"Can you help us?" Brisa asked as they backed away, satisfied with their investigation.
Brisa got the same focused look on her face as Eva as she listened to a voice only she could hear. Jason had no choice but to sit and wait, feeling like he was about to come out of his skin from nerves. Not for the first time, he wished he could hear the Kyren.
It was only because of his relationship with Eva and all that he knew about her that he was able to hold still and not interrupt.
Her faith wasn't easily earned, but she'd seen something in not only Brisa but the Kyren as well. For Eva's sake, he could swallow his pride and allow someone else control.
Even when it made him uncomfortable.
Jason shot a look at Brisa when the silence dragged on. She'd been quiet for too long. There should have been more talking by now.
That nasty feeling in his gut got stronger as he picked up on the standoffish manner with the which the Kyren watched him. That feeling was compounded as Danyon moved away.
"What's wrong?" Jason whispered.
Brisa shook her head once. "They're not listening."
"Can't you stop them?"
"We're different factions. They're not required to render aid."
Impatience and desperation filled Jason as he sensed his last hope slipping away. Or rather, about to fly off.
This couldn't be happening.
He scrambled off Caia, not quite sure what he was intending to do. Only that something needed to be done.
If Brisa couldn't, he would. Somehow.
Eva once said the Kyren responded best to sincerity. She'd also said you didn't have to be a "good" person to earn their respect. He hadn't fully understood then, but he did now.
Or at least he thought he did.
He lowered himself to his knees. If what they wanted was sincerity, he would bare his soul and pray they'd take pity on him.
"She would give up anything for those she considers hers. She'd sacrifice herself without another thought. Despite the fact humans can be such petty, small-minded creatures—myself included."
The Kyren paused in their departure, Polaris and another turning their heads to observe Jason.
He'd gotten their attention, but that wasn't enough. Jason wet his lips as he considered what he should say. What sequence of words that would show his sincerity and convince them Eva was worth helping?
He knew in his heart he wasn't worthy of the favor he was about to ask. Perhaps he would never be the type of man the Kyren would want to be close to. That was okay. He didn't need to be.
"Eva tried so hard to build a better tomorrow. For you—and us. You owe her."
"This is a human battle. Why must we involve ourselves?" Brisa translated.
"Because you know it won't stop with us. They've already targeted you once. Do you really want people who tried to enslave your children to rule?"
That was what Jason didn't get. The people who'd taken Eva hated mythologicals. In their minds, the only good mythological was dead or enslaved.
"Why not let you fight among yourselves? If the other side survives, they will be easy pickings for the rest of us."
There was a certain logic in that argument. A pragmatism that was hard to argue with.
"How well did that work for you last time?" Jason challenged. "This is a war for who we will become and the future of the Broken Lands. Do you really want it to be decided by the enemy?"
"Yourenemy."
