The Suggestion
Dec. 21st, 2014 02:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feredarStory: The Suggestion
Year: 986 FY
Characters: Ineku, Kesshare
Warnings: References to the death of a child, oblique references to war and impending genocide.
Ineku very rarely initiates any sort of idea--save for domestic concerns--which is why, when he does, Kesshare sits up and takes notice.
"You and the King need someone to go investigate the situation in Feredar," he says quietly. "I have the rank to be heard, my family has the contacts to get me close, and I am not a mage."
"No," she says. "I need you here. Nolani and Kirana and Sshimari need you here."
He closes his eyes. "It will break my heart to leave you and the girls, you know that. But who else could you send? Who else can accomplish what you want--exactly as much as you want?"
He has a point. Damn it.
"Why do you even want to go?" she asks.
"We would have sent him if he were here."
Ah.
They rarely speak of their son--she knows he and Nolani do, sometimes, but his death has run out of political capital, and she has Sshimari for insurance.
"And so...you feel you should take his place?"
He shakes his head. "Not...exactly. I don't think I'll be able to make you understand."
"Try."
It takes him a moment to find the words. "I...want to be able to see the young man he would have become. I don't want him to be frozen, as an empty child, in my mind. I want...I want to feel close to him." He smiles faintly. "And I want to be a part of the resolution to Feredar's crisis."
True, she doesn't understand. Except perhaps the last part. "You do know my plans for them."
"Yes."
"And you still feel this same...compulsion to repair it?"
"Yes."
Well, he seems set on it. And he rarely asks for anything, especially since their son's death. And, for all her protests, Nolani is near adult, Kirana safe in her temple, and she herself can get by without her husband for a month or two. As for Sshimari...well, she will fuss, but she is now old enough to do without her favorite parent for a time.
"Very well," she says. "I will propose this to my uncle."
Ineku kisses her hand, and leaves without another word.
She lets out a breath when he's left the room. Time to plan--Amassa will need to know she has an alternate spy candidate in mind, preparations need to be made for herself and her daughters, should Ineku fail to return, his cover story will need to be impeccable...
She's still not entirely sure she likes the idea of sending him away--Kirana's vocation likely shields her from a dangerous adolescence, but Sshimari will still need him--but his logic is sound. And he is stronger and smarter than most give him credit for.
Yes, he will be a good spy. Her husband has never failed to please her in the past. He will bring her the war she wants--exactly the war she wants. No more, no less.
Kesshare smiles.
Year: 986 FY
Characters: Ineku, Kesshare
Warnings: References to the death of a child, oblique references to war and impending genocide.
Ineku very rarely initiates any sort of idea--save for domestic concerns--which is why, when he does, Kesshare sits up and takes notice.
"You and the King need someone to go investigate the situation in Feredar," he says quietly. "I have the rank to be heard, my family has the contacts to get me close, and I am not a mage."
"No," she says. "I need you here. Nolani and Kirana and Sshimari need you here."
He closes his eyes. "It will break my heart to leave you and the girls, you know that. But who else could you send? Who else can accomplish what you want--exactly as much as you want?"
He has a point. Damn it.
"Why do you even want to go?" she asks.
"We would have sent him if he were here."
Ah.
They rarely speak of their son--she knows he and Nolani do, sometimes, but his death has run out of political capital, and she has Sshimari for insurance.
"And so...you feel you should take his place?"
He shakes his head. "Not...exactly. I don't think I'll be able to make you understand."
"Try."
It takes him a moment to find the words. "I...want to be able to see the young man he would have become. I don't want him to be frozen, as an empty child, in my mind. I want...I want to feel close to him." He smiles faintly. "And I want to be a part of the resolution to Feredar's crisis."
True, she doesn't understand. Except perhaps the last part. "You do know my plans for them."
"Yes."
"And you still feel this same...compulsion to repair it?"
"Yes."
Well, he seems set on it. And he rarely asks for anything, especially since their son's death. And, for all her protests, Nolani is near adult, Kirana safe in her temple, and she herself can get by without her husband for a month or two. As for Sshimari...well, she will fuss, but she is now old enough to do without her favorite parent for a time.
"Very well," she says. "I will propose this to my uncle."
Ineku kisses her hand, and leaves without another word.
She lets out a breath when he's left the room. Time to plan--Amassa will need to know she has an alternate spy candidate in mind, preparations need to be made for herself and her daughters, should Ineku fail to return, his cover story will need to be impeccable...
She's still not entirely sure she likes the idea of sending him away--Kirana's vocation likely shields her from a dangerous adolescence, but Sshimari will still need him--but his logic is sound. And he is stronger and smarter than most give him credit for.
Yes, he will be a good spy. Her husband has never failed to please her in the past. He will bring her the war she wants--exactly the war she wants. No more, no less.
Kesshare smiles.