Let the road

Perhaps another father would see Ruth’s current situation as impressive. While he was only filling in for this Megara, they clearly trusted Ruth enough to allow them to take their place when it came to greeting new people. However, Kellam wasn’t most fathers, Ruth could be the leader of Arlathan and Kellam would still find reasons to be disappointed in his only son.

What Kellam was seeing though, was a son who was a drunk, who was high, who was living in another person’s home. He didn’t see a son who had a job, who was trusted to fill in for someone important. Instead he saw the disappointment he’d always seen. His expectations for Ruth had always been high, and Ruth had never met them. He’d left the clan because he couldn’t meet them, and now he was still not living up to Kellam’s expectations. The voices in his mind didn’t help, they only reaffirmed his own thoughts about his son.

I would… appreciate the help. He tried not to choke on the words, but he was wore the fuck out and some of the injured and sick were the clan’s healers, leaving them short on healer’s. He hated feeling inadequate, and going to his son of all people for assistance just made it taste that much more bitter in his mouth.

Some of those effected have been the healers which has stretched us a bit thin. He explained, he didn’t like feeling inadequate, especially around his son. It pained him, and it probably showed on his face. He fidgeted in his seat, there was a small voice, very small, in him that said he should ask Ruth some personal questions, probably was the voice of his dead wife that sometimes made it through the crowd of voices that plagued his mind. He wasn’t really sure what to ask though, but as the image of Amara flashed through his mind, he, very awkwardly, came up with a question and as the words left his mouth, he immediately wished he could take them back.

So, have you been in Arlathan long? Wince.