He watched her gulp her drink and took a sip of his own, offering what silent support that he could while she gathered her courage for what was to come next. An uncomfortable conversation, perhaps, but also one that needed to happen before too much time passed since that day, and Maea did not hesitate any longer. The first admission was one he understood, and he inclined his head in acknowledgment of the raw honesty in her voice. Decisions had been made like dominoes falling once Dahlia had entered the room, tipping too fast to consider all possible consequences. They had both made mistakes in the moments that followed, some of which might never be repairable.
All each of them could do was try, in their own way.
But it was what followed that gave him pause, the question one that was not so different from what Flora had asked him afterwards and yet so much heavier coming from Maea's tongue. Hadama's silence was turned inward as he bowed his head over his drink, eyes closed as he breathed deeply and sought the words that his friend deserved. "Leaving the room," he said slowly, choosing the answer the second question first, though perhaps it was the hardest to speak and to hear, "was because I thought that you would return immediately if someone was not with you. Perhaps with some weapon. Or with only your determination to stop Dahlia." And her pride, swallowed once already at Sunjata's coaching for the sake of those gathered... and no true understanding of how far it could be pushed. They were friends, yes, but there was a great deal about each other that they did not know, especially when the pressure was high.
And if he had erred too far on the side of caution after acting too recklessly in taking his stand, there would be consequences of that, too.
"I stood with you because I could not watch you killed." The words, once found, were unexpectedly simple, and Hadama released the breath that he had half-held while he had turned the question around in his mind. "And I hoped that Dahlia would hesitate to strike down a leader. When she might not hesitate to attack a council member." In hindsight a foolish gamble, as he had admitted to Flora. It had been the wrong call for several reasons, but that was far easier to say after the fact with the results of all actions laid out and intentions made clear.
All each of them could do was try, in their own way.
But it was what followed that gave him pause, the question one that was not so different from what Flora had asked him afterwards and yet so much heavier coming from Maea's tongue. Hadama's silence was turned inward as he bowed his head over his drink, eyes closed as he breathed deeply and sought the words that his friend deserved. "Leaving the room," he said slowly, choosing the answer the second question first, though perhaps it was the hardest to speak and to hear, "was because I thought that you would return immediately if someone was not with you. Perhaps with some weapon. Or with only your determination to stop Dahlia." And her pride, swallowed once already at Sunjata's coaching for the sake of those gathered... and no true understanding of how far it could be pushed. They were friends, yes, but there was a great deal about each other that they did not know, especially when the pressure was high.
And if he had erred too far on the side of caution after acting too recklessly in taking his stand, there would be consequences of that, too.
"I stood with you because I could not watch you killed." The words, once found, were unexpectedly simple, and Hadama released the breath that he had half-held while he had turned the question around in his mind. "And I hoped that Dahlia would hesitate to strike down a leader. When she might not hesitate to attack a council member." In hindsight a foolish gamble, as he had admitted to Flora. It had been the wrong call for several reasons, but that was far easier to say after the fact with the results of all actions laid out and intentions made clear.
