"Radiant Shallan?" Lopen asked, dumbfounded.

Rock nodded. He seemed relieved. "Yes. I have spoken with our little goddess. It seems that Radiant Shallan and the Highprince have agreed that they want to annul their marriage. She feels she is not ready. And neither is the Highprince. They have decided that they prefer to be friends."

Drehy leaned back in his chair. "And she knows that Kal and the Highprince have a thing for each other?"

Rock sighed. "Yes. And she approves. She helped them to spend the night together."

Drehy studied Rock. "But that's a good thing. We now know that Kal isn't betraying Radiant Shallan. So why the long face?"

Rock took a deep breath. "For two reasons. Brightlord Dalinar and Queen Jasnah will not allow the annulment."

"Why?" Lopen asked. "Brightlord Dalinar knows better than anyone that you shouldn't stand in the way of true love."

Drehy frowned. "I think Brightlord Dalinar knows better than anyone that true love has to take a backseat to politics when you're a member of the House of Kholin."

Lopen's shoulders sagged. "You mean that they want to keep up the facade for the sake of unity?"

Drehy nodded. "That would be my guess."

"Your guess is right," Rock said. "And they only told them they wanted to be friends. They never mentioned our captain."

"So they don't know Kal and the Highprince are in love?" Lopen asked.

Rock slowly shook his head. "No. And that brings me to the second reason why I'm worried. Is the Highprince really in love with our captain? Or is he going to treat Kal like he did all those women before Radiant Shallan?"

Drehy groaned. "Fighting Parshmen is starting to sound pretty easy compared to this."

Lopen got up. "I need to know what exactly they told Brightlord Dalinar and the Queen."

Rock gave him a warning glare. "What are you going to do?"

"Talk to Radiant Shallan."

Drehy shook his head. "Oh no, Lopen. Bad idea."

But Lopen was already heading for the door. "You really should have a little more faith in me," he smiled before stepping outside.

Rock got up to stop him but Drehy stopped him. "Let him go, Rock. Maybe he's right. We should give him some credit. He was the first one to figure out what was going on. So let's give him a chance. It's not like we have a solution."

Rock grudgingly agreed and sat back down again. "I don't want our captain to get hurt."

"Neither do I, Rock. Neither do I."

Adolin was pacing his room. He had to find a way to stop this. He didn't want to flaunt his marriage in Kaladin's face. What if the windrunner decided Dalinar was right? Adolin knew how committed Kaladin was to winning this war. If he believed, like Dalinar, that this marriage was essential to help build the alliance, Kaladain would pull back. And that would break Adolin's heart. Because when he woke up this morning in Kaladin's hold he'd realized that he loved the man. It was something he'd never felt before. The absolute certainty that he didn't want to spend another day without Kaladin by his side. He was willing to sacrifice everything. His title, the approval of his father, his Shardplate, his Blade. Everything that had seemed so important to him. And the thought of Queen Fen touching the love of his life made him see red and made his fingers itch to summon his Blade.

The door opened and Shallan stepped inside, followed by Lopen.

Adolin felt instantly worried. Shallan would never bring anyone into their room unless it was an emergency. "Why are you here?" he asked Lopen. "Is there something wrong with Kal?"

When Shallan chuckled he realized he had blurted that out without realizing that it would seem a very odd question to Lopen. It would have made a lot more sense if he'd asked if there was something wrong with his father or the Queen.

But Lopen was grinning widely. "I guess you were, right, Brightness," he said to Shallan. "He really does care."

Shallan sat down on one of the chairs. "Never doubt a Radiant, Lopen."

Adolin looked at her in confusion, a blush coloring his cheeks. "What is going on?"

Shallan gestured to Lopen. "Apparently some men of Bridge Four are very aware of what's been going on between you and Kaladin. In fact, it was Lopen who came up with the idea to lock the two of you up in that room. That wasn't an accident."

Adolin's eyes widened and he turned to Lopen. "Is that true?"

Lopen nodded happily.

"But how did you know?"

Lopen shrugged. "That's my talent, Brightlord. I know what people need."

Adolin wasn't sure how to react. He slowly sat down. "Why are you here?"

Lopen's look turned serious. "Because we need to know if you're serious about this. Kal has been through enough. We don't want him to get hurt. He really cares about you."

"Really?"

Both Shallan and Lopen chuckled at the hopeful tone in Adolin's voice.

"Really, Brightlord," Lopen nodded. "So, how are we going to solve this problem?"

"I'm going to tell my father the truth," Adolin said determinedly.

Shallan studied him. "And what is that exactly?"

"That I love him. That I need him like my father needs Navani."

She smiled approvingly. "That is probably the only argument he'll actually listen to. And hopefully we're in time to call off this ridiculous party or whatever they want to call it. No offense, Adolin, but I really don't want to pretend we're happily married. I'm not sure Veil won't interfere."

That made Adolin chuckle. "That would certainly add some life to the party." He turned to Lopen who was glowing with happiness. "Where is Kal? I need to talk to him."

"He and Teft went to check the amount of gemstones. I'm sure he'll be back soon."

"Tell him to meet me at the top of the tower."

Lopen grinned. "Gladly." He gave them both a salute before leaving.

Shallan got up. "I'm glad that you've come to realize that you love him. I think you're going to make an amazing couple and it makes me happy to be part of making it happen. I'm going to make sure Jasnah doesn't send out those invitations."

Adolin pulled her into a hug. "Thank you. You're the best friend anyone could ever ask for."

She smiled. "Yeah, I'm rather amazing," she said before hurrying out the door to find Jasnah.

….

Drehy looked up when Lopen came back. He'd been trying to keep Rock distracted because the Horneater was on the verge of going after Lopen and hauling him back.

Lopen sat down but didn't say a thing, just stared at them with a blank expression.

Rock growled and leaned over the table. "Speak up, man."

"Well…" Lopen began but then he paused. "I'm not sure I have to tell you since you didn't want me to go in the first place."

Drehy managed to grab Rock's arm just in time but he threw a warning glare at Lopen. "Seriously Lopen, either you tell us now or I'll gladly let him toss you out the window."

Lopen grinned. "The Highprince loves our captain."

Rock slowly sank back in his chair. "Loves him? Are you sure?"

Lopen looked a little offended. "I would never lie about something like that, you big fool."

Rock just smiled. He was too happy to be bothered by the insult.

Drehy let out a deep sigh of relief. "And now what?"

Lopen told him what had happened. "So now we just have to find Kal and send him to the top of the tower."

Drehy got up. "I'll try and find him. The two of you wait here in case he comes back."

….

"Excuse me?" Jasnah said as he looked up from her desk. "I thought I've made myself very clear on the matter."

Shallan nodded. It was weird not to feel intimidated by her. But this was too important. This time she was going to stand her ground. "You did. We just happen to disagree. And I assure you that there is a very valid reason for that, Brightness. And nothing you can say will make me and Adolin pretend to be happily married at some gathering. Of course we will attend and I'll help anyway that I can and I'm sure Adolin will too. But this is not going to be about us or our marriage. Because that will be over soon."

Jasnah was quiet as she studied Shallan. "You seem very sure about this. What if I tell you that you don't have a choice?"

Shallan took a deep breath and met Jasnah's gaze. "I am a Radiant. The House of Kholin needs me. And I will be loyal to you and Dalinar. I will give my life to win this war. But you will not force me to stay in this marriage."

Jasnah raised an eyebrow and she seemed to consider her options. "Very well," she finally said. "We will hold this gathering without any emphasis on you and Adolin. But I do expect an explanation before we consider annulling your marriage."

Shallan nodded. "Yes, Brightness. Adolin wishes to speak to his father first but then we will answer every question you might have."

Jasnah raised an eyebrow. She felt that there may be a very different reason to their wish to end this marriage than she and Dalinar had suspected. "Very well. You may leave now."

Shallan turned and headed out with a smile on her face. Storms, standing her ground had felt so good. She could almost feel both Veil and the Radiant's approval.

Pattern hummed happily. "You are indeed a very worthy Radiant."

…

Adolin was leaning against the railing looking out over the Plains. He had a smile on his face. Nothing was going to stop him from being with Kaladin now. Not even his father or Jasnah. And that was all that mattered. But he was still a little nervous. Did Kaladin really love him too? But he pushed those doubts aside. Lopen had been sure. He turned around when he heard the door open, his heart pounding in his chest, only to find Drehy there.

Adolin felt his happiness take a nosedive as he saw the look on Drehy's face. "What is it? Where is he?"

"He's gone."

"Gone? What do you mean 'gone'?" Adolin felt something akin to panic rise in him.

"He left. He's nowhere to be found. But he did leave this," he held out a note to Adolin.

Adolin stepped closer and took the note from Drehy.

'I need to leave. Tell Dalinar I'll be back one day. Take care of eachother. KS'

Adolin's heart grew cold. "No," he whispered softly. "No he can't leave me. He can't." He felt like somebody had just pushed him into the chasms.

Drehy knew that the Highprince really did love their captain when he saw the look on Adolin's face. He felt an urge to pull the man in a hug but that wasn't an option. Instead, he said, "We'll find him, Brightlord."

Adolin crumpled the note while fighting back his tears. He turned to look out over the vast plains, "Come back to me, Kal," he whispered. "I need you."