’re just the ones with training. There could be thousands more out there who have no idea why they’re different. Without the proper guidance, they can be a danger to themselves and everyone around them.”
Vighon drew an easy conclusion. “You’re talking about a new Valatos? A new Korkanath?”
Kassian looked pained by the comparison. “Yes and no. They both possessed a good foundation but their vision was executed poorly. I’m talking about something that is better than both.”
“Which is?”
“I don’t know yet,” the Keeper confessed. “But I would like your help in building it. And I’m not talking about your coin,” he added quickly. “I want you to help me find a way that benefits the realm as well as these people. Coexisting is the only way we can forge a lasting future. I see that now.”
Vighon nodded in agreement. “I wish Alijah saw it your way,” he remarked.
“He sees people like me as a threat to the realm,” Kassian said.
“He’s not wrong about that,” Vighon replied, bringing out a frown in the Keeper. “His response to that fact is disproportionate,” the northman continued with a calming hand in the air. “I had similar fears when Valatos was built. We were still rebuilding in the wake of the destruction caused by The Crow. He showed all of us what magic is capable of when wielded by the wrong person.”
“The Crow and Alijah are the reason why we need to do this together,” Kassian elaborated. “With your approval, and Inara’s wisdom, the people will trust what we’re doing.”
“Inara?” Vighon questioned.
Kassian shrugged. “Well, besides you being the king and queen of the realm, Inara carries the wisdom of the dragons. Not to mention the people’s love and respect for her. They probably like her more than you already,” he quipped with an amused grin.
Vighon, however, appeared dumbfounded. “King and queen?” he managed, having never thought of the titles side by side.
The Keeper raised an eyebrow. “Is that supposed to be a secret?” He glanced back at the company. “It might be a little late for that, your Grace.”
The king wasn’t sure what to say. “Does everyone know about us?”
“I’d say so. Though why you’d both keep it a secret is beyond me. The fact that the two of you have managed to find each other in this mess of a world is nothing short of a miracle. If you ask me, you should hold on to each other and never let go.”
Vighon would have loved to do just that, but Inara was still miles away, her fate unknown. “It’s been a long time coming,” he commented quietly. “And you’re right,” he continued, “Inara’s wisdom would be crucial to your plans.”
“So you agree then?” Kassian probed eagerly. “There should be a place for magic?”
“If Alijah’s schemes have shown me anything,” Vighon said, “it’s how important the world of magic is to Verda. And whether a person can wield magic or not, they are a subject of my kingdom and I will serve them as such. The real question is: are you ready to serve them?”
Kassian didn’t reply with a bold declaration but, instead, a humble nod of the head. “I would like to. But, I suppose I’m bringing this to you now because, well… let’s face it, there’s still a chance I won’t survive this war. I need to know that you will still do something in my absence.”
“For what it’s worth,” Vighon offered, “I don’t think you will be added to the fallen. You’re too stubborn. But, if it gives you peace of mind, know that I will do all that is in my power to help people like you. You have my word.”
Kassian gave an appreciative nod and half a smile. “It wasn’t that long ago I considered you to be just as ordinary as any other northman. Now, I know the value of your word.”
Vighon smiled. “I hope, in time, you come to value the word of every northman. We are an honest breed.”
“Well if it’s honesty you appreciate, I should tell you and every northman: you need to find somewhere else to live. Namdhor is bloody freezing!”
The king laughed. “You’re not wrong,” he said. “But the cold is good for us - it keeps the fire in our veins at bay!”
The two men shared a laugh before falling into deeper conversation, sharing ideas and possibilities for the future. It felt good to talk about the world in such a manner, pretending, for the moment, that the realm wasn’t hanging in the balance.
As the waning sun showed its face, between the thick clouds and the distant horizon, their discussion came to an end. They were approaching the last rise in the plains where smoke could be seen rising into the sky. Naturally, Vighon scanned
