This was not something Ryland had never heard before, either. He was childish, ignorant, he didn't take anything seriously, didn't know how the world worked... Kethaias was intent on his mood. Ryland could see why. The history he gave was sparse, but Ryland had a good imagination. He wondered how Kethaias had escaped. Had he simply been left for dead, but was too stubborn to follow his family? Had his rage sustained him all this time?<br/><br/><i>And you thought to make me laugh...</i><br/><br/>"Yet it seems to me that that is exactly what you need," he said. He brushed Kethaias' hair from his face, but left him a semblance of privacy by not leaning forward to see his face. The strands were silky between his fingers, fine, too long for him to reach the ends.<br/><br/>"I do not understand," he said, "why everyone believes the sum of understanding life, the only way to experience it as an adult, is to suffer. I cannot apologize if that makes me childish. I don't believe it retracts from my understanding of the world, either. I understand," he said, "how to live the life I want. That is more than some can say."<br/><br/>His fingers stopped. He rested his hand on Kethaias' arm, just before his shoulder, strands still trapped beneath it.<br/><br/>"But you're wrong. I do care. It is a sad tale. I'm sorry for your loss. I do not know the grief of such a tragedy, but I know what it is to miss someone who is gone who shouldn't be. I just don't know what it's like to let that define you."<br/><br/>Silence folded over them. Ryland put his other elbow on the arm of the couch, then leaned his cheek into his hand.<br/><br/>"Do you think I have not turned over and over in my head what your armies could do to Banque? Do you think I would have refused you outright for marriage if I thought you would kill us for it? Or invite you into my bed if I thought your frustration would overcome your senses to kill me? Make your assumptions about me if you like. I think mine of you are truer. So..."<br/><br/>He moved his hand from Kethaias' shoulder to his chin. He turned his head so that he was looking at him, Ryland's eyes half-lidded, serious.<br/><br/>"Trust me. Let go, for just a little while. Allow yourself to have a little fun, with me, with no expectations of what could or should happen. A man who sets down his burden once in a while to rest can carry it for longer. I am so unburdened, I can outrun anything. Let this child show you how to be happy, and those moments can shine like the moon and stars for you in the deepest dark. Besides," he said, giving Kethaias' chin a shake, "if you hurry out of Banque, everyone will think us more ferocious than you. Banque! The teacup kingdom.<i>Me.</i>Your reputation will simply never recover. We can't have that, if we're going to use our alliance with you to fend off armies. I'll wilt, standing on the side of the mountain like an omen. Have pity on me, won't you?"