Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
“But there will come a generation when those names aren’t spoken.”
“This is true, but they will be of their ancestors. They will be of those who came before them. Even if the names are forgotten, the legacy of each being on this planet never disappears. It is simply the way. There is no escaping it.”
Tedrey looked to Lorenz’s feet, muttering, “Maybe it is only me who is insignificant.”
After saying that, he watched Lorenz’s sandals turn and he lifted his eyes and kept watching as the big man walked out of the room.
And that signaled to Tedrey that he was correct.
He was no king.
He would be no father.
He was part of a great collaboration that was to change the rule of all Triton, he left it and they did not care he was gone. They moved forward in their plans, which were thwarted, and it mattered not. He had brothers, ones he belonged to, and a lover, one he thought had great feeling for him. It had been weeks since he had “disappeared,” and his brothers, his lover, did not care enough to search for him.
Life went on.
He started when Lorenz returned, a purpose to his gate, a leather-bound book in one hand, his fist closed over something else in his other, but there was a silver pen poking between his fingers.
“I bought these for you some days past, but my wife did not wish me to give them to you,” Lorenz declared, stopping close to Tedrey in his seat. “You do not talk to her. Not of anything of import. You are gentle with her and seem to enjoy her attention, presence and prattling, but you give her nothing in return. Until now, you have not talked to me. I felt you should talk to someone, even if that someone was the pages of a book. She did not wish for you to have the opportunity to put your thoughts in a book, for it might mean you would not share with her and therefore she could not take what you give her and help you bear its burden.”
He held out the book as well as his other hand, which he opened to reveal a pot of ink with that pen, which, being nearer to it, Tedrey could see was elegantly engraved all over with swirls and loops.
The book, its binding, the stamped leather, was expensive.
But that pen had to cost…
“And now I give these to you,” Lorenz interrupted his thoughts and shook his hands. “Take them. Put your thoughts in these pages. Let this book bear your burdens. Then give the rest of you to your family.”
Tedrey’s head snapped back so fast to catch Lorenz’s eyes, he felt pain at his neck.
“My family?” he asked.
“I have a vast and beautiful family, Tedrey. My wife, and the children she will one day give me. My mother still lives, and both of Nyx’s parents live, as do her two sisters, and mine. My brothers, who are soldiers. My king, who is my closest brother. My lovers, Persephone, and you. If we live them right, our whole lives are filled with family and that means you will one day be uncle to my children. Does that feel insignificant?”
Tedrey’s heart was beating ever faster.
Uncle?
He would be uncle?
“Take these things, Tedrey,” Lorenz ordered.
“The book is leather-bound. It is costly. And the pen—”
“If these things mattered to me, I would not have handed over the coin or I would keep them for myself. They don’t. You matter. Please pay attention. This is my point, amico.” He shook his hands again. “And take them.”
Tedrey felt his throat close.
“Tedrey…”
“They are too much and I…I do not…I could help around the house. I could—”
Lorenz’s arms dropped, and his gaze grew acute as he studied Tedrey. “What manner of parent raised you?”
“I…sorry?” Tedrey asked.
“If I wanted a servant, I would hire one. If I wanted an injured man to work for his supper, I would be a beast. I am offering a gift to a friend. What manner of parent raised you that you would not accept a kindness offered with a true heart?”
Taking in these words, slowly, Tedrey reached out his hands. It was not slowly as Lorenz again extended the gifts.
Tedrey took them and felt his throat cinch.
“Thank you,” Lorenz said, making Tedrey blink.
He was thanking Tedrey?
“Now I will leave you to your musings,” Lorenz muttered, turning again to leave.
“I still wish to help around the house,” Tedrey called to his back, making Lorenz face him.
“If you wish to help, most of the Go’Doan priests have left the city. Their schools have no teachers. If you are well, you can go back to teaching. You are needed there. It is your choice, but I would hope you did not go wearing the robes. The priests that are left, they will not turn you away, either way you return to them.”