What Scars Remain Part 3
The office was not as large as Lorie would have expected. The walls were white and unadorned, a single window looking out onto the yard of the former prison. A desk filled most of the space, a chair on either side of it.
The chair on the opposite side of the desk seemed to be the centerpiece of the room, large and ornate, carved out of what appeared to be ebony. It almost seemed to be closer to being a throne than a mere chair, now that Lorie was inspecting it closely. She leaned in to inspect what appeared to be a medallion set into the elaborate headset of the chair. A graven image carved into its surface depicted a hunter doing battle with a gryphon in flight, a scene she had seen represented on the flags fluttering from the ramparts of Freetown, rendered in silver on a black field.
Nice bit of nonsense, that, came a grizzled voice from behind. Lorie spun on the spot and shot to attention to find herself facing the head of the Black Marshals standing in the doorway. I aint never even set eyes on a gryphon before, he said as he stepped around the desk toward the chair. Well, eye on, anyway, he appended, running his fingers over the eyepatch covering his right eye.
Director General Redstone, sir! Lorie saluted.
At ease, Director Redstone said. Im not in yer chain of command, not yet, anyway. I am gonna have to insist on sittin in my chair, however.
Oh. Of course! Lorie said, feeling the blush rise to her cheeks, hopeful that it would not show with the red complexion her skin already possessed. She moved to the other side of the desk and took a seat, sliding her tail through the gap between the seat and the back of the chair. For what seemed like a long moment she stared at the man across the way from her. His hair was shot with silver to match his remaining eye, his charcoal doublet and white sleeves highlighting just how dark his skin really was. His face was furrowed with lines as he entered the latter half of his sixth decade in life.
Im
Im not really sure where to start, Lorie confessed.
Ycould start by askin permission to speak freely.
Oh Gods, Lorie, you simpleton, Lorie muttered to herself. Permission to speak freely, sir.
Granted, Director Redstone said, leaning back in his chair. Its good tsee you, Lorie.
Is it? Lorie snapped. She immediately regretted the tone of her voice, but she supposed it was inevitable. There was twenty-five years of bottled emotions in play here, there was no way to do this gracefully.
Director Redstone sighed, slumping slightly in his seat. I spose I deserve that, he said.
Oh gods, Im sorry, Lorie apologized. That didnt come out how I meant it, its just that
Gods, I dont even know what I should call you!
Im gonna guess father is outta thequation, Director Redstone said. Seein as how youve been makin a reputation for yerself under yer mothers maiden name. Redstone slid a pile of pile of papers in front of him and began leafing through them. Top of yer class in academy. Highest marksmanship scores on record. Perfect performance evaluations.
It wasnt meant to be a slight against you, Lorie insisted. I just wanted to make my way under my own steam. It was important to me that I earn it, not just be handed it because I was--
Daughter of Hells Warden? Th Protector of the Keep? Parliamentarian Redstone?
Lorie nodded. Youve
Developed quite a storied reputation over the years. It wasnt right for them to practically exile you like this.
Redstone raised his visible eyebrow. Is that what ythink happened?
Isnt it? Lorie asked in a guarded tone.
Redstone chuckled to himself. Not at all, he said. Not in thslightest. Really, this is the best thing that coulda happened. Im a law man, not a man of laws. I did my time in the parliament, establishin the marshals kept me apart of thcabinet angot me outta the Keep. Now I got me a whole lotta deputies out there doin what I used tdo on a continental scale while I get tmind the scales of justice. Best thing. Really.
You were quite the parliamentarian, Lorie insisted. You were instrumental in getting the Equality Decree passed, you helped reorder the entire monarchy and elevated the voice of the people! How can you say that this was the best thing for you?
I didnt do it all by myself, Lorie, Redstone said quietly.
I know, Lorie said, nodding vigorously, you and Birchwood worked together to--
Not who I was speakin of, Redstone interrupted, though he certainly did as much and more than I did. No, what you dont understand is that nothin I did was my own doin, I was just
Passin on the word of someone else. Someone who did thwrong things for thright reasons, someone I had tstop andve spent all my days since wonderin how it coulda gone different. Eventually I just
Ran outta words. Had nothin left toffer once things were on a new path. Thats why I had tleave.
A stony silence descended on the pair, father and daughter staring at each other from across a desk that may as well have been an ocean.
You look just like er, Redstone said with a faint smile.
Lorie laughed so hard she snorted. I think most most would think I take after you, she said, tapping the point of one of her horns.
I dont see it, Redstone said. I just see yer mother in you.
You
You didnt come when she passed, Lorie said quietly. I thought for sure that youd
Redstone sighed deeply, interlocking his fingers as he leaned forward on his desk. Im sure yer mother told you what went down between us, he began. I
I reached out ther. Back when thOrphan revolution failed, I thought for sure shed be willin to let me back intyer life. But she told me tstay away. The harm I done her
Well, it was thsort that ran deep. Despite that, though, I loved her nough trespect her wishes. I stayed away, even after she was gone. Did I make thright call? In retrospect, probably not. But Im a man defined as much by my mistakes as my successes, and Ive a whole lotta them behind me.
Is that why you finally accepted my application? Lorie asked. You wanted to make amends?
Well, yseemed determined to come out here fer some reason. I figured yer mother never said anythin bout ignorin you if you came lookin for me, so Im still on the straight an narrow in that regard.
Its not just about you, uh
Sir? Darren? Well have to work on that. But its not about you. The point is that I
believe in the work youre doing out here. This doesnt just run on your side of the family, mind, my mother was every inch the lawman you were too. This
This is just what I was meant to do.
And Torrino? Redstone asked.
We all have to make sacrifices, Lorie swallowed. I
I love Torrino, but if he wont come with me--
Redstone held his hand up to cut her off. Dont make that decision. Not yet, anyway. That was one of thmistakes in my life I was just speakin of. Thpoint is
If ywant it, theres a place fer yhere in the Black Marshals. Its a miserable, cold, thankless existence, anyneed tthink it over long anhard fore ygo ansacrifice a warm bed anloving heart to sign up. Just
Think on it fore ycommit, alright? Think on it a long time.
Lorie nodded slowly. And if I dont join up?
Redstone smiled. Then my door is always open tyou, anyou wont ever worry bout havin tsalute me or risk thappearance of my playin favorites. Personally, Id prefer that, but I forfeited thright ttell yhow tlive a long time ago.
Lorie nodded again. Ill think about it, she agreed. Ill think about it until Im sure, one way or the other.
Thats all I could have asked for, Redstone said. The room lightened as the rainclouds broke, allowing the golden light of the sunset to spill into the small office.
Say, Redstone said, nodding his head out the window. You fancy takin a ride while yer thinkin things over?
Id love to, Lorie said.
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