With the winter months came indoor lessons, which focused more on academic pursuits. Kain also learned the histories of other nations, and the details of how their relationships with Baron had evolved. With most nations, like Damcyan and Mysidia, Baron had a bloody history of territorial disputes that eventually settled into a treaty and trade agreements.
Often, the Red Wings were dispatched to deal with menacing monsters in the skies over Damcyan and Mysidia, shooting them down from a distance with Cid's newly upgraded mounted cannons. Zus were particularly troublesome around Mysidia, often harassing pilgrims who made the journey to Mt. Ordeals. In exchange for aid, Mysidia offered knowledge in the form of experienced mages to train Baron's new mage recruits; Damcyan provided natural resources such as glass, or rare parts from exotic monsters that could be used in highly specialized potion-craft.
Although Kain was engrossed in his lessons, he found himself watching Rosa; he slowly realized how much she watched him, too, based on how often he noticed her doing so. Their eyes would meet; at first, Kain would immediately look away, and so would Rosa, often blushing Eventually, both Kain and Rosa grew less shy – they looked more freely and held each other's gaze when either of them noticed that they were being watched.
Kain became aware of Rosa's attention toward him at random points during the day, sometimes while he studied in the library, other times as he completed drills in the training yard. Occasionally, the attention left him flustered and fumbling through his task; more than once, he dropped a weapon mid-spar.
Kain interpreted Rosa's attention toward him as blanket permission to watch her too. He saw her prowess on the archery field; he noticed how her arms had become lean and muscled from countless hours of practice; and he observed how sharp and critical her eye could be as she released an arrow, rarely missing her target. Although Rosa was also aware of Kain's attention, she was considerably more graceful – she never reacted awkwardly or stumbled in the manner that Kain often did. Sometimes she did acknowledge him, meeting his eyes and offering a secret smile that seemed only intended for Kain.
Each smile simultaneously thrilled and worried Kain, so that he wondered what would happen the next time they were alone together. Terrified by the prospect, Kain threw himself into his lessons and training with a new energy and zeal that left him too busy to ponder romance. A few times, Rosa almost had him cornered, but Kain deftly avoided her by claiming that Cecil was waiting for him.
Their shy flirtation continued, blissfully hidden from the rest of the world, until one day when Cecil innocently asked, "Does Rosa seem different to you?"
Cecil and Kain sat in Baron Castle's mess hall, seated across from each other. Kain had devoured his food, but Cecil picked at his plate, barely eating anything while he was lost in thought. This was not unusual for Cecil – he was often prone to daydreaming, in which he idly stared off into the distance with unfocused eyes. But today seemed different, with Cecil looking more distracted than thoughtful.
"What do you mean?" Kain asked, feeling a new anxiety.
Cecil shrugged absently, uncharacteristically unsure. "I don't know," Cecil said with a vague frown, as he struggled to articulate his apparent concern. "She seems… I don't know, older, I guess."
"Older?"
"Yeah," Cecil offered another indecisive shrug. "I'm not sure. I thought it was just her finally becoming a cadet and accepting that she's a whole year older than when we were last together." Cecil poked at his plate, his frown deepening; the expression looked odd on the usually cheery Cecil. "But it's more than that."
"I haven't noticed," Kain lied, desperately uncomfortable and hoping Cecil wouldn't pick up on it.
"No?" Cecil asked, then sighed. "Perhaps it is nothing."
"Perhaps," Kain agreed, trying to sound casual. He cleared his throat, then spoke again, "I'm doing my first Jump from an airship tomorrow," Kain announced, eager to change the subject.
"I know," Cecil replied, and he was his old self again, grinning with his own cleverness. "I'm going too."
"What do you mean?" Kain asked, now confused. Only dragoons and the Red Wings crew operating the ship attended the cadets' practice Jumps; bystanders were not allowed.
Cecil's boyish grin widened. "Cid persuaded pilot to bring me along."
Kain was silent for a long moment, taking in the meaning of Cecil's words. While it was rare for a third-year cadet to be Jumping with the dragoons, it was absolutely unheard of for a second-year cadet to be shadowing a pilot. Prospective pilots were handpicked from newly recruited soldiers, and only Baron's finest completed the extensive training to become official Red Wings pilots.
"Are you being groomed? To be a Red Wings pilot?" Kain asked, but it came out as unintentional accusation, sounding harsh. "Is this the king's doing?"
Cecil looked surprised by Kain's tone, blinking in confusion. "No…" he said slowly, now watching Kain with a wary eye. "The king hasn't pushed me in any particular direction, only encourages me to keep an open mind. He tells me I must test myself and see where my natural strengths are, and that knowledge will help guide me." It sounded like a lecture that Cecil had heard more than once. "Shadowing a pilot was Cid's idea. I've been spending a lot of time helping him with the airships," Cecil hesitated a second, then continued in a hurt voice, "…. while you've been with the dragoons."
It wounded Kain to hear Cecil sound so defensive, as if he needed to explain how he spent his time away from Kain. Cecil made no such demands, Kain realized with a new wave of guilt. "Cecil, I'm sorry," Kain said, the words feeling desperately inadequate.
"No, it's okay," Cecil said, still sounding small and dejected.
"No, really," Kain insisted, trying to seem light and enthusiastic, "Being a pilot, that's a big deal. Is that what you want? If the king didn't have an opinion?"
Cecil looked thoughtful as he considered Kain's question, then nodded slowly. "Yes," Cecil said, sounding in awe that he was even able to say it. "Perhaps I'll be skilled enough, and the king might let me keep this for myself. I could serve Baron well in the Red Wings, I think."
"He is your king, but not your master," Kain said, echoing Albert's ominous warning. "For once, you could tell him what you want."
Cecil shook his head. "It's easy for you to say, you have the privilege of choice." He did not sound resentful, only matter-of-fact. "Whether it's a request or an order, I must do as His Majesty wishes."
Kain considered this statement for a long moment, then quietly spoke, "You know, if you ever wanted to tell the king no, I would support you."
Cecil looked surprised at this, his eyes widening. "You would risk that?" he asked, sounding incredulous.
"I would," Kain said, then added, "… for you."
Cecil seized Kain's hands suddenly, holding them in his own on the table between them. "Thank you," Cecil said, squeezing Kain tightly. "I love you, my brother."
It was the first time Cecil had named Kain so, the first time he dared trust words to describe the feelings between them. The words simultaneously made Kain's heart sink and soar, and he found himself terribly conflicted. How could something both invigorate and disappoint him?
Kain remembered Cecil's excitement about being raised as brothers when they first met, and wondered if Cecil had been nursing this hope that they would be close since that day. Kain wondered, too, at his own conflicting feelings, and how else he would have preferred Cecil to describe their relationship.
The question alone made Kain suddenly uncomfortable, so he pushed it aside, determined not to think about it any longer.
The next day found Cecil and Kain boarding an airship together. Kain stood with the other prospective cadets, while Cecil disappeared with the pilot. Kain wondered if Cecil would be watching his Jump attempt – he was unsure whether that possibility made the attempt easier or harder.
Filled with nervous energy, Kain found it easy to compensate for the tilting floor beneath his feet by merely shifting his weight back and forth, depending on how the ship moved. Kain fared better than most of the other cadets, who stumbled and scrambled for something to hold onto. One cadet looked over the railing at the rapidly shrinking Baron Castle below and promptly vomited on himself. Kain vaguely wondered how much vomit would still on the cadet's clothing after he finished the Jump – if he Jumped at all.
It's not that far up, Kain reasoned, taking his own peek over the edge. They were still low enough that Kain could see people milling about in an open field west of Baron, but they were too high for him to distinguish individuals. Rosa had promised to come, and Kain wondered if she stood with the gathering of white mages on standby to help any cadet who injured themselves in the landing. Kain looked around at the other dozen cadets, all clustered by the railing to peer down, and he wondered which of them would have broken legs before the end of the day.
A dragoon's first Jump was a bit of a misnomer, it was more of a dragoon's first fall. It was the first serious test of prospective cadets to see which of them could apply the theory of Jumping in actual practice, helping to determine who could be taught and therefore deserved to continue dragoon training.
Learning to be a dragoon involves understanding that your fall is inevitable, Albert had told them all on the previous day, True dragoons find a way to fall so that they always get back up again.
The ship found a comfortable altitude and maintained it, hovering easily in place over the open field.
The cadets milled about, steadier on their legs now. Some still peered nervously over the side, while others were engaged in their own private preparations, either meditating or praying fervently. Kain just watched, unsure if anything would help alleviate his anxiety in this moment.
A Red Wings soldier called out the first prospective cadet's name; Kain was relieved it was not his. The young man, a fifth-year cadet who had been praying quietly, stepped forward. He seemed calm and almost serene as he made his way to the side of the ship, where part of the railing had been removed expressly for this training. Without hesitation, he simply stepped off the edge of the ship as if there were a lowered gangway where his foot would land. Instead, he plummeted. Kain, and the other waiting cadets, collectively looked over the edge at the falling figure, holding their breath as it approached the ground. From this distance, they couldn't see or hear enough to know whether the cadet had landed safely, but several of the Red Wings soldiers let out a cheer.
One soldier laughed at the cadets' obvious confusion. "If the white mages don't rush over, it's a successful Jump. If the whole group comes running – well then, you're in trouble."
The next name was called, and another prospective cadet stepped forward. This one, another fifth-year boy, looked more worried than the first, throwing back doubtful glances as he walked over to the open railing. He hesitated at the edge longer, before closing his eyes and throwing himself forward. At first, they could hear his frantic screams, but as he fell further away, the sound was lost to the swirling wind.
He hit the ground and several white figures ran across the open field. The soldiers did not cheer this time, but several did exchange coins.
Kain looked away, feeling suddenly ill that their success or failure had become a game for the soldiers.
Then, Cecil was on the deck, striding confidently toward Kain. Cecil clasped Kain by the shoulders and pulled him in for an unexpected hug. "Good luck," Cecil said beside Kain's ear, which prompted Kain to tighten the embrace, squeezing Cecil. Cecil tried to pull away, but found Kain's embrace too tight, which made him laugh. Kain loosened his grip and Cecil disentangled himself from Kain.
"You look nervous," Cecil remarked. "Don't be. You will land soundly, as you always do."
"Easy for you to say," Kain replied flippantly. "You're not Jumping off an airship today."
"No, I'm not," Cecil agreed easily, casting an uncertain glance over the side. "For which I'm extremely grateful." He looked back up to Kain and smiled, full of light and cheer, the wind tugging at his silver hair. There was something new about Cecil like this, Kain thought, unsure whether it was the freedom of the blue sky around him or the taste of fresh air in his lungs that made Cecil look so alive now. "Rosa's waiting for you on the ground," Cecil said, breaking Kain's reverie.
"Cadet Highwind?" asked a Red Wings soldier. Cecil waved sheepishly before taking off, navigating the deck easily as if this were his hundredth airship trip instead of the first. Kain nodded to the soldier, who continued, "It's your turn."
Kain swallowed hard, willing down his fear and anxiety, then followed the soldier to the ship's other side. At the edge, Kain inched over to peer down one more time, confirming just how far up he was. Suddenly, he was dizzy and needed to close his eyes.
"I've got money riding on you," the soldier said gruffly.
"Landing safe, I hope?" Kain asked, willing himself to steadiness. The world seemed to right itself, the vertigo clearing from his eyes.
The soldier let out a short, barking laugh. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
For a long, painful moment, there was no sound but the whistling wind around the ship. Kain looked back into the ship, wondering if he could spot Cecil or if Cecil was watching now. Then, he looked back to the ground, wondering if Rosa would watch or if she would guard her eyes.
Kain inhaled deeply, steadying himself… Before he could talk himself out of it, he stepped off the ship and into the open air.
For a precarious handful of seconds that felt like an eternity, Kain fell without control, his limbs spiraling wildly as he tried to right himself and get his bearings. The wind screamed in his ears, shrill and demanding, trying to keep him off balance as he fell.
Then, something soft in the wind whispered, beckoning Kain. Still falling too fast, Kain angled toward it, and found a new current of wind picking him up, dramatically slowing his descent. He rode the current easily, finding it natural to follow its winding direction, not directly to the ground but in a circuitous path. There were stories about dragoons sometimes hearing voices in the wind, thought to be blessed by the Wind Crystal itself, to help guide them safely to the ground. Kain tried to shake the eerie feeling that he might have heard something divine and focused only on controlling his descent.
As the ground rapidly approached, becoming larger below him, Kain braced his knees and prepared for impact. When Kain landed, a terrible vibration rattled up from his ankles to his knees, causing him to cry out. He stumbled, then found his feet and straightened. There was a tense silence as the gathered dragoons and white mages waited to see if Kain had completed his Jump without hurting himself.
"I'm… I'm okay," Kain announced, sounding just a bit unsure.
Despite the uncertainty, a cheer went up. Kain saw someone break away from the white mage group in a run towards him. It took him a stunned moment to realize it was Rosa, dressed in trainee robes, just before she launched herself at him, hugging him tightly.
"Thank goodness you're all right," she said, muffled into his chest.
"I'm all right," Kain echoed back, then looked up to see Joanna's narrowed glare. Reluctantly, he released Rosa, but instead of moving away, she grabbed his hand and held it tightly.
"Meet me back at the castle," Rosa suggested, casting a glance back at her mother, who was starting to approach.
"Where?" Kain asked as he took an unsure step back, watching Joana warily. He had been careful not to cross Joanna's path for the last few years, as it usually resulted in Rosa suddenly being unable to see him for days or even weeks.
"In the armory," Rosa said quickly, turning away from Kain. "It's far from the infirmary and all the soldiers will be in town celebrating tonight." She didn't wait for a reply, quickly running back to Joanna to prevent a confrontation.
Kain arrived first and was surprised to find that he was more nervous than during his earlier Jump from the airship. He paced back and forth in front of the armory door until Rosa arrived. She walked quickly, still dressed in trainee robes, with her head down as if she were in a hurry. As she approached the armory door, she paused to look back over her shoulder and confirm no one was watching. Kain wondered why she was so secretive, his stomach doing a nervous flip in response.
Satisfied that no one was around, Rosa turned back, and her serious expression evaporated when she saw him. "Kain," she said with a smile.
"Where's Cecil?" Kain asked. "And why are you in trainee robes?"
Rosa looked confused for a moment, then answered, "He'll be on the ship for a few more hours. The pilot wanted to take Cecil on a proper flight around Baron's lands. And my mother wouldn't let me come to your Jump unless it was with the mages – she was quite difficult about it." She approached the door, opened it, then cast a glance back at Kain. "C'mon," she said, before slipping inside.
Puzzled by her behavior, Kain followed, also looking once behind him to make sure no one else saw, then followed her inside.
Rosa was wandering the aisles of Red Wings armor, occasionally pausing to look one up and down. She didn't glance up as Kain entered, only softly murmured, "You're avoiding me."
"I am not," Kain countered, but he knew that she spoke the truth.
"You've been using Cecil as a shield," Rosa continued, sounding matter-of-fact rather than accusatory. "Why don't you want to be alone with me? We used to do things together, just the two of us, but not anymore."
"I'm not…" Kain started to protest, then shook his head. "I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair nervously. "Because you're different now," he finally admitted, avoiding her eyes and staring at his feet. "And that terrifies me."
"Me?" Rosa gave a small laugh. "The fearless Kain Highwind is scared of me?"
"I don't know what you want from me," Kain said. "You give me these looks, full of questions and promises."
"You give me the same looks," Rosa said pointedly.
Kain sighed, unsure of what to say next, but the muffled sound of nearby voices from outside interrupted whatever thought he had. He and Rosa exchanged panicked looks, then scrambled away from the door, toward the back of the room. Kain wasn't sure when it happened, but suddenly Rosa's hand was in his as he guided her through the aisles of armor and weapons racks.
Somehow, as if by some miracle from the Crystals, the back door to the dragoons' private armory was open. Inspired, Kain led Rosa toward the door, clicking it closed behind them just as the armory's front door rattled open.
Currently unoccupied, the inside of the dragoons' armory was dark without lamp light, only illuminated by thin rays of winter sun from the armory's single window. But Kain knew the interior well enough to navigate. Still gripping Rosa's hand tightly in his, he led her away, winding through the small rows of armor and weapons. They moved slowly, stepping lightly to avoid making any sounds. Even Rosa seemed to be holding her breath.
Crouching together, they came to a stop, with several rows of armor between them and the door. It seemed to be no coincidence when Kain looked up and saw his father's blue armor watching them, silent in its judgment. Kain remembered his father's warning, You may start noticing girls in a new way. That's a normal thing, but it's different with Rosa. Kain looked down at their entwined fingers and was struck with a sudden wave of guilt. Like my sister! young Kain chimed in cheerfully, and Kain's guilt deepened to shame.
"Rosa, I…" He started to say, intending to tell her that he couldn't play a part in this new game of hers, and that things must go back to how they were. He was fifteen and she was only thirteen, far too young to be distracted from their academic and military pursuits. It was the lecture Kain was sure Richard would have given if he were still alive.
Kain turned toward Rosa, to say all the reasons they couldn't continue, but as he opened his mouth, Rosa leaned in and kissed him. It seemed somehow more scandalous there hiding in the dark – far more serious than their previous, comparatively chaste, kiss. Rosa seemed emboldened by the encouraging darkness, touched Kain's jaw with her fingers and pulled him in closer, then parted her lips against his.
It was a strange, thrilling feeling, one that filled up his chest and belly, compelling him onward. Shy and uncertain at first, then encouraged by the gentle pressure of her fingers on his jaw, he kissed her back. It was a slow, careful kiss, as if he feared she would break if he pushed too hard. He cupped his hand around the back of her neck, his fingers threading through her hair. He was surprised at her softness, of at her hair between his fingers and her mouth against his; he wondered where else she might be soft, then felt his blood roaring in his ears in response.
"Rosa…" he gasped as he broke off, in sudden need of air that he began gulping in greedily.
"Kain," Rosa sighed his name.
"Kain?" asked a new voice, deep and booming.
Kain and Rosa startled apart, both abruptly wiping their mouths and looking up guiltily.
Albert stood at the end of aisle, his arms crossed over his chest. Even in the low light, Kain could see the dragoon's furrowed brow and frown, along with the disappointment in Albert's eyes. Kain's stomach immediately dropped.
"Albert, I—"
"Miss Farrell," Albert interrupted, instead addressing Rosa. "Please take a moment to compose yourself and leave. Do not let me catch you in here again or I'll be having a serious conversation with your mother."
"Yessir," Rosa muttered, embarrassment coloring her entire face a deep red. With an apologetic look back at Kain, Rosa straightened her robes and rapidly departed, rushing past Albert as she left.
"I'm not going to lecture you about affairs of the heart." Albert sounded surprisingly kind, despite the circumstances. "I know telling teenagers not to have feelings is a useless endeavor, so I won't waste your time or mine. However, I will state two things."
"Sir?" Kain prompted when Albert lapsed into silence.
Albert looked away, his eyes now on Richard's armor. "When you work together, you must consider how your relationship with one person will affect the others on your team. Will there be hurt feelings? Will there be jealousy, or resentment?"
Kain immediately thought of Cecil and their conversation on the previous day. Cecil was already noticing a change in their dynamic. Would Kain's emerging flirtation with Rosa somehow turn the trio's friendship into something else? How would Cecil really feel if he knew?
Kain shrugged, trying to dismiss those troublesome thoughts.
But Albert was watching Kain closely and shook his head at Kain's indifference. "If you were in a situation where you had to rescue her, or the future King of Baron, who would you choose?"
The unfairness of the question prickled Kain, making him too uncomfortable to closely examine any potential answer. The idea of losing either Rosa or Cecil made Kain's stomach heavy with dread. He remembered Cecil dangling from the roof's edge, and how close he had been to never experiencing Cecil's brilliant presence in his life. Could Kain ever let go in that type of situation if it meant saving Rosa?
"You don't have to answer me now," Albert continued, sounding gentler now. "But you may have to answer it to yourself, someday. And that will be the hardest decision of your life, if you continue down this path with Rosa."
"Albert?" Kain asked, sounding small now, desperate to change the subject. Albert nodded, so Kain continued, "You said you had two things to say." He was hesitant to mention it, but knew Albert would remember later and be more angry if it festered overnight instead of just saying it now.
"Oh," Albert sighed, then looked suddenly cross again. "Never bring her, or anyone else, in the armory again. You may have passed your first Jump, but you're not a dragoon yet, and you might not ever be if I catch you behaving like this again." Albert paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. Seeing Kain's pained expression, Albert continued, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir," Kain said promptly.
"Now," Albert said, suddenly sounding more dejected. "The King wishes to see you. I don't suggest letting him wait much longer, I wasted enough time trying to find you."
"What does he want with me?" Kain asked, feeling a new fear creep up his spine, although he realized he should have expected King Odin to want to see him today.
"The same as always, I fear," Albert replied with a new frown. "He will try to persuade you to a new path."
"Why?" Kain asked, finally voicing the question he'd been too afraid to ask until now. "Why is it so important to him that I'm not a dragoon?"
Albert didn't answer for a long moment, letting silence fill the armory again, growing large and awkward between them. Kain felt his anxiety rising with each second that ticked by, until Albert mercifully spoke again, "Truthfully, I do not know, although I do have my suspicions."
Kain said nothing, waiting for Albert to continue his thought.
But Albert didn't, instead waving dismissively. "Most likely, he is a king invested in the success of his charges. Go on, Kain, without worry. Only focus on whatever path you want for your life."
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Kain asked.
Albert looked surprised at this. "No," he answered with a shake of his head. "Do not listen to an old soldier's ramblings."
"Are you sure?" Kain asked, unable to shake the feeling that Albert was hiding something monumental from him.
This prompted a frown from Albert. "Go, Kain, and do not borrow trouble."
Somehow, this advice didn't alleviate Kain's concern as he made his way to the throne room.
Surprisingly, King Odin wasn't in the throne room, but a guard redirected Kain to the King's personal quarters. Kain had never been in the royal wing of the castle before and felt a budding nervousness as he followed the guard through it.
Upon admission to Odin's inner quarters, Kain found Odin in his personal study, seated behind a large desk. Kain had expected the king's quarters to be extravagant, but it was a practical room, with neat bookshelves and tidy stacks of paper, meant for actual work rather than flashy display. After Odin gestured at the chair across from the desk, Kain sat and expectantly watched for any indication of why Odin had summoned him.
"Congratulations," Odin finally said, watching Kain with a heavy gaze. "I heard you did very well on your first Jump."
"Thank you, sir," Kain replied quickly, knowing this was not the reason he was here.
"I think we misunderstand each other." As Odin spoke, he leafed through a large book on the desk in front of him. He landed on a specific page and paused, looking at it carefully. Then, he looked up again to consider Kain. "I am not against your personal ambitions," Odin continued, "I only wish that you would consider all of your options."
"What do you mean, sir?" Kain asked.
Instead of answering, Odin turned the book around and slid it across the desk for Kain to see. On the page was an illustration of a figure in black armor, with spikes emerging from the knees, shoulders, and elbows. It looked evil and wicked, Kain thought, fighting the urge to look away from it.
"What is this?" Kain asked, unsure of what it had to do with him.
"A dark knight," King Odin answered, with a surprising amount of reverence. "It's a magic that has been lost for generations, but I recently acquired this tome from Fabul. It is rumored that the last dark knight, a man named Leonhart, lived for a time and left behind some dark knight relics." He touched the top of the page; Kain was surprised to see Odin smiling. "You could be a dragoon, Kain. And you would be a good one, one of the best. You're even a likely candidate for Commander, after Albert retires."
Kain felt himself puffing up with pride at the king's words.
"But…" Odin continued, either unaware or ignoring whatever effect his words might be having on Kain. "You could be so much more. You could be Baron's first dark knight. You could start a whole new wing of our military and lead us into a new age."
"What sort of magic is this?" Kain asked as he leaned forward, puzzling over the picture.
The king flipped to the next page, where there were several diagrams of exposed forearms and dagger points. After a long moment, Kain realized that the diagrams were instructions for where to cut on the arm. One illustration showed the result: a river of crimson sheeting down, painting the illustrated flesh red.
"Blood magic," King Odin said with a strange awe in his voice. When Kain looked up to meet the king's eyes, he saw a new greedy glint that was unnerving. "You would be unrivaled."
"No!" Kain exclaimed, more forcefully than he intended.
Odin looked surprised at Kain's outburst, but quickly mastered himself and assumed a neutral expression again. "I haven't declared an heir yet for a reason." He paused, letting those words and their meaning sink it, then added, "Would you at least consider this proposal?"
Everything inside of Kain screamed at him to shout NO and run away, far from Odin and this book full of dark promises. Instead, Kain drew in a deep breath to steady himself, then calmly stated, "I have the blood of dragoons in my veins. I will not hesitate to spill it for Baron, but…" He cast an unsure look at the open book between them. "But not like that."
"I see," Odin said tersely, closing the large tome with a dull thud. He nodded to the door and spoke, his already deep voice somehow sounding more ominous. "Go, Kain Highwind, and know that I will not make this offer again."
As Kain went to the door, Odin's warning followed him.
"Pray that you made the right choice."