May 29, 2013
Before I was born.
“I’ve been wondering about my parents.”
“Oh?”
“I know little more than their names. You’ve at least given me an idea of what my mother was like. What about my father?”
Lysandra nodded. “Tiresias. He was a fine man-just like his brother,” she winked at Natos, “and a wonderful father. He loved your mother very much.”
“He died before I was born, right? That’s why Morano was able to take me.”
“He died only a few months after your mother found out she was pregnant.”
“How did he die?”
“The doctor said he had been injured too many times. See, he was a member of the Drayune militia-trained as a bowman. However, he was living in Torreo, as part of the militia trade. Torreo was never known for their treatment of their guards, especially the trade-ins. He got all of the most dangerous assignments, both in town and elsewhere.” She stopped and sighed as she considered her next words. “His wounds were always healed…eventually, though not always fully.”
“Couldn’t he have complained, asked for a transfer, something?” Natos asked in frustration.
“He wasn’t the only one in that situation, and more than one of them did complain to their home militias. Torreo received some formal reprimands, but it was nearly impossible to show proof of just how badly they were being treated. And he knew if he transferred, someone else would have to take his place. He would feel responsible for what happened to them.”
Natos grunted. He understood.
“It was sudden, yet seemed eternal,” Lysandra said quietly. “He collapsed at home, and your mother took him to a doctor. The doctor said his body had simply suffered too much abuse, and parts of it weren’t working right. The doctor and his staff did what they could, but in the end were helpless. Your father hung on for another month, but was likely in a lot of pain. It was almost a blessing when he died.”
“I’ve been wondering about my parents.”
“Oh?”
“I know little more than their names. You’ve at least given me an idea of what my mother was like. What about my father?”
Lysandra nodded. “Tiresias. He was a fine man-just like his brother,” she winked at Natos, “and a wonderful father. He loved your mother very much.”
“He died before I was born, right? That’s why Morano was able to take me.”
“He died only a few months after your mother found out she was pregnant.”
“How did he die?”
“The doctor said he had been injured too many times. See, he was a member of the Drayune militia-trained as a bowman. However, he was living in Torreo, as part of the militia trade. Torreo was never known for their treatment of their guards, especially the trade-ins. He got all of the most dangerous assignments, both in town and elsewhere.” She stopped and sighed as she considered her next words. “His wounds were always healed…eventually, though not always fully.”
“Couldn’t he have complained, asked for a transfer, something?” Natos asked in frustration.
“He wasn’t the only one in that situation, and more than one of them did complain to their home militias. Torreo received some formal reprimands, but it was nearly impossible to show proof of just how badly they were being treated. And he knew if he transferred, someone else would have to take his place. He would feel responsible for what happened to them.”
Natos grunted. He understood.
“It was sudden, yet seemed eternal,” Lysandra said quietly. “He collapsed at home, and your mother took him to a doctor. The doctor said his body had simply suffered too much abuse, and parts of it weren’t working right. The doctor and his staff did what they could, but in the end were helpless. Your father hung on for another month, but was likely in a lot of pain. It was almost a blessing when he died.”