Kiera looked at Evelyn, astonished by her callous words. She'd known her friend to be a little arrogant, but this was something different. This was the type of attitude A'Ran had been forced to deal with since his parents were murdered. While she could never fully understand what it was to have the weight of a planet on her shoulders for fifteen years, her resentment toward A'Ran's rigid sense of duty began to thaw as Evelyn went on.
"We've left the capital city for the other side of the planet. Can you imagine? Romas is off fighting all the time. It's just … god, it's so awful, Kiera."
"Is that why you're here?" Kiera asked, trying hard to control the anger building within her. "To escape the war?"
"Not exactly," Evelyn said. Her gaze returned to the painting of A'Ran. "It's for a favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"Well, I think A'Ran went crazy partially because we took you. I've got a shuttle waiting for me. But, I thought, if you would come out and talk to him, see if you can dissuade him, it might help. Romas said I was crazy with hormones, but I spoke to someone on the Council who thought it was a good idea. I guess they told A'Ran you were killed, not taken. Was the nail in the coffin, no pun intended," Evelyn joked weakly.
Kiera's heart leapt at the information. She'd never allowed herself to ask why A'Ran didn't come for her. She hadn't been able to face the possibility he might not want her or worse-- he was dead. She was making it day to day telling herself neither of those things was true.
"I know it's a lot to ask after your … ordeal."
"You want me to go to the shuttle and talk to him over the communicator?" she asked.
"Yes. You don't have to do anything else."
Kiera rose and turned away, wondering how her friend was so clueless while standing in front of her painting of A'Ran.
"You'll have to take me to him," she said. "He can't be reasoned with over the viewer."
"I wouldn't do that to you."
"Do what?" Kiera asked, at the end of her patience. "I told Romas not to bring me back here! You dragged me to space, Evelyn, and you told him to drag me back here. For once, I want to make a decision about my own life. If you want my help, you'll take me to him!"