Bade is such a passionate man, no wonder Orinakin loves him. But this is a difficult time in their lives.
“I do not like to see Anosamim in pain. I do not like the worry and doubt that plague Bade. But there are times when choosing not to intervene is the best decision that I can make.”
Orinakin took a deep breath. “Then times like these are moments when we must do, for ourselves, what we can. And I trust that we will gain something from it. Thank you, Anosukinom, for letting us direct the courses of our own lives.”
“I understand what you’re saying,” Bade said, slowly. “I understand, I think, why you decided not to interfere. But I still wish that you had. Because the way things are now, it’s still possible that… The right outcome isn’t guaranteed. And that’s okay for you, because your life will just continue on as it was. But my life will be ruined. Maybe I shouldn’t say that, maybe I’m supposed to assume that there’s something better waiting for me down another path. But all I see is one path, the path that leads to Orinakin and happiness and the impossibly bright future that I can’t believe is almost in my grasp, and I feel like someone’s dragging me off of that path into a ditch full of briars just to rob me and cut me and leave me for dead. What happens to me when you leave me to my own fate at the very moment that you claim that I have no influence over it?” he demanded, lurching to his feet.
“Bade,” Orinakin said, rising and reaching for him.
“I want him to answer me!” Bade snapped. “I want the great Anosukinom to tell me what I’m supposed to do with my life, once I’m back in Nosupolis. Travel around and poll the people? I won’t take Vade’s work from him! That’s his position, I won’t steal it. Both of us are hardly needed. I’m sure that with all of your omniscience, you’re aware of how small Nosupolis is. What else should I do, then? I was going to travel the world and champion my people, meet world leaders and represent my king. What would you have me do instead, sit in the castle and write them letters? No one’s heard of me! No one cares!”
“Vinga, stop this.” Orinakin sounded angry and frightened, just as Bade did.
“Let him finish,” Kudorin said quietly. “Some words need to be heard.”
“What would you have me do without Orinakin?” Bade demanded, his hands clenched tightly into fists. “Would you have me sit in the castle, stare at the moon, and mourn for my loss? Would you have me married off to someone else, a neat exchange, a title for money? Maybe I’ll sire children with some wealthy woman looking for heirs. If you want me to have some control over my future, you’d best help me to stay here, because once I go back, I will have no say in what happens to me. I’ll do strictly as I’m ordered by my king. This was my chance to do something, Anosukinom, this. Without Orinakin, I’m nothing but a walking title and understudy to the heir. But the privileged children of the gods would know nothing about that.”
While Bade’s truth rang in his ears, Selorin watched Bade storm from the room.
