by T.M. Nielsen
***
“Okay, I’m here,” Alric said as he walked into the room with Trox and Finn.
“Finn told me about the poison offer,” Trox said. “We’re both convinced that Kyrin is an evil.”
Alric sat down and sighed. “I know.”
“She’s dangerous.”
“In her defense, she didn’t attempt to murder the bride.”
“She handed her a poison and told her to drink it,” Finn reminded him.
“As opposed to simply killing her. She gave her the option. I just want to know why.”
Finn leaned forward and told Alric about Kyrin’s views of marriage and everything that was said in the bedroom a few hours before. Alric listened carefully as his heart constricted.
“She is an evil,” Trox said.
“I know.”
“To protect Valhara, she must be destroyed.”
“She’s 17, Trox,” Alric said, sitting back in his chair.
“So she will grow stronger.”
“Sithias wants to study her. We can’t kill her until he is done.”
“Sithias must know by now that she’s an evil and will want her killed. We can’t risk their return. We can do it painlessly.”
“Maybe she’s not really an evil,” Finn said, deep in thought. “Evils chose that way of life above that of honor and civility. She’s been forced into her ways by years of abuse and misguided rules and customs.”
“It doesn’t matter how she came to be an evil. She’s still dangerous,” Trox said.
“I can’t kill her simply because she’s an evil. She’s innocent and doesn’t know any different,” Alric told them.
“There’s no such thing as an innocent evil. Her heart has hardened already. We’ve seen it.”
“Why don’t we try to help her?” Finn said. “She’s savage and barbaric. She doesn’t trust and is prone to fight, but maybe that’s all she knows. If we can show her other ways to do things, calmer, peaceful ways, then she can make an informed decision on how to lead her life.”
“She will choose the dark path.”
“Maybe,” Alric said, looking out the window. “I will ask Sithias what to do.”
“Bring her before him,” Trox said.
“Why would I do that?”
“He’s watching your interactions with her, studying how she reacts to you and those around her. Maybe he would learn from how she interacts with him directly.”
“She has a god though. Her god may not like her being brought before mine.”
Finn shrugged. “She’s an impressive specimen. I’ve never met one with her skill or passion for fighting. We train our knights, but they’ve never seen the kind of fighting that was common for her. She could teach them.”
Alric smiled at him. “She’s also 13 years younger than you are.”
Finn grinned and shook his head. “I’m married, plus, I get the impression she’d have the head of anyone who tried to marry her.”
Trox scowled. “Stop talking about her like she’s a young girl who simply needs proper guidance! She’s an evil, and we should be weary of being anywhere near her.”
“Trox,” Alric sighed.
He stood up. “No! I was around the last of the evils, and I know what they can do and what they are like! I won’t have one living in Valhara, free to roam. She should be killed immediately!”
“I’m not going to kill her simply because she displays some of the evil traits.”
“Not traits… she is an evil.”
“Sit, please,” Alric said calmly.
Trox sat down and lowered his voice, “I’m your advisor for a reason.”
“My trusted advisor, but sometimes your logic gets in the way of your humanity.”
“Logic never gets in the way. I’ve seen the evils, and you can’t imagine what they are capable of.”
“My grandfather spoke of them often,” Alric said. “I understand how dangerous they were. Then I see Kyrin and realize how she’s lived and what she’s been told, and I’m not convinced she’s a true evil.”
“She is.”
“I wonder if she should spend time with Genessa,” Finn said unexpectedly.
“Why?” Alric asked.
“She views men as tyrants.”
“Can Genessa defend herself if Kyrin attacks her?” Trox asked Alric.
“She’s handy with a bow.”
“Kyrin would have her for lunch,” Finn said. “That girl can hand-to-hand with the big boys and always has her flail with her. By the time Genessa drew a bow, she’d be dead.”
Alric nodded. “She’s also not held a bow in years. Since she moved to the castle, she doesn’t fight.”
“So it’s too dangerous to have them together,” Trox said.
“I don’t think so. Finn has a point that Kyrin won’t be as defensive around Genessa.”
“Genessa can be harsh though.”
“Yes, I know. It seems to be getting worse.”
“If Genessa oversteps, Kyrin will fight back.”
“Why don’t we put guards on Genessa, in case Kyrin attacks her?” Finn suggested.
Alric thought for a few minutes before speaking. “Let’s do it then. We’ll put two knights with Genessa, and we’ll ask Genessa if she can help Kyrin with some basic manners.”
Finn grinned. “She is lacking a lot of social etiquette.”
“A lot of? She has the social graces of a goat.
