A Man Made Fool

Kai sat behind Jay on their horse- apparently, they had only brought three on the rescue- as they ran through the empty streets of the city. Cole spurred his horse forward on their left, and Kyle ran on foot on their right. Kai held Jay's midsection for support; his mind was still a bit fuzzy from his time in the dungeon. And though he could now feel Moonsong's gentle thrumming against his hip- a sound he never thought he'd miss as much as he had- he could not shake that feeling of dread. The feeling something was about to go very wrong.

Truth be told, he liked Malian. He was a loyal, kind, and fair man. To think that Kaytake was going to let him die made Kai hate him all the more. And the revelation that Malian had refused to lay the blame on the one who deserved it- at the expense of his own life- made that hate sink even deeper. What Lord deserves that kind of loyalty?

"Do you... You know who actually poisoned the King, don't you?" Malian had asked.

"Yes."

"And you're not going to expose him, right?"

Why? Why did Malian care that much? It wasn't right.

"Masks up," Cole said. "We'll be there in a minute." The air rushed past them so fast it was difficult to hear each other without shouting.

"Just let me fly there," Jay said, pulling his scarf around his nose and mouth with his left hand. "I'll get him. It'll be quick, no one will even see me."

"And how much power do you have left for a stunt like that?" Cole asked.

Jay was silent for several hoofbeats before answering. "Not enough, probably."

"Now you see?" Cole said. "That's why we conserve power, you cretin."

Jay offered no defense for himself. And Kai found himself reluctantly siding with Cole- Jay was far too frivolous with his powers.

"Umm...I think Raindancer wants me to share this poem with you," Cole said. "You guys okay with that?"

"Sure," Kyle said, speaking for the first time, breathless. "Spill it."

Cole sighed- an action nearly lost in the wind, hoofbeats, and sounds of crowded people ahead- and began.

A man of peace may swing ahead,
A man of war may stand beside,
A man of knowledge may not be wise,
A man made fool may not be so.

"But what do you think it means?" Cole asked.

"Well, obviously, Malian is the man of peace," Kyle said.

"All right. Yeah. So who's the man of war?"

"I'd say Garmadon," Kyle said. "His actions are far from peaceful."

"The man of knowledge would be Lord Julien," Jay said. "He is the most learned, to be sure. He was Cyrus' mentor."

"So that leaves the fool," Kai said.

"No," Cole said. "The man made fool. We can presume that he 'may not be so'."

"So, assuming that everyone in that poem is on the platform in the Square," Kai said, "it's a random Guard."

"Kai," Cole said, scowling. "It's your father."

"No," Kai said. "Kaytake is a fool."

"But-"

"There is no room for discussion," Kai said bitterly. "He is a fool. A selfish, arrogant fool who cares more about his public appearance than his own children."

"Whoa, ease up on the grip there, Kai," Jay said. "I need to breathe."

Kai loosened his arms. Subject changer. I need to change the subject...

As Kai felt Jay's ribs, he began to understand why Cole had put them on a horse together. Jay was skinny as a birch sapling, and probably half the weight. Their weight combined was more than manageable for their horse.

"You need to eat more, Jay," Kai said. "This can't be healthy. You're like a twig."

"Can we not talk about my weight right now?" Jay sounded angry and embarrassed. "Pick on someone your own size."

The irony of words sometimes.

"You should be my size," Kai said. "I think Merv has larger biceps than you."

"That was uncalled for."

"Slightly," Kai agreed. As they got closer to the Square, he began to hear more than just regular execution-crowd clamors. This crowd, Kai could tell from a distance, was making a ruckus caused by alarm, not excitement or curiosity.

A voice shouted at them just ahead, pulling him from the disturbing thought. "Hey! Took you goons long enough."

"Pixal," Jay said, looking down at the noblewoman and her companion, Varasach. "What a pleasant surprise."

They pulled their horses to a stop beside the two women, and Cole immediately dismounted and pulled Varasach into a hug.

"What are you doing here?" Kyle asked.

"The better question is, what were you guys not doing over there when Malian was rescued?" Pixal retorted. "By competent, efficient men, might I add. Not you."

"Ouch." Jay slid from the saddle, favoring his prosthetic leg, and grabbed his cane from its place in the saddlebag. "You could have tried to dice those words."

"But why? I'm a frank woman." Pixal jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. "Kaytake and his men pulled an impressive rescue hardly two minutes ago. I decided to come and inform you guys instead of following him. You're welcome."

Thinking of Lloyd twisted Kai's guts, so he averted his thoughts again.

"So you have no idea where Kaytake is?" Kai asked.

"He went north, up the highway," Pixal said. "It was brilliant; on top of the twenty or so soldiers he'd had in the open, there were a dozen hiding in the buildings surrounding the Square. Right when the Guard was about to pull the lever for the gallows, Kaytake's men sprung out and- without bloodshed, might I add- took control of the platform and freed Malian. Garmadon's having a fit, trying to get those crowds under control. He can't get a proper team of Guards to pursue the perpetrators."

"Mmm," Varasach said sleepily, leaning on Cole for support. "Lots of...crazy."

Jay laughed a little, but Kai was not swayed. "Let's go find him, then," Kai said, hand on his Blade. "He has a lot of explaining to do."