They say blood makes you related but
loyalty makes you family
As Loren listened to Sunjata’s story, horror dawned in the Launceleyn’s heart. He’d thought he’d had it bad, what with suffering torture at the hands of those that professed to love him. What made it worse was that they probably had loved him. But battling to the death was definitely worse than even the Launceleyn’s practices. ”That’s awful. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I would’ve rebelled as well, had I been in your shoes.” The tradition was also stupid, in the summoner’s mind: slaughtering the children of the ruling class wouldn’t strengthen them, it would just leave them bitter and broken. However, the other man had presumably escaped that path through his revolt. Besides, it was another world and a different life.
At Sunjata’s complaint that he just wanted a swim, Loren snorted. ”Well, I wouldn’t recommend going out for a dip in the oasis, considering how close Deepfrost is. But I’m glad you have a dream, humble as it might be.” He had been doing a bit of dreaming himself, though only in his heart of hearts (except that Remi knew, oddly enough). Unfortunately, keeping people alive and safe took priority over the Launceleyn’s selfish desires.
The question about the wall was surprisingly insightful. ”No one knew, really. Remember the war in Northwind I mentioned? Well, we were losing it. Or at least victory was not assured.” The leaders had never really been clear about that point, and Loren had been too young to actually be sent to the front lines, or to ask. Besides, once upon a time, he'd been too well-behaved to question his betters. ”So they got together the most powerful mages they could, and created a portal to another world. The wall was already there when we arrived, though there was no sign of who built it or why.” The Northaveners had barely encountered the natives before they’d been whisked through another portal, this time to Caido. So the mysteries of Loren’s old home were far beyond him.
At Sunjata’s complaint that he just wanted a swim, Loren snorted. ”Well, I wouldn’t recommend going out for a dip in the oasis, considering how close Deepfrost is. But I’m glad you have a dream, humble as it might be.” He had been doing a bit of dreaming himself, though only in his heart of hearts (except that Remi knew, oddly enough). Unfortunately, keeping people alive and safe took priority over the Launceleyn’s selfish desires.
The question about the wall was surprisingly insightful. ”No one knew, really. Remember the war in Northwind I mentioned? Well, we were losing it. Or at least victory was not assured.” The leaders had never really been clear about that point, and Loren had been too young to actually be sent to the front lines, or to ask. Besides, once upon a time, he'd been too well-behaved to question his betters. ”So they got together the most powerful mages they could, and created a portal to another world. The wall was already there when we arrived, though there was no sign of who built it or why.” The Northaveners had barely encountered the natives before they’d been whisked through another portal, this time to Caido. So the mysteries of Loren’s old home were far beyond him.
LOREN
