[Ridge]
"Yeah, man. An interview." Kadeeth stifles his laughter, amused but also very confused. We definitely need this doctor. They're too rare to pass up such a great opportunity, but Raforn is somehow doubting that.
"Are you gonna do that for everyone who wants to join you? Each individual soldier?" He bites out.
"If I feel the need." Of course not. Any imperial citizen is welcome, though probably with a few exceptions.
"What the- that's so stupid." He grumbles but takes the seat across from me at the small table. Kadeeth slides into the chair on my right, and Tellur, feeling left out, hurries to the open place next to Raforn.
"First question." The doctor sucks in a breath, looking needlessly determined, "What can you bring to the rebellion?"
Instead of looking at me offended or like I'm a dumbass, he seems eager to answer each question. Where did all the anger from earlier go? Maybe this guy just looks my age, and is really a little boy at heart. He's so simple.
"I know medical stuff." I start to continue, but he gets excited and adds on, "And I know other doctors, and even an apothecary!"
I smile at him and pat the table proudly. Kadeeth giggles and starts serving his plate. Most Nobles wouldn't have even considered sitting at a table in the kitchen, much less eating commoner food. I've trained him well.
"That's great!" I award, a smug grin appears on his face, "So, what qualifications do you have?" His grin disappears along with his dimples.
"Qualifi-" He cuts himself off, taken aback, "Hey! I know just as much as any doctor!" I start serving my own plate. Can't ignore a growling stomach for too long.
"Wouldn't it be better for us to just recruit all those other doctors you know? The ones with licenses?" I use his words against him. Not so full of yourself now, are you, kid? This is a war, not a fantasy book. He needs to understand that we're not playing around, the country's freedom is at stake.
"Wait I didn't mea-"
Kadeeth interrupts him, his mouth full of food, "How'd you get fired anyway?" He didn't bother to ask that before letting this stranger follow him back to his hiding place and examine his best friend...?
"I wasn't fired." Raforn says firmly. The rest of us look at him curiously until he's shifting in his seat. That obvious little lie must be burning a hole through his pants by now.
After about a minute of silence he finally caves. Snatching the serving spoon from Tellur, who hasn't had the chance to actually scoop any food, he heaves a bunch of the delicious dish onto his plate. Tellur pouts and grabs the spoon back.
"I really wasn't fired, I quit." He admits, "My eyes are no good."
Kadeeth squints at him, not understanding, "Your eyes?" He asks, "What do your eyes have to do with doctoring? And how can eyes be no good?" We watch him expectantly.
"Is this part of the interview?" He huffs.
I roll my eyes, "There is no interview, Doc." His eyes go wide and I brace myself. He explodes.
"WHAT!?" He drops his utensil into his food in disbelief.
"I was making a point. You're arrogant, inexperienced, temperamental, downright incapable of working with others..." I sigh, "Basically, you're the worst possible option for starting a rebellion. This isn't a game. There really is a war coming to the Empire, and you clearly have no idea what that looks like, or what it means."
"And you do?" He shoots. Kadeeth straightens up, sitting at attention. Raforn hunches over a bit as a reflex.
I settle him with as serious of a look as I can manage, "Yeah, I do." I prop my elbows up on the table and fold my hands contemplatively, "Luckily, " I move on, "This isn't some part time job in your hometown that actually requires an interview, and if you want to protect your country, then welcome aboard. But the next time I hear you say some ridiculous line like 'Count me in', or whatever heroic crap you were spouting earlier, I'll dismiss you myself." I warn.
He gulps and gives the slightest of nods. Then his dejected eyes shift downwards and focus on pushing his food around on his plate. I'm honestly surprised a nutcase like him didn't get all riled up at my threat. It must've gotten through to him since he decided not to fight me over it.
"Wow, that was... inspirational." Tellur whispers admiringly. I roll my eyes and Kadeeth laughs, relaxing again now that Raforn has backed down.
Yeah, I know what battle looks like. I saw it every time I went to see my father at the border. I saw it when I went to retrieve his body because the Imperial army was too low on funds to transport it back to our city. I saw it again on a trip I took with the Academy, back to the borders, right before the conflict died down. That was the trip that caused most of the dropouts in my class.
Kadeeth knows that. He's the only one who knows all of that. He's the only person aware of how heavy it is, of why I take it so seriously. Maybe that's why he worked so hard to keep our arguments over joining the war light. He wants to avoid letting me slip back into that awful state I was in before.
I haven't had time to feel like that since leaving the estate. That itchy feeling hasn't shown even a trace of its uncomfortable existence. I still want to punch through the walls, and scream at the top of my lungs, but I don't feel like falling onto my bed and muffling my screams into a pillow anymore. I have a purpose now.
I thought that purpose would be protecting the Riddothas, but now I can see the bigger picture. I hate myself for almost being EXCITED about this war. No matter how awful I know it is, I feel some kind of connection to its destruction. It's familiar.
I was blinded by such a single minded goal for so long that I forgot to look around for other options. Now one has presented itself to me, promising violence and tragedy, and I can't wait to jump in head first.
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A/N: AYYY we've reached over a thousand views! To celebrate, if anyone is brave enough, feel free to comment a different POV you want to see for the next chapter. If anyone has one it'll be either first-come first-serve, or majority. If nobody comments that's fine too, we'll just continue with my boy, Ridge. Don't be scared, little ghost readers... comment.