The weight of her against his side was comforting, because he knew with her beneath his wing at least then he could keep her safe. He could keep her here, with him. If Kahlua ever left Helovia...the Storm Bringer wasn't sure he'd be able to garner enough reasoning not to follow her. Against his neck, the comforting presence of the glass armor she'd made him reminded him further of the bond forged between the two of them. How simple was it, that he had happened to be there the day Aaron condemned her for her lack of knowledge of the war being waged? It seemed so small an action, and yet it had tied them together for seasons to come. Now here they stood, Kahlua curled beneath him like a distraught, cracked porcelain doll, and Kaj was the one holding the pieces and the glue. What had he ever done to deserve her? Nothing. No matter how many times he was her knight in shining armor, her light in the dark, none of his actions would ever amount to her loyalty and affection in his eyes. They were both so blind, but Kaj was comfortable in his inability to see what lay between them. All he ever needed was this.

It seemed she must think similarly, for she made no move to pull away, and as they walked he shielded her with his wing. Wind and weather may be all he could keep from her, at that moment, but it was a metaphorical gesture as well. His pace was slow, for her, despite wanting to get her away from Helovia's exit as fast as he possibly could. Even if he'd managed to convince her not to leave, for he suspected that was what she was trying to do when he'd come upon her, he feared she'd change her mind and turn and run. With the differences in their builds, who knew if he'd be able to catch her. But if the smile on her face meant anything, maybe she wouldn't. "You don't need to apologize. You set it right. There's no way I could stay angry at you anyways," and he offers a tentative smile in return, hoping to lighten the atmosphere a little. And while she spoke he listened, hearing the sincerity in every word that poured forth, mulling it over in his head. There were so many possibilities, so many things that could have transpired that could turn even Kahlua's conviction into falsehood. Had Mauja lied to her?

But he had to at least give the both of them the benefit of the doubt.

Her neck touched his, leaning into him, and Kaj sighed softly as he contemplated the mass of information she'd just thrown at him. "No, you're right. Instinct and fear can be a deadly combination, but if this Mauja acted on that alone, perhaps he can find forgiveness. Convincing Torasin's family will be much harder, even with a trial, you understand that right? Even I cannot decree that they forgive him. The heart cannot always follow orders from another." Shaking his golden crown he sighed once more, a huff of thoughtfulness. Aaron's anger...would he even want Mauja breathing if he ever found out? Kaj doubted it, especially with how volatile Aaron could be over the smallest of problems.

"But he does deserve a fair trial. I can at least promise to help you there, Kahlua. Nobody deserves to hide in shame over something they could not control." Kaj knew all too well how people could get hurt, especially when panic drove the force of a fighter's instinct. When he lived in the cold reaches of his previous home...if someone had attacked him while he lay sleeping, and he held the powers Mauja did, he did not doubt he would have done the same.