“Kayel, can I have a moment?”
Veeyel hesitated by the entrance to Kayel’s little alcove.
“Sure,” Kayel whispered. “Come in.” His voice still wasn’t great, but at least Kayel was audible now. He was particularly glad, otherwise he’d have to push back the date of their… special ritual. “What do you want to talk about?”
Veeyel sighed, then walked in, standing at the desk. Kayel noticed that he wasn’t really walking, he was hovering above the ground. Clearly he had been practising levitation magic, but Kayel couldn’t work out why. After all, they were Threan-type Rethans and former Ksa, they all had telekinetic powers.
“It’s about… HIM.”
Kayel blinked. “You noticed?”
“He’s been… wandering around. Hiding in the shadows. I know you invited him to help us with the ritual, but…” Veeyel’s voice cracked a little. “You know…”
Kayel closed his eyes. “I know. I know. Psivee-En was once a horrible, evil being. But Rethans change. We often just don’t allow ourselves to change.”
Veeyel sighed again. He leaned on the desk in front of Kayel. “You’ve said so. And normally I would believe you. After all, we’ve changed others and ourselves. But this is Psivee-En himself. The Defiler. The Monster. The-”
“He is not like that any more.”
“How do you know he’s not putting on a face? How do you know he’s not pretending? That he’s not using you?” Veeyel’s words were harsh. “After all, this is a monster that was so evil, they froze him for thousands of years. No one gets that sort of punishment unless they really deserve it…”
“They were going to freeze me for four consecutive lifetimes, because I helped the Kalsa Warriors,” Kayel grunted. “Just because THEY say HE is evil and unredeemable, doesn’t mean he actually can’t be redeemed.”
“That’s not my point!” Veeyel hissed. “Look, I know he saved your life. I know you two have forgiven each other or whatever it is that happened. But I can’t shake the feeling that something is going on that we don’t know about!”
“I told you everything!” Kayel dropped what he was doing and looked Veeyel straight in the eye. His voice cracked slightly, from the strain. “I came clean to you all. I told you all everything.”
“BUT HE DIDN’T!” Veeyel didn’t mean to shout. He continued to do so anyway. “You came clear to us! You explained everything! But he’s been hiding in the shadows, watching! He never stood in front of us and told us HIS intentions! I have only your word that he’s not manipulating you. I don’t have HIS word!”
Kayel shrugged. “So you want me to get Psivee-En to stand in front of you all and verbally spill his guts?”
“I do,” Veeyel growled. “I don’t trust him. Never will. If it wasn’t for you forgiving him and the fact that doing so is illegal, I would have hunted him down, cut off his second tail and fed it to him.”
“And I wouldn’t blame you for thinking that,” Kayel sighed. “I understand. I’ll talk to Psivee-En. I’ll get him to talk to you all. You’re right, I did just bring him in here, and I can see why you’d all be unnerved by him.”
Veeyel stood up straight, but lost his balance slightly. His anger caused him to lose his concentration. Kayel got up from his seat and put his arms around Veeyel.
“I’m sorry, dear.”
“Don’t be sorry, Kayel. It’s not your fault.”
“Still…” Kayel muttered, then decided to change the subject. “Do you… want to get something to eat? Just you and me?”
Veeyel smiled weakly. “Yes, yes I would.”