A/N

Did ya miss me? After the almost deafening roar of silence that greeted the last chapter, I thought I'd take a break and give you all a chance to recover. :)   In acknowledgement of your Herculean efforts, I'll try and get review responses up next week. I just realized, this story celebrated its first birthday yesterday! *frowns* and it's still not finished!!! I did a little sketch of Jas myself, a couple of weeks ago and if anyone's interested in looking at it, it can be found on the Deviant Art site (address in profile) Yep, that last chapter was pretty damn big! And this one isn't exactly light either, but it is shorter, promise!

15 Kain's Judgement

Later, Dumah takes Jas down to the throne-room where they are to meet Kain. She notices that a chair has been provided for her, at the base of the dais and she turns towards him, starting to protest that it is not necessary, but he ignores her arguments, pointing out that even the short walk from his chambers seems to have left her tired. So, she ceases her objections and sits down, her weakness forcing her to consider that maybe, seducing him on the balcony hadn't been quite such a good idea after all.

She looks around the room, rubbing her forearm absently, as she remembers the last time she was here. She notices the urn of water has been removed.

"I've commissioned a statue," Dumah explains, seeing the direction of her gaze. "There are few likenesses of me in the stronghold."

"You'll need two," she says. "One for each alcove."

He looks across the room, considering, "You're right," he says. "Of course. Anything else would spoil the symmetry."

*

When Kain is ushered in, Dumah walks over to him immediately, meeting him by the doors. He drops to one knee before his sire, his head bowed. Kain says nothing, he simply extends a hand and watches as Dumah takes it, reverently pressing his lips to his Master's cold flesh. Jas feels as though she is intruding somehow, but Dumah seems to have forgotten her presence and Kain does not even look at her. As Dumah rises, Kain puts an arm across his shoulders.

"So," he says. "Your campaign to subdue the humans, what progress have you made? I hear there was an incident, while you were away."

"That has been dealt with Sire, retribution was both swift and severe."

Kain pulls back a little, frowning, "That, was the very least, I'd have expected," he says. "But tell me, did you also punish those of your own brood responsible for this humiliation?"

"The trial was held two nights ago."

"And all were punished? Even the one you left in charge?"

Dumah hesitates.

"Berrin will not fail me again," he says. "He has atoned for his lack of attention."

Kain snorts angrily, his brows snap together. He grips Dumah's shoulder, and turns him so that he is facing him directly. Kain looks straight into his eyes.

"Are you quite certain such leniency is advisable?" He asks. "The situation here is far from stable. If you continue to tolerate failure, I do not see how you hope to improve matters."

Dumah looks back at him steadily.

"Berrin is too valuable for me to lose over something as trivial as this, Sire. His fault was but a oversight. Few among my people have his experience, and none has surpassed his devotion to duty. Besides, I will need him for the campaign we have planned; his abilities in matters of strategy are second only to my own."

Kain still frowns. "Very well," he says finally. "For your sake, let us hope your trust has not been misplaced."

Dumah lowers his eyes before the intensity of his sire's gaze. He is stung that Kain should doubt his judgement. When he speaks again, his voice is low, but full of conviction.

"Our battle plans are laid, Sire. When Turel's clan moves, we will be ready. We will strike the humans hard. We will be swift and our aim will be sure. The Dumahim will not be found wanting, I swear it."

"On your life?"

"On my life."

Kain's arm drops from Dumah's shoulder as soon as he has received this assurance.

"You understand my expectations once this campaign is ended?" He asks.

Dumah nods. "When our enemies have been defeated, Sire, they will not be allowed to regain a foothold. Once our hills are free of the human vermin, so they will remain, and dire will be the punishment for those who dare oppose your will, or mine."

Kain bestows a thin, wintry smile upon his son.

"I knew I could rely on you," he says. "It is important you keep applying pressure, for no matter how hard you press them, these creatures will always try to rise. Control, must be maintained."

His eyes light on Jas for the first time that evening. "Now," he says. "To the other matter at hand." He turns back to Dumah. "You may go."

Clearly, it comes as an unpleasant surprise to Dumah, to be dismissed like this from his own halls, but he utters no protest, he simply bows his head to his sire and departs, ever dutiful.

Jas frowns as she watches him leave, their conversation has left her feeling uneasy. When Kain turns to her, she addresses him at once.

"Cold heart!" She accuses. "What exactly, is the purpose of this game you are playing? You know he is destined to incite the humans to rebellion, and yet, you encourage it. Would you have him oppress them until they have no option but to turn?"

"Dumah will make his own mistakes," Kain replies, dryly. "And at present, his error is lack of control."

She snorts derisively at this reply, "Oh please! Don't try to absolve yourself of responsibility. Not to me. It would take but a word from you to set Dumah right, as we both know. But you have no intention of uttering it, have you? No intention of aiding him, because that, wouldn't be your interests."

Kain does not reply to this, instead, he closes his eyes and takes a slow, deep breath.

"You require so much patience." He says, eventually. "Sometimes, I wonder if you are truly worth it."

He opens his eyes and frowns at the sight of her, still seated next to the throne and Jas realizes that he probably expects more acknowledgement than merely being spoken to, especially in the manner of her last address. She grips the arm of the chair and stands up, grimacing, for her side still pains her. If anything, the frown deepens.

"Forgive me," she says, inclining her head to him, "I meant no disrespect, but I fear I am not yet fully recovered."

"Then sit," he says coldly.

She sits back down and Kain walks over and seats himself on Dumah's throne.

"So, when did you intend to tell me what you had learned of your origins?" He asks. He watches her closely as he speaks.

"I had no immediate plans to tell you," she says.

Her reply takes him by surprise; he was expecting at least, some attempt at concealing the truth.

"My life has hung in the balance since my arrival at the Sanctuary," Jas continues. "Did you really expect me to lend weight to the argument that says I should die?"

He looks at her, considering this last statement, stroking his chin with his claw.

"I concede, that would not be an entirely reasonable expectation on my part," he says.

"But now that you do know," she continues, "what do you intend to do with me?"

He almost smiles. He shakes his head reprovingly.

"No, no, Jaslinde, too fast! We have but begun our discussion. By definition, a conclusion can only come at its end."

So, he hasn't made his decision yet?

Or does he simply have more to say, before he tells her what it is?

She waits apprehensively, for him to continue.

"Tell me then," he asks, "how was it that you came to discover this interesting piece of Sarafan history?"

"Moebius told me, when I encountered him in your chambers." Kain nods when he hears this, as though it is what he had expected.  "Though at first," Jas continues, "I simply refused to believe it. But when Turel produced the same information, from a different source, then, I had to accept it."

"While I have no doubt about the veracity of his information. I would not be too sure that Turel's source was so different from your own," Kain tells her. "As I told him, I am very suspicious about the timing of his discovery. Perhaps someone simply wants to be rid of you."

"Moebius seemed to think I had proven useful, despite my unwillingness to act on his behalf."

Kain raises a brow, regarding her with some amusement. "How, almost, charmingly naive you are, at times. Moebius was hardly going to tell you he had been disappointed now, was he?"

She smiles briefly at this statement and then looks down again. The conversation seems to be hopeful, so far, but still, her fate rests in his hands.

"However," Kain says, "Despite your refusal to act on behalf of the Time-Streamer while you were in the Sanctuary, we are still left with the problem of what's to be done with you, now that we do know your origins. As you said, yourself, I can hardly count on your allegiance."

Silently, Jas berates herself. Why hadn't she kept her mouth shut, when Kain had called her his ally?

"Under the circumstances," Kain continues, "I do not deem it prudent to turn you loose again. Even in the short time we have been acquainted, you've demonstrated some interesting abilities. In the future, you might prove to be an irritation and that, is something I could well do without." Jas' heart is sinking rapidly now, for the conversation no longer seems even remotely hopeful. "What I am prepared to do, is to offer you a choice," Kain says. "Dumah still seems to be quite fond of you, if you are willing to remain here, in his safekeeping, I will allow you live. The Dumahim stronghold is secure and I am sure you would be given a certain amount of freedom within its walls; After all, Dumah is hardly going to find it necessary to keep you in the dungeons."

No, Jas thinks, of course he isn't. Not at first, anyway. Not until we argue, or until he gets bored, or until…

"Alternatively," Kain cuts across her thoughts, "you could stay with me. The accommodation, however, would not be so pleasant."

Irrational though the thought is, Jas cannot help thinking that Kain's dungeons might prove the better option, in the long run.

"And that's it?" She asks him. "That's my choice? What if I don't agree?"

"The Abyss, is always there, to provide a permanent resolution."

Imprisonment for all eternity, or certain death. Neither option holds any appeal. Possibly, there might be a chance of escape when the Clan wars start, but equally possibly, Kain will have her killed, before such a chance arises. He'd probably even ask Dumah to do it, and Dumah would, too, there can be no doubt about that.

Jas looks down, spending a minute deep in thought, distractedly raking a hand through her hair.

There has to be an alternative.

When she looks up, she does not give Kain an answer, instead, she asks him a question.

"Your priest, the one Turel captured, have you encountered any of his kind before?"

Kain shakes his head. "No, and it is a little strange to say the least, after all this time, to suddenly discover a secret society that no one knew about, apparently flourishing under our very noses. I take it, I am right in assuming you had not heard of them?" He adds.

"That's true, I had never heard of them, but if they do exist, they must have a leader, and somewhere a headquarters, mustn't they?"

"Undoubtedly. Though the interrogation of this human seems to have been conducted very crudely. I have no information on what he was doing here, or from whence he came." Kain frowns. "But aren't we getting a little off the subject here? Where," he asks impatiently, "is all this leading?

Jas takes a deep breath. He is either going to laugh at her idea, or, he is going to give it credence, and at this moment, she is not sure which of those two possibilities worries her more.

"Do you think it possible that this sect might have housed the ones who made me? That the person responsible for my birth might still be alive, even now? I know a little of your history, the circle guardians…"

"Were immortal, sustained by the pillars."

"And your priestess? She appears to have lived well beyond the normal human span."

Kain considers for a moment.

"That is true," he says, "mortals with great power sometimes attain the ability to prolong their lives."

"I was thinking where such a person might choose to hide. There is nowhere safe in the Empire, you hold all of Nosgoth and I think you would have discovered such a powerful entity by now."

"Agreed. "

"But what about the land once held by the Sarafan Lord, the land across the sea?"

"The Hylden city? It was destroyed, the demons banished from whence they came." He pauses considering the implications of her suggestion. "But there were humans there," he says, "and we have taken little interest since the founding of the Empire. All has, apparently, been quiet. But, if a human wished to hide, that place would definitely be a possibility."

"Then let me go there." She says. "I couldn't bear imprisonment, and I have no wish to die, either. Would you consider a third option? Would you consider banishment?

Kain considers for a moment.

"I might consider that," he says eventually. "But apart from escaping my judgement, what purpose would there be to your going?"

"To discover if that place gives shelter to my enemies, and if it does, to repay the kindness that has been bestowed upon me."

He smiles at her words. "Revenge is, of course, a common enough motive for action; and much of our history has been shaped by it, but not always for the best. Have you no better reason to offer?"

"The truth. I have been seeking it ever since I first awoke. How can I ever hope to be free of the past if I don't even know my own history?" She smiles grimly, "but after that, comes vengeance, and I'd be lying if I told you it didn't."

"I don't think you will be able to get free of your past quite so easily," he says. "I doubt any of us are ever truly free of it. However, I do understand your desire to loosen its grip." He pauses a moment, looking at her, as though he trying to gauge her conviction. "You will need to be very cautious," he says, after a minute, "and very determined, if you are to survive. You will be sure to find enemies in that place but I doubt you will find any allies."

She is a little surprised he seems so concerned. Wasn't he prepared to throw her into the abyss only a moment ago?

"So, you'll  let me go then?" She asks.

"I can get you there, if that is what you wish, but I cannot aid you once you are there, and I will not aid you in your return. The agreement is, that you are banished."

Jas considers his words for a moment and then turns to him with a shrug. "What's the alternative?" She asks. "Would you really have me stay? Would you trust me to simply watch as Dumah slaughter's his brother's clan and then lays the path for his own destruction? I know the reason why you're making plans for war, Kain, and it is not against the human vampire hunters. After Raziel's death, his clan will pose a greater threat to the Empire than those humans ever could. And, cold and calculating as you are, you're already prepared. Even now, you have Turel and Dumah armed and ready to meet the challenge and they don't even know it."

He does not reply to this, but then, he does not have to.

Ruthless.

"Having given your proposal my fullest consideration," he says, steering the conversation back to its original subject, "I am prepared to accept. Might I suggest we pay a visit to Melchiah before your departure? The Melchiahim keep records of all significant events in the Empire, and Melchiah has written a comprehensive history of the period before we rose to power. He had me draw maps and diagrams of the Hylden City, as well as giving an account of the time I spent there. Those records may prove to be of use to you."

"Thank you."

Kain gets up."I will call Dumah." He says. "No doubt, he will take an interest in ensuring you are properly prepared for this undertaking. Though, you will not inform him of our agreement, and neither shall I." He turns back towards her, offering a hand to help her from the chair. "Will you be well enough to do this now?" He asks. "I must say, I am a little concerned to find you are not completely healed."

"I'm feeling much better, thank you. Almost recovered, in fact. If I may feed before we leave, I think the healing may be speeded."

Kain nods his acquiescence and Jas departs for the pantries.

As she had hoped, the fresh infusion of blood aids her recovery. The pain from the injury subsiding at last, to a dull ache that she can ignore. Her mind, however, is in turmoil. What, exactly, has she has she talked herself into? And what else could she have done? She feeds distractedly, turning events over in her mind and wondering, if leaving Nosgoth is really what she wants to do. Although she came up with the idea herself, she still feels she has been manipulated and she can't help thinking that this is what Kain had wanted all along. When her hunger is sated, she sits awhile in the darkened hallway, brooding over their conversation and trying to work out exactly what his motives might be, but she comes to no conclusions. Finally, growing weary of her circling thoughts, she makes her way back to the throne-room, where Kain and Dumah are waiting for her.