Convincing Kal

"Are you mad?" Exclaimed Loc.

"Yes," Kal responded calmly, "I am quite mad. I realized that long ago. Do you know how I know? Because I…am…torn. I cannot decide anything. There can be no hope against Daoc, yet I swore to kill him. You asked before why I never took my life; I don’t know why not.

"Something holds me back. It is not hope; I have none. Is it revenge? No. Revenge for me depends on hope, and as I just said, I have none."

"Nothing inside wants me alive, and nothing inside wants me dead. What am I to do, young one?" Kal asked feverishly, advancing on Loc menacingly, a wild look in his eyes.

Loc heard the readying of weapons behind him.

"Stop this madness!" Loc exclaimed.

A change seemed to come over Kal. He dropped his outstretched hand as he sat down cross-legged on the barren sand. His hooded head fell into his hands.

There was a long moment of silence, interrupted only by the sheathing of weapons and the soft blowing of the wind.

Rivulets of sand blew around Loc’s ankles as he stepped forward a pace.

"Perhaps you simply don’t want any more people to die," he said.

Kal’s head rose slightly as he responded.

"Of course I don’t want any more innocents to suffer. I am no evil man. But I cannot help you." He stood up and turned his back to the group.

Now Jahala stepped forward.

"You can help us, Kal," she said encouragingly, "you are the only one who can. Despite what you think, you are powerful.

"You would truly abandon your people to death?" Sor asked, with an edge to his voice.

Kal hung his head in thought. His arms crossed slowly, his right one cupping his chin. A million thoughts raced through Kal’s mind as he considered all angles of this new option.

"What will it be, Kal?" Asked Raos, his deep voice resounding of the surrounding rocks. There was another long silence.

Kal’s hair slid farther down as back as his head raised. His hands, now clenched with a new vigor, fell to his sides. His cloak rustled slightly as he turned around slowly. His eyes, burning with defiance, betrayed his answer.

"I will do it."

"Let evil despair," Loc said softly.