[ Athos offers him a small sidewards glance, an understanding smile tugging at the edges of his mouth. ]
They know how to fight. Defeating the Baron took all of us. [ But still, Athos knows there might come a time when they could have need of him again. ] I do doubt my friends would let me ignore a call for aid once more.
Small consolation. [ Sturmhond gives him a little smile. Athos is lucky to have friends around him to keep him honest. It seems the people of his home were lucky for that, too. ]
You’re certain it’s what you want? Giving up the seat of power. You know it’s not just yours, but your family’s. All their history is in that place. And one day, you may wish you had something to leave behind, should you ever have an heir.
[ That gets him a sharp look and then a bemused shake of his head. ]
No. That is not the life for me. I would not remarry, not for anything. And I do not intend to take my place once more. Even if I do retire I shall hope to make myself useful around the Garrison. That is my home.
[ It’s a perspective entirely different from Sturmhond’s own. He watches Athos for a moment, and then nods, accepting it and by no means agreeing. He had spent a long time away from his supposed duties, furthering his country’s interests in his own way. The coup had made him regret it greatly. He will never know whether he could have stopped the Darkling if he’d been there, but he had without doubt been a better soldier than his brother, and his father had been ailing and defenceless. He could have helped. He should have helped.
Yet Athos had watched his land threatened on a smaller scale, and been content to walk away. Never before has he so strongly disagreed with his friend’s decisions. ]
I hope you don’t regret that choice, in later life. A legacy is far easier to give away than regain. I’m sorry for what you’ve lost, my friend.
[ It doesn't amuse Athos but there's something ... almost fond in his tone. ] Truly, you would find good company with the other three. They were too. But what good would I be to them, Sturmhond? Pinon was like a poison in me. A poison that I am ashamed to say still ills me even now. I think of it and I want to find the nearest bottle and drown the memory out. It is nothing but a graveyard to me. I cannot give them good lordship when I am not sure of my own mind. I would have run them into the ground just by existing. At least left in their own hands they can make their village prosper, the way it should have been were things different.
[ He falls into a gentler stride, his eyes falling back to the forest floor. ]
You must know, I am a man whose family lost their throne. Who were driven from it, during a process that began while I was far from them. The whole reason I'm here is to find the means of reclaiming it, before the tyrant who took it sentences a whole nation to an endless night.
I don't want you to feel the same regrets that I do. What you've given away would not be easily reclaimed. And some day, those people might have need of you, and you'll be unable to help, even if you're willing.
[ Korol is a little distance away from them, still hunting happily and Athos watches until he disappears into a bush, his attention on the words being said. ]
I cannot marry again. I would not. And my line will die with me regardless, Sturmhond. [ It's the one thing he will never be able to die. ] Perhaps I should have found someone suitable but. [ A pause. ] I have seen what men do with power. Would it not be best to have it spread between them? So that they may hold each other accountable. And were they to ever face someone trying to challenge that I do not doubt my Captain would send us back. They made an impression. So they are still protected. Just not by a name.
Then they'll be left to make decisions by committee. As someone who has wasted far too much time in meetings of that nature, I can tell you, they don't go well.
[ He shrugs his shoulders and keeps walking. ]
Democracy isn't for everyone. But perhaps you're right. Either way I'm not sure this is a topic we can agree on, my friend.
No. [ He doesn't seem at all incensed by it. He had known that his actions were unprecedented and probably a little more than cruel. But he cannot make people see just how deep the wound of his home goes, nor would he want to. ]
Come, your charge has gotten ahead of us. He must assume we've forgotten the matter at hand. [ He claps Sturmhond on the shoulder as he starts towards where he last saw the Bahari. He wants to make sure his friend knows that even their differences are now not enough to make him walk away. ]
[ Sturmhond, of course, has no intention of walking away either. He doesn't expect everyone to agree with him, and this was an issue that is closer to his heart than most. ]
We'd best catch him, then, I don't want to see him eat the forest out of stock.
[ Picking up the pace, he catches up with Athos and follows in Korol's footsteps. The exercise is likely to do them both good, and the talk reminded him vividly of his reasons for being here. His punishment has been put out of mind. Ultimately, nothing matters aside from returning to Ravka and reclaiming his family's throne. He'll go through whatever hardship he must to achieve that. With renewed resolve, he pushes on forward, meaning to catch up his bahari. ]
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no subject
They know how to fight. Defeating the Baron took all of us. [ But still, Athos knows there might come a time when they could have need of him again. ] I do doubt my friends would let me ignore a call for aid once more.
[ A pause. ] At least now I open my mail.
no subject
You’re certain it’s what you want? Giving up the seat of power. You know it’s not just yours, but your family’s. All their history is in that place. And one day, you may wish you had something to leave behind, should you ever have an heir.
no subject
No. That is not the life for me. I would not remarry, not for anything. And I do not intend to take my place once more. Even if I do retire I shall hope to make myself useful around the Garrison. That is my home.
no subject
Yet Athos had watched his land threatened on a smaller scale, and been content to walk away. Never before has he so strongly disagreed with his friend’s decisions. ]
I hope you don’t regret that choice, in later life. A legacy is far easier to give away than regain. I’m sorry for what you’ve lost, my friend.
no subject
[ It doesn't amuse Athos but there's something ... almost fond in his tone. ] Truly, you would find good company with the other three. They were too. But what good would I be to them, Sturmhond? Pinon was like a poison in me. A poison that I am ashamed to say still ills me even now. I think of it and I want to find the nearest bottle and drown the memory out. It is nothing but a graveyard to me. I cannot give them good lordship when I am not sure of my own mind. I would have run them into the ground just by existing. At least left in their own hands they can make their village prosper, the way it should have been were things different.
no subject
I'm not unhappy with you, Athos.
[ He falls into a gentler stride, his eyes falling back to the forest floor. ]
You must know, I am a man whose family lost their throne. Who were driven from it, during a process that began while I was far from them. The whole reason I'm here is to find the means of reclaiming it, before the tyrant who took it sentences a whole nation to an endless night.
I don't want you to feel the same regrets that I do. What you've given away would not be easily reclaimed. And some day, those people might have need of you, and you'll be unable to help, even if you're willing.
no subject
I cannot marry again. I would not. And my line will die with me regardless, Sturmhond. [ It's the one thing he will never be able to die. ] Perhaps I should have found someone suitable but. [ A pause. ] I have seen what men do with power. Would it not be best to have it spread between them? So that they may hold each other accountable. And were they to ever face someone trying to challenge that I do not doubt my Captain would send us back. They made an impression. So they are still protected. Just not by a name.
no subject
Then they'll be left to make decisions by committee. As someone who has wasted far too much time in meetings of that nature, I can tell you, they don't go well.
[ He shrugs his shoulders and keeps walking. ]
Democracy isn't for everyone. But perhaps you're right. Either way I'm not sure this is a topic we can agree on, my friend.
no subject
Come, your charge has gotten ahead of us. He must assume we've forgotten the matter at hand. [ He claps Sturmhond on the shoulder as he starts towards where he last saw the Bahari. He wants to make sure his friend knows that even their differences are now not enough to make him walk away. ]
no subject
We'd best catch him, then, I don't want to see him eat the forest out of stock.
[ Picking up the pace, he catches up with Athos and follows in Korol's footsteps. The exercise is likely to do them both good, and the talk reminded him vividly of his reasons for being here. His punishment has been put out of mind. Ultimately, nothing matters aside from returning to Ravka and reclaiming his family's throne. He'll go through whatever hardship he must to achieve that. With renewed resolve, he pushes on forward, meaning to catch up his bahari. ]