Red’s eyes darkened a bit, coming dangerously close to matching the fire of her hair. “Out in a place like what? In this place only fit for the savage and lawless? Slumming it with the dregs of society?
“You’ve met the Rangers, so Daisy tells me. How did they treat you? Do you believe that they represent law and order? Do you think your towns and cities are any better than what we have built here?”
“Well, they’re supposed to be the centers of society, of trade and government, right?” Kre countered when she paused to take a deep breath. Kitalia threw up her hands and got up to refill her own drink, having clearly given up on keeping the situation cordial.
“You’d like to think that, wouldn’t you?” Red said with a snarl. “Those corrupt bureaucrats and officials are using their wealth and positions to just increase the separation between them and the people they’re supposed to be governing. The common folks starve while they throw feasts and banquets.”
“That can’t be true,” Kre muttered, though it was a weak protest at best. “That’s not how things are supposed to work.”
Red sighed and placed a hand on her forehead. “I’m sorry Kre,” she said in a softer tone than she had been using, “I know you haven’t had much experience with that side of Tehynshin life and I apologize for taking my frustrations with the current government out on you. None of it is your fault, but I do want to express to you that there is a problem with the system. You have no farther to look than the Rangers that you met.”
Kre nodded, appreciating that the mood of the conversation had shifted to quieter, friendlier ground. “I admit, those Rangers did not portray law enforcement in the best manner, but they have a job to do.”
“Ah yes, a job to do,” Red said with a nod and a frown. “I have heard that before. Mark these words well Kre… the duties of any job are things conceived of and passed down by mortals. As mortals are flawed creatures, by design, so too are their creations. You must always, always look to what is right versus what is asked of you. Though that path is hard, that is the only path to true justice in the world.”
Kre nodded sagely and then chuckled, “I think I heard that same thing over a game of Tehynji once.”
Red immediately sat up a little straighter, “You play?”
“Not well, admittedly. Cooter was so much better than me, but I enjoyed playing with him and we had some great conversations while we played.”
Red’s face scrunched up in puzzlement, “Wait, wasn’t Cooter the name of the second man you killed?”
Kre nodded, his eyes once again beginning to mist over. “Yes,” he replied solemnly, “I killed my friend. I hate that I took that friendship for granted before that moment, that I didn’t recognize him for the great man that he was. He was, undoubtedly and undeniably, one of the best men I have ever known even if I didn’t recognize it at the time and that is the guilt that I must live with.”
“High praise,” Red murmured.
“He was a Dragon Knight,” came the simple reply. “They are the best of all of us.”