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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jago" data-source="post: 7000308" data-attributes="member: 6855130">[align=left]http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x111/tranced89/Kaniel%20Avatar.png[/align]~ The Half-Orc smiled tightly, nodding a bit at Amina's observations." If only we all were so lucky to merely serve The Gods and take solace with the peace that such enlightenment brings us, rather than serve more mortal masters. But while some of us are so blessed, the majority of us are not, Wise One."His tusks bit a little into his upper lip, his jaw clenching before releasing, as if working a muscle loose." Every rebellion is Just. Just as every tyrant believes what he does is also Just. Just as every prophet and madman believes that the Gods speak only through them. Zakhara, our planet, cannot be simply divided into what is Just and what is Not: I abandoned my sacred duty to my people."Kaniel paused. It had just come out, as if he were speaking familiarly to someone he had known for ages, and yet Kaniel had never truly admitted this before. Perhaps not even to himself, and yet now Amina and the assembled knew. There was a flush of sweat across his brow, the Mamluk finally feeling the same heat that Suelasta had remarked on." I ... I made a mistake. What I have done is considered unforgivable by my people. Were I to return, I would more than likely lose my head, or worse. Because of that mistake, something terrible may have happened. Because of that mistake, people, my people, may have died. I was young, and I was frightened, and I have since dedicated myself to The Enlightened Gods and to my service; my attempt to atone as I endure the challenges set before me. But even with this change, even with every step forward I take to rectify this, would it be Just for my people to still exact their punishment upon me? Would it be Unjust if I continued to walk this path rather than return home? Return home and forsake the new oaths I have sworn to The Grand Caliph, even though abandoning an oath is what lead me here in the first place? What is Just, Handmaiden? What is Just, Amina?"It almost seemed as if Kaniel was actually asking for Amina's opinion. As if he wanted to know where his salvation was, where this road ended for him. He had grown in volume since he began, and suddenly became very aware of that. The Half-Orc deflated, almost shrinking in size as he backed away, lowering his head." This One forgets himself, sometimes: forgive my discourtesy, Amina," he offered in apology, humiliated in the lack of control over his own tongue." But." Kaniel lifted his gaze again, straightening himself back up." The Past is in The Past. Derafsh and his Kin no longer pose any threat to this city, regardless of what was done before. For all I know, he and his people may be even more blameless than I, merely a symbol of the Sultan the people rose against, rather than their actual targets. I have seen words coax men to do many things, sadiqa, and if I do not hold that against the people of Tajar, I do not hold it against this man here." His mouth stretched slightly: not a smile, but an attempt to show that he was not trying to argue with The Handmaiden, despite the intensity in his words. The intensity of The Desert sun." We all deserve a chance to find redemption, Servant of Hakiyah." ~</blockquote>

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