The Act of Duplicity [General Kirigan]

twenty-two

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    Kirigan clenched his jaw and his eyes darkened more if that was possible as he looked away from staring at the tabletop and turned his head, Nataliya coming into his view. She stood there silently and waited for him to speak which took forever and she didn't know if he was dragging the silence out on purpose or he really had no idea how to start.

    What exactly is everything that he still has to let her know? By his expression, it looked a lot and on closer examination, Nataliya was sure that this time he's not going to lie or hide anything else. At first, she didn't know if she was even prepared to hear it but then it hit her that it was better to know than to blindly follow him because she couldn't do that much longer. In the midst of all drama, she fell back into her old routine of following assignments and doing her job better than she needed making her almost forget that she still really deeply wanted that leadership position. Something changed in the past couple of weeks as she felt like she found out more about Kirigan than she ever did and during that late-night talk when he first asked her to trust him she gained that little bit of respect back in him.

    ''The Stag is an ancient amplifier, a very powerful one and once we have it, it will allow us to safely pass through the Fold going to West Ravka.'' Started Kirigan.

    Nataliya furrowed her eyebrows a little as that is not how she remembered the plan to be set before. She quickly picked up on what Kirigan was saying. ''So no destroying the Fold?'' she asked even though she already knew the answer.

    Kirigan stood straighter, a proud look overcoming his features as he gave the slightest of nods as Nataliya. ''Even if we wanted to destroy it, I doubt the Stag alone is powerful enough for the big mass of darkness that makes up the Fold. And we won't destroy it, the Fold is our weapon, our gain, a plus on our side and an excellent bargaining material.'' Explained Kirigan while pacing around the table slowly.

    Nataliya noted how he used all pronouns in the plural, everything was 'we' and not just about him. Something still didn't click right in Nataliya's mind and she let that show with her expression. ''How exactly do you intend to use the Fold as a weapon?''

    A wicked smile replaced the serious expression on Kirigan as he stopped walking and turned to look at her. ''We extend it. Our people will be safe in the light but we make Zlatan and the others bow in front of us by pushing the Fold on them. Sacrifices are crucial.''

    Nataliya widened her eyes and she grabbed the top of the table to keep her balance. ''You intend to murder the innocent to prove a point?''

    ''To establish power,'' Kirigan answered as if he had the answer ready to be said anytime.

    Nataliya stared at the ground trying to wrap her head around the situation and she didn't know what to think. Her lips kept parting and closing and she certainly looked like a fish out of the water and couldn't get her surprised reaction under control.