Kalab wondered if she really was going to go. He wouldnâ€™t stop her. He had made her a promise, and he couldnâ€™t break his word to her. But he fiercely hoped not. Sensing that if he said anything while she thought this over, sheâ€™d leave just to spite him, he kept silent. Watching her, waiting for a decision. And while he couldnâ€™t trust that her asking the question meant she would go through with any of it, or even that she would go with him, he could hope. Curiosity was as good a start as any; better than most. â€œNo, I donâ€™t think so. He is very old, very strong, and very clever. I also think he may be insane. I tried to warn y- â€¦them about it, a long time ago.â€<br/><br/>What would happen? He paused, hesitating to carefully collect his words, not wanting to be wrong and especially not wanting Nehmahati to decide against it all. â€œYou would be the very same person you are now,â€ he settled on. â€œYou would have more power, more knowledge and wisdom to draw from. You would have me by your side for eternityâ€¦ That is all that would change. You wouldnâ€™t lose who you are.â€<br/><br/>He swung the door open, distracted momentarily by the flash of something. Something darker than the shadows and something small, a little paler. But he passed it off as paranoid suspicion. â€œSo where are we going, dear heart? Will we run? Or will you fight?â€