Chapter Thirteen #5
Bretton looked at the man. “What did you expect?” he asked, a tinge of anger in his tone.
“My family was killed when I was five years old and I escaped with a few servants although sometimes I wonder if it would have been better had I died. The servants sold me into slavery to a man who raped me repeatedly, and when I was old enough to escape him, I squired for an Irish mercenary who would get drunk and beat me to a pulp until I was old enough to best him in a fight. Unlike you and your posh life where you were loved and taken care of, I have had to fight for every breath I’ve ever taken.
I’ve had to fight for everything I have.
Vengeance against Jax de Velt has been the only thing keeping me alive and I swear to God that I will finish what I started.
So do not judge me, cousin. You have no right. No right at all.”
With that, he stood up and grabbed Allaston by the arm, pulling her up with him. But Rod stood up, reaching out to grasp Bretton before he could get away.
“I am sorry, Bretton, truly,” he said. “Do not leave. I did not mean to offend you. I understand that it has not been easy for you and, believe me, I am not judging you. No matter who you are or what you’ve done to get there, you are still my cousin and I am very glad to know you have returned.
As for the rest… well, I would never judge you in any case whether or not I agree with your methods. ”
Bretton eyed his cousin, somewhat soothed by the man’s words. Slowly, he regained his seat, as did Allaston.
“I do not even know why I came here today,” Bretton muttered after he’d sat back down.
“Wild curiosity, I suppose. I wanted to know how you found me. I wanted to know why no one ever came looking for me. Now, I know everything. You have heard about me and I have heard about you. I am not entirely sure if there is much more to say between us.”
Rod was still holding on to Bretton’s arm as if fearful the man was going to run off. “Mayhap there is not,” he said softly. “But we are family. I would like to come to know you better, Bretton.”
“Why?” Bretton wanted to know. “It is not as if we shall be allies or friends. I am your cousin and nothing more. We share blood and that is all.”
Rod could sense the wall of resistance up around Bretton. He’d sensed it from the beginning. “Will you at least come and see Grandfather?” he asked softly.
Bretton shook his head firmly. “Nay,” he said. “The man remembers an eager five year old lad. Let that be all he remembers about me, not the man I am today. I am not entirely sure he would be proud of what I have become.”
Rod felt a distinct sense of sorrow on his grandfather’s behalf. “Then you do not want me to tell him I have found you?”
“Nay.”
Rod nodded. “If that is your wish.”
“It is.”
Rod’s gaze moved between Bretton and Allaston.
He was so very disappointed with the way things turned out.
Somehow, he’d held out hope that Bretton would want to come with him to be reunited with the family again, but Bretton wanted nothing to do with them.
He was his own man, with his own world, and his long-lost family didn’t fit into that world.
He was a mercenary, the very worst kind, and he had a mission of destruction.
Rod couldn’t help him with it and he couldn’t turn him away from it.
There was nothing left for him to do or say.
After several moments, he squeezed Bretton’s arm and let him go, taking a last drink of wine before rising from his chair.
“You are my cousin, Bretton, and I will always love you as such,” he said, but there were tears in his eyes.
“I will not tell grandfather about you. I wish you the very best in life and I truly hope that someday, you will find what you are looking for. I hope you find something that makes you happy. But know you can always call upon me, no matter what. I will be there for you. My lady, I wish you the best of luck, too.”
With that, he left the table and headed out into the rainy night beyond.
Bretton and Allaston watched him go, each lost to their own sense of sadness.
Bretton most of all. He wished he could be more like Rod.
He wished he could have accepted the man and they could have been family and allies once again, but it was not to be, mostly for Rod’s protection.
Rod had no idea how turbulent Bretton’s world was or how terrible.
It was best just to leave everything between them on this somber note.
When Rod was gone, Allaston turned to Bretton, who was staring off into space as if reflecting on times gone by, times when he and Rod were young and carefree. Reflecting on the times that children share. She wasn’t quite sure what to say.
“He seems very nice,” she said hesitantly. “He seems genuinely concerned about you.”
Bretton was still staring off. “Aye,” he said. “He does. But it is best that he stay far, far away from me.”
Allaston nodded. “He knows that,” she said sadly. “I could see it in his face.”
Bretton sighed heavily. “I always wanted…,” he began, then stopped and collected himself. “It is best for him to remain away from me, but I will admit that I miss him already. I never had a brother. I suppose this moment that we spent here with Rod is the closest I will ever come.”
Before Allaston could reply, Bretton was on his feet, looking for the innkeeper so he could secure two rooms for the night.
Allaston got the distinct impression that he wanted to forget about Rod and their conversation.
Perhaps it was too painful for him to reflect upon.
In any case, Bretton was moving on, pushing Rod and the de Llions out of his mind.
Now that Bretton knew the truth of why no one ever searched for him, it was time to leave the abandoned little boy in the past.