She shook her head again and felt the first tear form a path down her cheek. “I don’t want to talk now Valor,” she whispered. His expression was calm as he watched her and she realized this was the first time she had actually been alone with Valor. He seemed a different person away from Finn. She was used to seeing him as the gallant filled with smiles and usually a bit drunk. This man however was calm and thoughtful with a knowing look in his eyes.
He nodded slowly at her answer and steepled his fingers in front of his mouth. With another faint nod as if he understood completely, he lowered his hands and smiled gently at her. “I used to despise him for the way he manipulated people. I couldn’t stand to be around him at all and tried to kill him on at least three occasions. It wasn’t until Jail worked on my mind that I accepted Finn as a friend,” he said quietly. Her jaw dropped slightly at his words but he smiled bitterly again. “Yes, I knew Jail created my friendship with Finn. I spend one night in a cell with a bitter rival and a Mind mage and walk out the next day friends. I may act like an idiot most of the time, but I’m not one, Jala,” he said with a light chuckle.
“And that doesn’t bother you?” she asked quietly.
He shook his head slightly. “No, if Jail hadn’t done what he did, one of us would have been dead by now. Honestly I can’t say if it would have been Finn or me,” he answered quietly. “It wasn’t until I had been friends with him for a while that I understood him. He may try with every ounce of his soul to be Firym, Jala, but he was raised Avanti. There are some things that cannot be unlearned. To the Avanti, everything exists for manipulation. There is nothing sacred to those people. You have to look at Finn’s purpose, though.” He paused and watched her for a moment as if seeking confirmation that she was following his words.
“What do you mean, his purpose?” she asked quietly.
“Finn manipulates me all the time. I don’t always notice when he does, but there are times when I catch it. He can be quite smooth about it when he wants to be. Never once has he manipulated me for selfish reasons, though. It is always done in my best interest. So, consider what I’ve said, Jala, and you don’t have to tell me what he did or what he used against you, but ask yourself this. ‘Did he do it for his best interest, or yours?’” He watched her face and waited silently.
“He wants me to flee the city and abandon my district,” she said at last. While she would have never thought of seeking him out for this talk, perhaps Valor was the best one to understand. He was Finn’s closest friend and knew him better than anyone else, other than perhaps Sovann.
“I can understand why he wants that. He wants to protect you. I see your side of it as well, though. You are responsible for those people now,” Valor said quietly and smiled at her. “I support you in this. I won’t abandon the city either. My sister is here, as well as my niece and our honor demands that we do what we can to protect our people.” He smiled again and chuckled lightly. “Humor me, Jala. List five words to describe Finn. The first five that come to your mind.”
Jala considered the question for the briefest of moments. “Strong, charming, passionate, honest, brutal,” she said and cringed at the last word. It was the truth. though, and she knew it.
Valor nodded his head in agreement. “Close to the words I would have chosen. I noticed a distinct lack of the words compassionate, thoughtful, and honorable. I’ve asked you to define his nature. Jala. and you have done it better than most would have. Knowing his nature, how can you expect him to act outside of it? It isn’t in his nature to care about strangers. His strength is yours, as is his charm and his passion. To anyone that threatens that, he offers honest brutality.”
“I’ve never seen this side of you before, Valor,” she said, watching him with respect. In just a few short minutes he had taken her anger at Finn and replaced it with understanding. She felt her temper cool completely and the sick feeling fade from her stomach. While she still didn’t know what she should do, she was in a better mind set to decide.
“Thank Jail for that. I rarely show this side anymore,” he said with a resigned sigh. He looked at her for a long moment and she shifted slightly under his gaze. “Compassionate, honest, sweet, beautiful, and na?ve,” he said quietly and rose from his chair. “Milady, if I don’t get you back soon Finn will tear Neph apart and then the city,” he said as he pulled his cloak back on.
She nodded silently and rose from the bed. On impulse she caught his arm before he turned for the door. He looked down at her with a questioning look. “Thank you, Valor. I thought I needed to be alone to sort this out, but I was wrong,” she said quietly and released his arm.
“Whenever you have issues with him, find me, Jala. There is a very good chance I’ll support you in it. I love Finn like a brother, but he has a horrible habit of only being able to see his own view on things.” He started to turn toward the door again and then paused. Looking back at her he pulled the cloak hood down once more and met her gaze. “I don’t know what you have dealt with Hemlock for in the past, Jala, and I won’t ask for details. However, in the future come to me for that as well. If Finn won’t resolve whatever grievance you have that tempts you to seek an Assassin, I will. There is no need to sully yourself with the likes of that bastard. I will resolve the problem honorably.” He pulled the hood back up as he finished speaking and moved to the door before she could answer.
She started to follow and then paused as she saw Valor’s back stiffen as he stepped from the door. “Wait, stay back,” he warned, holding a hand up to stop her. With his other hand he threw back his cloak to free his sword.