LOREN
Well. Apparently Loren was going to have to get into the whole Launceleyn sob story. Again, or at least in part. Still, he’d told it many times by now. While it never lost its sting, he was at least better at getting through it without breaking down in one way or another. ”I know she would try. And she’d say it was in the name of love.” That was the worst part.The Launceleyn was silent for a long moment. Yes, the actions of his kin were mistakes to be learned from, and he was trying to hard to do different, be better. But he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he’d have lapses. ”My family practices might makes right. So the strongest mage makes the rules for the entire extended family.” Sort of like a miniature kingdom, except one with very few laws: don’t disobey, respect power, and family first. He’d broken all of those at one point or another, but he still found himself falling into bad habits at times. Two steps forward, infinite steps back. ”I’m trying to show those that remain that there’s a better way.”
Thankfully, Abasi understood how it had worked with the summoner and Frey—or at least had no interest in following up for more details—for which Loren was grateful. However, it seemed that the discussion of the gods had hit as close to home for the other man as the Launceleyn had half predicted it might. The anger was still surprising, though maybe it shouldn’t have been.
Now it was his turn to turn on his side and prop himself up slightly over the other man reaching out with his free hand to try and gently pull the hand Abasi had brought up to his nose away. ”I don’t blame you for resenting them. You did nothing wrong. Please believe me when I say that.” The shouldn’t be held responsible for the centuries old-actions of the new gods. The summoner bit his lip. ”Maybe...maybe when I go to speak to Frey again, you could accompany me? Alternatively, I know there are others more beloved of the gods, who have offered to bring me with them when they make their prayers.” It wasn’t quite the same as being respected by the gods. But it might give the other man a chance to meet them, and get an impression of them, and make up his mind about whether or not they were worthy of Abasi’s faith.
A beggar's book
outworths
a noble's blood
