1. The Power Of Words #3
“I have been humbled. You got that right, Declan. But I have always tried to do what is best for these people. Maybe I have not always succeeded. Maybe I have allowed my own losses to cloud my judgment at times. But I am not the unworthy bastard you paint me to be,” Rohannan said, his voice tightening with emotion.
“King Aquilan, I truly want you to see the good in this place and these people. They have been ill-used by your brother and the Empire. If I wanted you to connect to individuals, I won’t apologize for that.
Talking in generalities never moves anybody.
Not really.” He swallowed. “If you wish to leave Hope now and arrange another time to visit with or without me present–”
“No,” Aquilan cut in and stepped forward.
“No, I do not wish to leave.” He let out a breath.
“You have no reason to trust me, which is part of why this happened. You did what you did–ill thought out as it was and it was ill thought out–because you are desperate and do not know me either. But that can only be rectified by time.” Aquilan straightened up.
“And as for racism.” Here, Rohannan froze.
“You are not alone in that wrong thinking in this company.”
Rohannan jerked in surprise.
“I have been… pushed to see my own prejudice recently. Prejudice that led to… some outcomes that I didn’t foresee.
Couldn’t foresee. But if I had been clearer-eyed.
If I had not acted on my prejudice, if I’d fought against it, things might have turned out very differently,” Aquilan said and Declan knew he was talking about Vulre and the Kindreth.
Rhalyf was staring at him with hope and sadness in his eyes.
“I am not excusing you or myself for it. We cannot forgive ourselves. We are not the wronged ones. But what we can do is seek to be better. Seek to change.”
“That is… that is true,” Rohannan nodded slowly, realizing that maybe all was not lost.
Aquilan turned and took Declan’s left hand in his. The touch had electricity running through Declan’s frame as it always did and made his breath catch. But he controlled himself so only perhaps Finley and Rhalyf noticed anything at all.
“Declan, I know you are upset and I would not keep you here if you do not wish to be,” Aquilan said. “I am glad you spoke up–”
“So long as he tells the truth–the unvarnished truth with no games–I am happy to continue on here,” Declan said as he pointedly looked down the road to where the play actors were.
“Boys, go tell everyone to disperse. We won’t need their help after all,” Rohannan said to his followers.
Warren, Dean and Jeff hesitated a moment but they slunk off. Declan knew that they would be trouble later. But he would be ready for them. He always was.
“Finley, Rhalyf, are you in agreement?” Aquilan asked.
“I go where you go, my king,” Rhalyf said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Of course, there are many good things about the people here that I want you to experience,” Finley said firmly.
“Well, then I truly am looking forward to this BBQ and music. I rather love music and enjoy good food,” Aquilan told Rohannan.
A slow smile, a real smile, crossed Rohannan’s lips. “You’ll find both here today, I assure you. Now… maybe we can start this again?”
“Yes, let’s start again,” Aquilan agreed.
As they began their tour once more, Declan heard his father chuckling softly in his ear. Oh, my son, you are an orator! A great politician! Who would have guessed?
I am not, Declan answered.
Indeed you are! For you saved Rohannan and his Separatists with that mighty speech!
I saved Aquilan from looking like a fool in front of Vesslan while innocent people suffered because of it, Declan countered.
Yes, yes, that, too. But the end result is that Rohannan lives to fight another day.
His father was chewing on something with relish.
But, you know, the dark parts of every species cannot be talked away.
No matter how great the orator. Who is in and who is out will always be there.
Who is on top and who is below… Well, it is the nature of all beings.
I know. But Aquilan and Finley are right. We have to fight against that.
Or use it to our advantage. This is truly delicious. Not as good as ham, but… His father was mumbling.
Suddenly, Declan tasted sweet cream on his tongue. Are you eating a Twinkie?
There was a guilty pause. I’m not here in an official capacity. If I beelined it to the bakery, that is my right.
You knew there would be trouble by coming to Hope.
Yes, but it is not my problem. I cannot interfere without… consequences, Vex reminded him. And there will come a time, my Rahven, when you will realize that you cannot either.
I do not regret what I did here, Declan said.
No, nor should you. What you said to Rohannan was well deserved, Vex admitted.
I admire your passion for truth and justice.
But, Rahven, whether you like it or not, you are my son.
You are the Night Prince. And that means what you do and what you say…
Well, they are ripples in a pond. Just remember that.
There was another delighted sound that undercut the soberness of his words as he said, The Ho-Hos are even better!