Father's Lament
On Zandeer's last cycle in Night, he chose not to hide from his subjects, and instead flew openly to the edge of all things twilight -- on the border between Night and Day. Carrot was there already, in his hazy starlit form, looking at the space between the planes, and the swirling nova they had created.
Carrot: "Zandeer. Why do you come?"
Zandeer: "They should know, brother."
Carrot: "You suppose to make this decision for me?" Zandeer ruffled his feathers, and chose his next words carefully. Zandeer: "No, brother... Only to offer counsel." Carrot was quiet for a time, staring out into the mix of sun and moon. Eventually, he looked to his left hand, and twirled the band on his finger. Zandeer stayed perfectly still, lest he influence his brother further, letting him come to a decision on his own. When he finally spoke, Carrot's voice was hoarse, and burdened with longing. Carrot: "I suppose I should have known... Sunlight being in our blood. Oh great Ra, divine Sarenrae... Our parent was never cruel nor kind, was he?"
Zandeer: "Balanced, in all things." Carrot nodded, his eyes never leaving the horizon. This time he spoke not to Zandeer, but to his brother's Blessed. Carrot: "In the early days of each iteration, my parent bears many children. We must forgive him in this, for Raemus has always been a dualistic figure, and thus the conception comes easy. He does not receive his Walker status until later, when he has realized the gravity of what he has done..."
Zandeer: "And then the awakening..."
Carrot: "As he awakens, so does he force his children. I remember every Infinity -- with great haziness, you must understand -- as do my siblings. We rise and fall with it, at the whim of the One God. This time round, I am the last of my direct siblings, left in exile to rule what my parent disdained. Still, I see Scath in the shadows of the valley, Gruama in Noelani, and Lasair in your enemy, Rastelviri."
Zandeer: "Precious names, given at birth." Carrot sighed, giving his brother the barest acknowledgement. Carrot: "A harsh lesson. Where I shun my True Name in exile, my younger siblings -- the Owls of Dylath-Leen -- were left to find their own."
Zandeer: "A crime of the highest order. A fascimile of fatherhood. You see the result... Ragarot's name so easily mangled, while the Black Owl lives 'free' of such shackles, and seeks the end of days. Only my name remains somewhat whole, and even now I fear it is incomplete..." Carrot returned to twirling the ring on his finger, and looked deeper at the nexus of Night and Day, where his son lay in waiting. Carrot: "I did everything I could to be unlike my father. If only I had realized that the opposite of my father was just another extreme... Seek the existence of Delikul for proof of that. But your sisters were so like your Mother and I, that the raising was easy... We weren't ready for you." Zandeer cleared his throat, but kept his words to himself. Carrot got the message. Carrot: "I wasn't ready for you. You were so like him... Like my father. Speaking of balance between Night and Day, counseling your Mother and Zi-Zi to speak again. And then you got Raemus involved... My words then were harsh, my son. As were my actions."
Zandeer: "You exiled him."
Carrot: "So unlike my father, that I circle all the way around, and became just like him." Carrot scoffed, his starlit form changing to Human skin and black ink, a lit cigarette burning between his fingers. He inhaled, blowing smoke into the air, which Zandeer delicately sidestepped. Zandeer: "We have all made mistakes, brother."
Carrot: "So we have..." He took another breath, and looked directly at Alistair. Carrot: "Remove this cage, my son. I would undo your exile. I would speak to you again... Your mother has returned, although she does not yet remember -- as we all do, for a time. As we are, your sisters and I must respond via poison, and your mother by force. We don't want this, Alistair. I don't want this. I would give anything to see you home again." Zandeer hissed caution, but the twilight thundered over him. Alistair: "Even your throne?" Carrot smiled, but there was no joy in it. Only a father's lament. Carrot: "The Lordship of Night can not be given, my boy. Only taken. But if you wish to follow custom... If you can defeat your Mother, and bypass your sisters, and dominate my vassals and knights, I will accept your challenge." Zandeer cooed warning. If Alistair got past Tesin Movahesh, all of Night would crumble behind her, until he stood at Carrot's feet. From there it would be an even fight, his son so infused with Day... Zandeer did not enjoy those odds. Alistair: "I'll see you soon, father."
Carrot: "I look forward to welcoming you home." The twilight shuddered, and then faded. Soon only Night remained on the horizon. Zandeer: "You could have denied him."
Carrot: "I could have."
Zandeer: "Be careful, Carrot. I would hate to lose another brother this year." Carrot smiled, and Zandeer's stomach flipped. The Lord of Night knew something that he did not. Carrot: "Go to Andoran, brother. Perhaps you will find good news within its walls." The Dreamer bowed his head in thanks, Carrot craned his neck in return. Zandeer: "Good luck."
Carrot: "Safe flight." There was a great flapping of wings, as Carrot's form faded to the size of an ant, and then the vision fades...
Zandeer: "They should know, brother."
Carrot: "You suppose to make this decision for me?" Zandeer ruffled his feathers, and chose his next words carefully. Zandeer: "No, brother... Only to offer counsel." Carrot was quiet for a time, staring out into the mix of sun and moon. Eventually, he looked to his left hand, and twirled the band on his finger. Zandeer stayed perfectly still, lest he influence his brother further, letting him come to a decision on his own. When he finally spoke, Carrot's voice was hoarse, and burdened with longing. Carrot: "I suppose I should have known... Sunlight being in our blood. Oh great Ra, divine Sarenrae... Our parent was never cruel nor kind, was he?"
Zandeer: "Balanced, in all things." Carrot nodded, his eyes never leaving the horizon. This time he spoke not to Zandeer, but to his brother's Blessed. Carrot: "In the early days of each iteration, my parent bears many children. We must forgive him in this, for Raemus has always been a dualistic figure, and thus the conception comes easy. He does not receive his Walker status until later, when he has realized the gravity of what he has done..."
Zandeer: "And then the awakening..."
Carrot: "As he awakens, so does he force his children. I remember every Infinity -- with great haziness, you must understand -- as do my siblings. We rise and fall with it, at the whim of the One God. This time round, I am the last of my direct siblings, left in exile to rule what my parent disdained. Still, I see Scath in the shadows of the valley, Gruama in Noelani, and Lasair in your enemy, Rastelviri."
Zandeer: "Precious names, given at birth." Carrot sighed, giving his brother the barest acknowledgement. Carrot: "A harsh lesson. Where I shun my True Name in exile, my younger siblings -- the Owls of Dylath-Leen -- were left to find their own."
Zandeer: "A crime of the highest order. A fascimile of fatherhood. You see the result... Ragarot's name so easily mangled, while the Black Owl lives 'free' of such shackles, and seeks the end of days. Only my name remains somewhat whole, and even now I fear it is incomplete..." Carrot returned to twirling the ring on his finger, and looked deeper at the nexus of Night and Day, where his son lay in waiting. Carrot: "I did everything I could to be unlike my father. If only I had realized that the opposite of my father was just another extreme... Seek the existence of Delikul for proof of that. But your sisters were so like your Mother and I, that the raising was easy... We weren't ready for you." Zandeer cleared his throat, but kept his words to himself. Carrot got the message. Carrot: "I wasn't ready for you. You were so like him... Like my father. Speaking of balance between Night and Day, counseling your Mother and Zi-Zi to speak again. And then you got Raemus involved... My words then were harsh, my son. As were my actions."
Zandeer: "You exiled him."
Carrot: "So unlike my father, that I circle all the way around, and became just like him." Carrot scoffed, his starlit form changing to Human skin and black ink, a lit cigarette burning between his fingers. He inhaled, blowing smoke into the air, which Zandeer delicately sidestepped. Zandeer: "We have all made mistakes, brother."
Carrot: "So we have..." He took another breath, and looked directly at Alistair. Carrot: "Remove this cage, my son. I would undo your exile. I would speak to you again... Your mother has returned, although she does not yet remember -- as we all do, for a time. As we are, your sisters and I must respond via poison, and your mother by force. We don't want this, Alistair. I don't want this. I would give anything to see you home again." Zandeer hissed caution, but the twilight thundered over him. Alistair: "Even your throne?" Carrot smiled, but there was no joy in it. Only a father's lament. Carrot: "The Lordship of Night can not be given, my boy. Only taken. But if you wish to follow custom... If you can defeat your Mother, and bypass your sisters, and dominate my vassals and knights, I will accept your challenge." Zandeer cooed warning. If Alistair got past Tesin Movahesh, all of Night would crumble behind her, until he stood at Carrot's feet. From there it would be an even fight, his son so infused with Day... Zandeer did not enjoy those odds. Alistair: "I'll see you soon, father."
Carrot: "I look forward to welcoming you home." The twilight shuddered, and then faded. Soon only Night remained on the horizon. Zandeer: "You could have denied him."
Carrot: "I could have."
Zandeer: "Be careful, Carrot. I would hate to lose another brother this year." Carrot smiled, and Zandeer's stomach flipped. The Lord of Night knew something that he did not. Carrot: "Go to Andoran, brother. Perhaps you will find good news within its walls." The Dreamer bowed his head in thanks, Carrot craned his neck in return. Zandeer: "Good luck."
Carrot: "Safe flight." There was a great flapping of wings, as Carrot's form faded to the size of an ant, and then the vision fades...
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