I've given Kadin an ultimatum, one week to prove that his pissing me off so much that I had a headache was merely a fluke, just a bad day on both our parts. His response, sitting in my inbox when I checked mail:

---

Epeta...epeta leint, Rahani.
*Sighs*
Even when he proves displeasing, even when you are angry enough with him to doubt his worth to you at all.
And now, handed a week to prove that worth to you again.
Twice...twice in this boy's memory, he can remember you being this angry with him. Twice he was saved from your wrath. But this time, Elru isn't around to help him. And you are at no time harder to please than when you have been displeased.
Worthless, pathetic, useless...hraka.
*lowers his head, face dropping as surely as his head*
That sinking feeling, as you so aptly described it...never has it been so sharp as when your pet read the email today that you sent him.
Lost...
*sighs once more*
Tis'tai, Rahani....daya.....your pet begs your help, he pleads you to show him the way back into your favor. With all his heart, with every fiber of his being, he begs you to help him help himself serve you better.
He cannot survive without you.

---

And oddly enough, it's... it's not enough. Not heartfelt. Not yet. Right now, he's still just throwing out words, faking what once was so very serious to him. Why do I say that? How do I know? I don't have the gift of speech right now, I can't find words for it.

I can feel it, though. There's something missing, something not quite right.

I will wait, and watch, and see if he improves.

I've got the time.

After all, I gave him a whole week.