The next few days were spent at rest. Laes had decided to wait for Gelgor’s caravan to catch up, deciding it would be best to travel together for mutual protection. My companions and I felt it to be a wise decision, and all were gd to have a little respite from near-constant travel.

  Larynda spent this time with Ankhset and her burly children, studying the ways of water during the day, and in the evenings Kidu threw her into a relentless training routine. He was a harsh and exacting teacher, giving only minimal praise and acknowledgment, but punishing repeated mistakes of footwork or position with merciless strikes that would leave the girl near tears.

  To her credit, she shed no tears in front of us. It also afforded me the opportunity to practice my Heal and Drain spell combination. Unlike the old Beastmaster Abas Yar, the young girl was positively brimming with delicious life force and Mana, which allowed me to get back most of my own Mana.

  One afternoon, the boy Dumuzi returned my mended garments, bowing low as he did so. I was alone at the time, seeing to the maintenance of my armor, and my companions were busy with various things around the camp. Looking closer at the boy's features, I realized that I had seen him before at Catalina’s side. He had been the son who had been clutching at his mother’s hand.

  “How is your mother, Catalina?” I probed as offhandedly as I could, wishing to confirm the truth of the memory.

  Smiling at me, the young d replied, “She is well, Honored One. I thank you for saving her.” He paused for a moment, his expression growing a little dark, “She is my only family now.”

  "You'll forgive me if this is a sensitive subject, but your father?" I inquired.

  "He crossed the Shallow River, defending my mother and me from the attack, Honored One," he shared, his voice trembling slightly from suppressed emotion.

  Taken aback, I responded awkwardly, "I am sorry for your loss." In the back of my mind, I wondered if his mother might appreciate some comfort ter. “If there is anything I can do, do not hesitate to ask,” I added casually.

  “Apologies again, Honored One. This one is foolish for troubling you with his own matters. You have already given us so much. You and the child sage Larynda have already given me my vengeance…now there is…” He could not finish the st as he started bawling his eyes out.

  That was the final straw, as all of my pent-up irritation and negative emotions needed a vent. The swiftness of my hand surprised even me as my backhanded sp connected with his face, silencing his pathetic mewling and knocking him to the ground.

  "Cease your womanly weeping," I snarled, looking down disdainfully at his crumpled figure.

  He stared up at me, a mix of shock and pain warring with his anger. And fear. Fear of me.

  "Your father surely did not spawn such a weak child. You dishonor his memory. I shall overlook this deplorable dispy. Existence is rife with adversity and loss. To expose vulnerability is to beckon that which would be your downfall. Tell me, are you weak, child?" I inquired in the measured tone of a teacher.

  He sniffed for a moment before gaining control. "No, Honored One. Please forgive me for disappointing you," he stammered, prostrating himself on the ground, dreading further provocation of my fury.

  I knelt down beside the young innocent boy and id a gloved hand on his head, causing him to reflexively wince. I cast Drain on his unresisting form and energy filled me, delicious, like sweet nectar.

  Take more, the voices insisted. It would be so easy. With an effort of will and great regret, I stopped the spell. I paused for a moment as a few images from the boy’s life filled my mind.

  Days filled with taking care of the giant Ruar, the stern smile of a proud father, and the gentleness of a young mother. Forcing these memories out of my mind, I cast Heal on the boy to restore some of the damage I had inflicted. Now energy flowed from me to the boy causing the evidence of my violence to disappear from his face.

  I raised him to his feet and looked him firmly in the eye. Now I could see that the fear in his eyes had changed to an altogether different emotion. Something I found much more tolerable. Respect.

  Once he had gone, I heard a snarky comment from behind me in Elwin’s voice.

  “Well, I guess that’s one form of tough love,” the voice said.

  I refused to give Elwin the satisfaction of seeing me surprised and firmly resisted the urge to turn around.

  “Better that he learns of the true nature of the world now. This nd is an unforgiving pce. I would be doing the boy no favors, and a hard truth is worth a thousand soft lies…” I muttered a little irritably.

  “Not saying what you did was bad, Gil. Perhaps, you’re looking to fill in his father’s shoes? Either way, he’s probably got to grow up fast now. Dark Lady knows, I could have done with more of a sp when I was younger,” added the voice in an infuriatingly knowing tone.

  I turned around, taking in the Rogue, looking him firmly in the eye, noticing that they still had a hollowness to them. “You know, it is never too te,” I smiled back darkly, and wondered if a simir method of instilling respect would work with Elwin.