Patrol 4: Storm & Calm

Chapter 25

"What he just said," Eddin said as he slowly sat in the chair in front of the desk, "about you doing something, somehow removing the knack from him and giving it to me, is it true?" Vania stepped closer to Eddin's chair and silently put a hand on his shoulder; he briefly reached up and let his gloved hand cover hers.

"Yes."

"How is that even possible?" Eddin asked. "And how could you keep it secret? All those years, I was told it was a minor miracle I had inherited a genetic trait from a woman who wasn't really my mother. You said no one knew how it could happen... But, all this time, you—"

"D'merdon. I did what I had to do, for your own good, as well as this family's."

"It's all about hiding the fact that you couldn't have five children, isn't it? Masking the shame that Father sired a child on another woman. Because the biggest humiliation an a'marlon wife can suffer is having her husband sleep with someone else."

"No," A'lei'iana said. "That was a disgrace I suffered since before T'doru and I even married. He was having his affair with Talya when he and I were betrothed. My giving him permission was merely a technicality to endorse what he was already doing."

"Why didn't you just divorce him?" Vania asked. "Surely, given the fact you're the one in charge of the relationship, you could've been rid of him easily."

"I was my mother's heir," A'lei'iana replied, looking at Vania with a hard stare. "I was given my choice from five suitors. I selected T'doru, knowing full well his tendencies. He was the best choice of the ones I was offered."

Vania made a face, but said nothing.

"D'merdon." A'lei'iana transferred her gaze back to her son, face softening. "You were an extremely bright, gifted child. I wanted to protect you from those who'd treat you poorly, if they were to even suspect you weren't mine. So, yes, I transferred K'landrin's animal wrangling knack to you. I knew you would use it better than he ever would, and you continue to do so."

"Why lie to me about it?" Eddin asked. "Why not tell me how I came to inherit powers I had no business having?"

"Because then you'd feel you didn't deserve them and demand I return them to K'landrin."

"That's exactly what you need to do," Eddin said. He pointed to the door without turning. "You heard what he said. He's been suffering all these years because of what you did." He looked down at his hands, murmuring, "No wonder he hates me. I can't even imagine what that must feel like."

"I cannot undo the transfer."

"Can't or won't?" Eddin demanded.

"Cannot." A'lei'iana sighed. "It is a permanent spell."

"Then can you just do it again? Take it from me and give it to him?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I lack the power, now. I sacrificed a portion of my magical abilities for the spell to work."

Eddin stood. "You doomed your own son to a life of torture, constantly wanting what you've made impossible for him. All just to save face. I can't believe you." He turned and walked to the door.

"I did it for you, D'merdon," A'lei'iana said quietly, voice pleading. "K'landrin knew his place and where he belonged. I didn't want you to ever feel like you weren't part of our family. I didn't want you to feel left out, like you didn't belong."

As Eddin and Vania walked out, shutting the door behind them, A'lei'iana whispered, "I didn't ever want you to feel like you weren't my son and I didn't love you."