He tugged experimentally at the cuffs around his wrists as he was led down the dimly lit hallway, passed a series of cells that contained only innocent souls and their only crime being that of the flock they had chosen with honor, and he stepped into the cell that was gestured to.
The messenger watched as his sentry reached through the bars with the keys, to undo the cuffs that had kept him hostage until they reached the cell he was meant for, and he curled his fingers around the wrists, pulling them forward against the bars that separated them.
"This will change everything."
The Captain looked up at him with saddened eyes, the cuffs clicked as the locking mechanism was released, and he rubbed at his wrists when they were pulled away, letting go of the other.
"I'm only following orders, Zaves."
"But you have a mind. You know he would never punish you for objecting!"
The Power stepped forward again, fingers curling around the bars, "You don't know that." He looked down the hall to ensure they were alone "He is broken, Zaves. The Fall and consuming war has broken him."
"It broke us all, Nisroc. He has no excuse."
"I dare not object to the orders given. We must all do what we need to survive."
Zaveriel rushed forward, hands reaching between the bars, his fingers curling around the collar of the Power "The only reason you survive is because he wouldn't dare get rid of his Powers. You live in privilege while everyone else suffers from a war we wanted no part in."
"We all suffer the same as everyone else."
He shook his head "You tell yourself that if it helps you get through the day. You do not suffer, you're cowards, I'm here because I dare to refuse to bow to a new master, you are here because you are following your orders."
"Zaves, I did not want to bring you here."
The messenger let go of the Power's collar and stepped back, gesturing towards his cell with his arms, a hard light coming to shine in his eyes.
"And yet, here, you delivered me. You're a coward living and breathing, Power."
The spitting of his title was thrown at him with venom and the Power flinched back from it as if he was struck by an unseen force. Something harsh set over him then, something darker, and he glared at the messenger with distaste.
"And you are where all traitors belong, Messenger."
And just like that, a friendship that had lasted eons was destroyed in a single breath, another casualty in a war that could have been avoided.