“Yougot a serious look about you,” Zaria said.
Heglanced at her, briefly.“I’m fine.”
“Thinkingof your father?”
Heblinked, caught off guard.“No.”
“No?”
“Not atall, actually.”
Sheripped off a hunk of meat with her teeth.The sound made Isaac flinch.“Whynot?We’re close now.Gotta be.Might be time to rehearse a speech.”
“I’ve ...never actually thought about what I’ll do when I reach him.”
Thatwasn’t quite true.He had thought of it, occasionally.Mostly, the thoughts hadmade him afraid, and he had never figured out why.
He wasgetting angry at himself.
“Thefocus was always the journey,” he said.“The dangers I’d face.How much harderI had to train to face them.It just never seemed ...appropriate tofantasize, overmuch.”
“Iexpect you’d also dread the idea of him turning out worse than your uncle.”
Hedidn’t answer.
“Well,”she said, scooting forward on the bench, “after being imprisoned so long, I’dguess he’s thought much about it, to say the least.Probably cry his eyes outat the sight of you.”
Isaactossed another wad of lichen into the fire.“He feels like a stranger to me.You know, he’s just ...an idea.I’ve never seen his face.I’ve never heardhis voice.All I know about him is what others have told me.He feels as realto me as all the figures of history.”
Somethingoccurred to him.
“I’vereally just been thinking,” he said, “about all the things I’ll do after Irescue him, all the places I want to travel, and ...he’s not in any of them.I’ve never included him in my fantasies.I ...I don’t want to.I don’treally want him to be in my life.”
Thefire gave a sharp crack.
“Imean,” Isaac said, speaking quickly, “of course, I would be happy to speak withhim, before then.I’m sure he could tell me of my mother.I wouldn’t ...disregard who he represents.That would be cruel.”
“Don’tgotta explain yourself to me, love.I’ve been there.”She crossed her legs, hereyes bright with fire.“You never met the man.You’ve lived all your lifewithout him.To say the least, your experience with mentors also weren’t thebest.I wouldn’t harm yourself for feelin’ as you do.In fact, if I was you,I’d flip them both the finger and head out the door.”
He didnot answer.
“Allthe same,” she said.“You’ll get to know your father.Once you talk, you mightfind a difference, in how you feel.Maybe things’llchange.”
He brokeoff more chunks of hardtack, just to do something.“What about you?”
“Whatabout me?”
“We’reclose to the treasure, as well.Does that make you happy?”
“Some,I suppose.Can’t say the idea of being rich don’t tickle me a bit, but....”She shrugged, ripping through another hunk of meat.“Not thinking about itneither, actually.More happy that my old crew aren’thanging above me, like a specter.You should’ve seen the way they fled fromus.”She laughed.“Neverseen Soren turn craven like that.ThinkI’d give all the gold in the world just to see the back of her ears flop awayagain.”
“Someof us should’ve been running with her.”
“Oh,don’t you start that shite again.I saved your life, young sir.I amindispensable to your need.Just say the word, in fact, and I’ll happily acceptsome land, as due payment.”
Herolled his eyes.
Asilence fell.
