the hailstorm
A child that could not be and yet was stood between them, and Neron was silent, at first, in the face of it. Then Zariah nodded to the boy, who promptly toddled over for attention. Neron's jaw tightened a fraction - once upon a time back in Northaven, it had been his intention to gain the head of their family's trust, perhaps even her love. And now? Now a chasm of years stood between them; things had changed for Neron, and Zariah had lived a life both with him and without him.
"Hello, Jace," he said politely, leaning down to scoop the boy up and settle him on his knee, turning back to face the desk. "Do you like maps?" So saying, Neron moved one of the larger scrolls across to show the boy; it mapped out Halo in all its known detail, and Neron pointed to the palace nestled deep behind the Citadel. "This is where we are now."
Over his shoulder, he addressed Zariah. "I hear you were quite the disruption to the Hollowed Grounds."
"Hello, Jace," he said politely, leaning down to scoop the boy up and settle him on his knee, turning back to face the desk. "Do you like maps?" So saying, Neron moved one of the larger scrolls across to show the boy; it mapped out Halo in all its known detail, and Neron pointed to the palace nestled deep behind the Citadel. "This is where we are now."
Over his shoulder, he addressed Zariah. "I hear you were quite the disruption to the Hollowed Grounds."
