[Ridge]
"Alright."
"What?" I stare at him incredulously. Did he just agree?
"I said sure." He shrugs. I look at him uncomfortably. He's not serious. He can't be for real. Absolutely not. Can he...?
"Um, okay." I shift around in my seat, suddenly very jittery.
He smiles blankly and I swallow hard, "You can join the war," His smile falls, "When one actually starts!" I throw my hands up in frustration.
"We were invaded, Kade! What is so unclear about that?" I try to level my voice, "You can't be in denial, you were literally there when Nymour's forces burned down your home!"
He shoots out of his chair, hands slamming against the desk. He leans over it and looks down at me. I scoff, but I honestly regret adding in that last part. It was a low blow. There's no way he doesn't remember the Manor burning down, I didn't really need to remind him.
To my surprise he just rolls his eyes, "You don't know that was Nymour! It could've been a regular attack, like a robbery gone wrong or something." He throws himself back into his father's chair. His father.
"Oh, right! I'm sure that's why the Duke received that letter about the conflict at the border changing, and it's probably why he decided to flee the Manor in secret with his entire remaining guard!" I point out with as much sarcasm as I can muster, "There is no way to deny what's happening, Kade. You're just fishing for less extreme answers because they sound so much better than reality."
He groans, titling his head back and gazing up at the ceiling in thought. He runs his hands down his face and then puts them up in mock surrender. His eyes level with mine again before he caves.
"Fine, you win," He admits, "but you didn't have to be such a dick about it."
I nod apologetically, "So, does that mean..." He fixes me with a hard glare.
"No. Are you crazy?"
"Look, I'm doing this, with or without you. I think." I take a deep breath, "The Duke obviously supports you getting involved. He left the west to you, so it's your responsibility to prepare for the fighting to encroach on your territory."
Despite my reasoning, he only looks more displeased. Especially about the part where I threatened to join the effort without him. Not my finest moment, but I've already come this far today, why not pull out all the stops?
"There are plenty of other leaders in the west. We can pass on our information about the invasion to them and step back. We're just kids anyway." His voice is calm, but there's a hint of searching there. He really doesn't want to do this. Why?
I speak sweetly, trying to persuade him, as if he really is still just a kid, "None of those Nobles have the influence you do. No one would rally behind them at the scale you could gather. Don't doubt the Riddotha name. Besides, you're a natural born leader, even without your stellar reputation."
He snorts, "Wow, who taught you how to butter someone up like that?" I smile a bit, he's in a good mood again.
"A certain prick I've known for a long time." I jab. He gets up and grabs my crutch from its place against the wall.
He hands it out to me, and I reach for it reluctantly, "Oh, yeah? Must've been a really long time, for you to care about what he taught you." He pulls on the crutch teasingly so I can't take it out of his hands. I smirk and yank it out of his grasp, then limp my way to the door without using it. I hear him sigh behind me, but he follows nonetheless.
"It feels like lifetimes have passed since we met, that's for sure." I reply.
He opens the door for me, a true gentleman. It makes me think of all the etiquette lessons he used to complain about. Now he follows them effortlessly, like they've been ingrained into his muscles. He used to open the door for Drina all the time, although I once caught his face as he let go too soon and it hit her heel on her way through. He had apologized profusely, but I'd seen the smirk on his face and that mischievous glint in his eyes. He's always been such a troublemaker.
"Eons, definitely." There's that smirk, but no door hits me on my way out.
Instead he follows me like an obedient puppy back to the kitchen, where Tellur and Raforn are setting the small wooden table pressed against the large window. I sneak a glance at Kadeeth to see his reaction. He's barely ever been in a kitchen before, much less eaten in one. He seems fine though. Maybe he's still in a good mood from our banter in the study.
Raforn sets down the stack of wooden plates he was holding when he sees us enter. His body pivots to face us and his hands fly up to his hips. This man is the epitome of sass. I can't compare.
"What's wrong?" I ask, setting the unused crutch against the window pane and taking a seat. The midday sunlight feels great on my skin. I guess I haven't actually been outside in a few days, I should get some fresh air later.
"I'm in." He says, as if that explains everything. What is it with guys and assuming everything they say is common sense? Do I do that too?
"In what?" I deadpan. He scrunches his face, a telltale sign of the red blush that will soon dot even the tips of his ears spreads across his cheeks.
"The rebellion, or whatever you're planning. I'll be a part of it." Kadeeth and I both share a look, which Tellur catches. He decides to help us out, since we're both obviously at a loss.
He explains, "The walls here are not soundproof. At all. We heard a lot." Well at least he didn't say 'everything'.
"You know about the..." I start piecing it together slowly, so I don't combust.
"The fire. The invasion. The war that will soon plague our lands, wiping out everything in its path unless the mighty Riddotha Heir becomes the hero he's meant to be." Raforn says, sounding surprisingly witty for someone so awkward. I'm impressed, but not amused.
"Okay. So you heard a lot A LOT. That's cool, um," I reach for the stack of plates and take one for myself, "What makes you think we want you?"
Kadeeth breaks down in laughter. He's practically wheezing on the floor of the kitchen. Tellur stays silent, sizing me up to see whether I'm serious or not. Then there's Raforn. He looks like he's about to blow up. I think I hurt his pride.
"You would turn away willing aid during a war?!" He all but shouts.
I drum my fingers mindlessly against the wooden plate, "No, of course not. But that doesn't mean we can let just anyone into a 'rebellion', as you called it."
He starts to yell again, he has to in order to be heard over Kadeeth's hysterical laughter, "What-"
"Of course, I'd be happy to interview you." I smile deviously. Time to knock this hothead down a peg.
"Interview...?" He takes the bait.