Stone's Throw

[GamesMaster]

He pauses for a long time, finishing the glass of wine as he thinks. He casts a longing glance towards the bottle, but doesn't get up to refill it. Finally, he speaks:

"I think there is a path to redemption. But it means letting go of my family, my dream of having family. It means letting Bharnerol take control of my succession plans instead of fighting for them. Letting Beth go, and focusing on the work of being my people's champion."

[NPCs]

"A familiar path," Cadmus murmurs. "Are you sure such is the path you need to walk? What does it avoid, what does it bring you?"

[GamesMaster]

"It will bring me no comfort, nor solace. It will not bring me what I had thought to call love. But more and more I believe that is the love of a boy, not a man. As a man, the love of my people must trump my own comfort, my safety. It will bring me integrity. An end to being torn between two worlds. It will bring me the respect a man deserves, rather than the safety a boy longs for."

[NPCs]

Cadmus sighs softly, head tilting back and eyes closing. "It won't," he disagrees with a regretful sigh. "Some of that, yes, but... Cutting away what you want, what you yearn for, doesn't remove the longing. It'll always be there, just under the surface."

[GamesMaster]

"Getting what I yearn for leads to complacency, and to tragedy."

[NPCs]

Cadmus hesitates, then points out, "your children were not taken because you were happy. They were taken because you are powerful."

[GamesMaster]

"They were taken because I was weak."

[NPCs]

"They succeeded because of their strength or cunning, yes, but the why was because of who you are. Or do you really think they would have gone through a fraction of the trouble for a tanner's sons?"

[GamesMaster]

"Beth was more than connected and powerful enough for the children to be targeted; it need not have been an attack on me," he points out, but even he knows he's just being contrary. "But yes. It was likely my fault."

[NPCs]

Cadmus, lifts his head and hisses softly at his son, displeased with his stubborn foolishness.

[GamesMaster]

He shrinks back, ashamed. "Entirely my fault," he corrects. 

[NPCs]

Cadmus flexes his fingers, his claws extending in his agitation. They're brittle now, but still sharp, and he takes care to not score the armrests. Again. "You dodged the wrong way there, kit," he says, voice still disappointed but tempered with understanding... and regret. "You didn't compel them to commit their evil. Accept that and move on with your grief."

[GamesMaster]

"They should have never had the opportunity," he sighs. "You cannot take this guilt from me, Father. It is mine to bear."

[NPCs]

"That is fair. I cannot stop you from being a fool," he says with a sharp laugh. "I can merely tell you what you are being."

[GamesMaster]

He is quiet for a long moment before he says, just above a whisper: "Bethany blames me too."