Griffonclaw sat alone in the Pig and Whistle, in disguise... his plate hung at home, and he wore leathers tanned smooth, and the color of midnight. An ordinary sword replaced the usual panoply of weapons, and he wore a mask.
He wanted... needed... some alone time, and now that he had renounced the Light, he no longer felt comfortable in the Cathedral.
And so, he sat... a bowl of stew that Ellie kept filled. A loaf of rough dark bread, with a crock of fresh-churned honey-butter... a tankard of hard cider, also ever-filling... and his thoughts.
"What if..." he thought, ruminating on his life.
What if...
The two most powerful words to the imagination.
What if.
What if his father had given him to the Orphanage instead of the Cathedral when his mother had died? What path would he walk? Given his talent for mayhem and violence, channeled by the Order of Light, would he have become as Gaaron? A dark, violent figure with no conscience, only out for what he could gain? ((Yes - and the proof is on Sentinel server!))
What if he and Valentia had married? Would they have children?
What if he had slain Catrionae as a Horde spy?
What if he had taken Catrionae to wife after Keruptis' first attempt, instead of allowing her to go to the Knights of the Way for protection and training?
What if he had been bent to Desmorta's will, and had become a member of her cult ((AFI))? Would he have served her well? Would he serve her still?
What if he had stayed with the Hammer of Magni, and convinced His Majesty to retain him as permanent Guild Leader? Who would have left? Who would have stayed? Would he have convinced others to join him under his aegis?
What if he had not taunted Selvaggia as being just another minion of Keruptis?
What if he had not forgive Aislin her curse, but had instead slain her on the spot, as he'd had the legal right? What if he hadn't responded to Aislin's call for assistance, the night Catrionae... died.
What if he'd not spoken with Bam that night at the fountain? Would he still be mad? How many other souls would he have sent to the Twisting Nether?
What if he'd not pushed Selvaggia's inner... demon? Elemental? to the fore?
What if she had chosen Keruptis as suitor over himself?
All of these questions were of great import to Griffonclaw, as he stood, looking to the near future. His fiance, Selvaggia, was with child... and he had never thought to see himself a father.
He had a few more duties to perform... and then Griffonclaw would be pulling himself off the roles of active duty. He would open a swordsmith shop, and focus on his Blacksmithing. Selvaggia would not be a widow. His child - Selvaggia favored Griffon for a boy, and he Catrionae for a girl - would not be an orphan. He would not put himself at risk, but love his family.
He had never truly had a father himself - Lord Grayson Shadowbreaker was as close as he had ever come. His child would have a father, and his wife would find him a devoted husband.
((Added Cat's post! ))
*...sounds seem to echo and then go quiet..Griffonclaw feels warm pressure on his shoulder and smells sweetened milk in the air..he hears a familiar voice behind him..*
'You've made them now learn from them..'
*the candles flicker a bit and the sights, sounds and smells return to him in a flash*
"...Cat?" he whispers, and tears began to flow, unheeded.
No comments:
Post a Comment