Boredom. A bitter laugh nearly escaped her. Because they were bored, the Eldouir had decided to go on a rampage, to deal out death and destruction upon an already fragmented people for their own entertainment. Protected as she was in Arynn Frey, Kester had heard very little of what happened in Elderkeep beyond the obvious - that the redheads held the Dresmondi captives in a city of their own making. But Kezia’s words had her wondering now: was this what their people suffered in that horrible place? Violence simply for the sake of violence?

Nevermere’s intentions of sending aid was unexpected - why would they offer help now when they had spent the last five years utterly indifferent to the plight of the Dresmondi? - but Kaveri, in her opinion, was asking the right questions. As tantalizing as the image of a healed Dresmond was, nothing in this world was free. Kester and Kaveri had learned that much, at least.

Akagi held a different perspective. Kester watched as he rose to his feet with a steely resolve that she had never seen before, and once the new king had said his piece, she stepped forward. “If what you say is true, then we welcome your aid, Akagi.” A glance toward Kezia. “And Nevermere’s, too, though I would also like to know what they want in exchange.” Whatever the price was, they couldn’t afford to turn down any assistance if they wanted their people free. It was a uniquely vulnerable position that she did not expect anyone to fully appreciate unless they found themselves there as well, which Akagi and the king of Nevermere likely never would.

Kester understood Kaveri’s distrust. To be such easy prey meant that everyone became a predator until proven innocent. But she trusted Akagi enough to give him a chance.

Once more, the urge to do something - anything - rose impatient and powerful inside of her. She felt like they were thinking and speaking in circles, saying words and making promises that would change nothing until someone began to act. At least when she was doing something, Kester couldn’t wallow in the despair that hung so heavily over the room. “I want to go,” She declared, abruptly, the words escaping her before she could stop them. Her gaze traveled from Kezia to Kaveri to Akagi. “I want to see what they did to our—” Though they had lived there, it wasn’t a home, not like Dresmond. “—people.”