Part Of The Narrative

"Maybe it's because I'm telling the truth?" Kaladin suggested.

Kaladin crossed his arms. "You don't need a knife, because no one here is going to hurt you." He could feel himself losing patience, and he breathed deeply to calm himself. "Not half an hour ago you were a shivering, crying, screaming mess of a women on the floor of a room back there. You really don't remember?" It was so strange...

Kaladin sighed, wiping his hand on his shirt and crossing the balcony to stand in front of the exit. "Where exactly are you trying to go?"

Kaladin narrowed his eyes, removing his hand from her shoulder and holding it out for her to shake. “I’m Kaladin. I’m the man who got you out of the bar and took you to this nice open space that doesn’t smell like sweat and drinks, after you nearly killed yourself on alcohol and firemoss.”

Kaladin tightened his grip, pressing down on her shoulders and firmly pushing her into the chair. "You're telling me you don't remember anything about the last two hours?"

Kaladin stood, gently but firmly taking her by the arm and leading her towards the chair. "Sit down, Ash."

Kaladin held up his hands. "Sit down and I'll explain." He offered her water from his canteen.

"My name is Kaladin." Kaladin tilted his head. Ash was...coherent now, wasn't she?

Kaladin looked down at her body, sighing, and began dragging her out to the balcony. It was a short lasting sedative—she’d wake up in maybe fifteen minutes—and he wanted her out in the open air when she did. He’d seen what it could do to a person, once their mind was clear, to see the sky and sun. He positioned her in a chair, facing the wall for now so she didn’t try to throw herself off the balcony. Making sure the balcony was clear, he sat beside her, taking a drink and replenishing his stormlight. Then he waited.

Kaladin cursed, dragging Ash out into the hallway and forcefully removing her hand from her mouth. Ignoring her struggling, he reached into his belt and pulled out his sedative solution, pouring some into her mouth.

A pang shot through Kaladin's heart at the sight of her. But he had to keep going. He had to know. Feeling like a horrible person, he made sure the door was open, letting in a bit of light, and extinguished the final lantern, leaving only the faintest bit of illumination leaking from the hallway outside.

Kaladin walked to the other side of the room, putting out a second lantern.

Ok. Time to try something else. Kaladin knew this might be a bad idea, and he hated feeling like he was experimenting and tracking her results, like a doctor, when all he wanted to do was have a coherent conversation with her, but he also knew he kind of had to. He helped people who needed it. Or he tried to, anyway. Kaladin slowly stood, then moved to the side of the room and extinguished one of the three lanterns, watching Ash closely.

She'd answered him. Kaladin leaned forward, holding her stare. "Why not?" He thought he knew her answer. It'd been his, so long ago.

Kaladin knelt on the floor, watching Ash. He absentmindedly ran a hand through the dirt, leaving tracks on the ground. "Don't you want to see the sun again?" He whispered.

Kaladin gestured forward, taking a step toward the door. "Come on. there's no one else out there."

Kaladin stood, following her pointed finger. "Do you want to go with me? I can take you out to the balcony, where we can see the sky."

"I'm sorry," Kaladin said, feeling guilty at her reaction. He knelt on the ground, trying to appear as non threatening as possible. "But...I have a friend who used to take that stuff. It didn't go well." Kaladin barely caught himself. Had. You had a friend who used to take it.

Kaladin started. A lazy string of smoke curled out the door and hung in the air. No! He hurried inside and took the moss from Ash, crushing it under his boot and mixing it with mud. Maybe he was resorting to insensitive means, but he couldn't deal with that stuff. too many memories.

Kaladin breathed out, standing. "I'm going outside." He walked loudly, trying to make sure Ash heard him. Then he stepped out, nonchalantly leaving the door open. T The guard standing watch by Ash's room protested. "You can't leave it open! She's dangerous!" Kaladin rolled his eyes. "Storm off. I'm staying here. Go on a lunch break or something." The guard left. He was one of the ones folded into the ranks because of staffing issues; Kaladin hadn't trained him personally. Kaladin sank to the floor, leaned against the wall, and waited.

Kaladin slowly reached out, touching her free hand and folding it around the mud on the ground, which created the loose shape of a spire. He pulled his hand free, watching her closely.

Kaladin took out his canteen and poured a little water onto the pile he'd added to. He then molded it into the shape of a building, and put a little stick on top for a flag pole. He felt absurd and ridiculous, but what did it matter? He dripped some water near Ash's pile and nodded encouragingly.

Kaladin made another pile, adding it to hers. Then he ran a hand through his hair and looked back at her the same why she was looking at him. "What?" He whispered. "Is it so hard to believe I want to talk to you? Or do you still not understand?"