Rethais sat at the back of the bar, waiting patiently. There was no one else around apart from the barkeeper. His small team of Ksa and bodyguards were all outside, keeping everyone else away. Apart from one person. One person who had just been allowed in.
“I apologise for being late, my friend.”
Friend. That was an odd term for Kayelar to use. They weren’t supposed to be friends. If anything, they should have been allies. But there Kayelar was, offering him a drink and being positively kind.
“It is not a problem. My schedule is clear anyway.”
Kayelar smiled and sat down with two drinks. A standard mead for Rethais and what smelled like a sugar-free soda for Kayelar. They both took a sip and leaned back.
“How has the Vice General been?”
“You still call him that?”
A small smirk. “Yes, General Elkay earned the title. I always thought such a high rank should be kept, even after vacating said rank. He is well, I hope?”
Rethais didn’t want to say too much, so he replied simply. “General Elkay is well. He will be visiting his legion tomorrow. How about the High General?”
Kayelar’s smirk quickly dropped. “If only I was so lucky. How General Emthion deals with it, how General Elkay dealt with it, how all former Vice Generals dealt with it, I have no idea.”
“It is not going well?”
“Have you ever tried to put the pin back into a Cassid grenade? It is doable but the time required is often too little. By the time I have wrestled back control, I find myself apologising for his actions. And we have not even begun to campaign yet!”
Rethais blinked. He could not believe what Kayelar was telling him. Part of him wondered if this was some sort of bait or something. A trick to make him and Elkay complacent perhaps. But there was a look of sincerity in Kayelar’s eyes.
“Surely it cannot be that bad. In the early polls so far, you have us beat. Sheer nostalgia is your weapon.”
“You have no idea.”
“Then why are we here?” Rethais wanted to get to the bottom of all this. It was unheard of for two Vice General candidates to meet up anywhere apart from in debate halls. This casual meeting was beyond insane, in the grand scheme of things.
“Because…” Kayelar’s voice trailed off. “Because I want to, I don’t know, cover all my bases. Currently, the polls all suggest Photeianos will win yet again. I want that to happen. He has been a good leader. But I fear that… I am not good enough for this job.”
“Why are you telling this to me?” Rethais tried to hide his shock but was failing. “You are… admitting your weaknesses to the enemy.”
“You are not the enemy,” Kayelar explained. “You simply have different opinions. Honesty is both a weakness and a strength…”
The Threan-type got up from his seat, leaving a handful of change on the table between them.
“Perhaps you have weaknesses as well. I do not know. But honesty, among many others, is mine.”
Kayelar headed towards the door. But as he was about to leave, Rethais had to stop him.
“My weakness is that I may not be strong enough to lead, to do my duty properly, to satisfy the needs of the masses…” Rethais slowly admitted.
Kayelar turned around and smiled.
“Perhaps we have more in common than we think?”
“Perhaps. Thank you.”
“Thank you, and good luck out there, Rethais.”
The door slammed shut. Rethais watched the shadows outside, of Kayelar walking away. An unusual feeling lingered in the back of his mind. Eventually though, he pushed it to one side, finished off his drink and decided to leave.
There were things Rethais needed to think about.