Ways of Power 1: Power Rises by R. M. Willis Read Free Book Online Page A

I'm not going to like the direction of this conversation."
    Adroman started to speak, hesitated, and then started again. "It's good to see you, son--"
    Rancoth's head snapped towards Adroman, and he couldn’t help a look of loathing from flashing across his face. Okay, maybe it hasn't been completely replaced by pity , Rancoth thought. He tried to calm his expression and tone of voice before responding, "Please, call me Rancoth."
    Adroman managed a nervous smile, "You're right. I'm sorry. I haven't earned the right to call you that. Please understand, I love you and-"
    Rancoth jumped to his feet, flinging his chair to the floor a few feet behind him. "LOVE ME!?!" He shouted, as he fought to keep from crying. "You don't abandon your loved ones when they need you the most! You don't drop your child on the doorstep of a complete stranger, and then come back years later and pretend that everything is all right! I’m here tonight for one reason and one reason only: Because the man who had the kindness and courage to raise me asked me to come.
    "Now you tell me what you want, and do it without the platitudes of a long dead affection. Or I'll leave whether Grecrum wants me to or not!" By this time Rancoth was leaning towards both men, his fists planted firmly in the center of the table.
    Adroman closed his gaping mouth, and with swimming eyes, looked to the floor in shame. "I didn't abandon you," he said so softly Rancoth barely heard him.
    "What?" came Rancoth's impatient reply, while Grecrum continued to sit quietly, content to allow father and son to bare their souls to one another.
    Adroman looked up, and with renewed vigor repeated, "I said, I didn't abandon you."
    "Then what would you call it? Because that's sure as hell what it felt like to me."
    Adroman took a couple of deep breaths before answering. "I knew that you deserved better than I was capable of giving you. I knew that if I stayed, no matter how much I loved you, I would have made you miserable and you would never have been able to move past what happened. Because I've never been able to move past it . You deserved to be somewhere and with someone who could invest their energy in something other than grief. Look at me. Take a close look." Adroman then stood with arms outstretched and slowly turned around.
    "I am nothing. Nothing! Can't you understand that? This, son, is what you too would look like, had I not done what was best for you. I didn't want to go. You were all that I had left. I loved you. I still love you." The desperate look on Adroman's face was almost more than Rancoth could bear.
    As he began to choke on his own tears, Rancoth asked, "So am I supposed to thank you? Am I supposed to fall into your arms and tell you how much I love you, how much I've missed you? Well I'm sorry, but I can't do that."
    Adroman shook his head, and slumped back into his chair. "No, son, I don't want your gratitude, or even your love if you're unwilling to give it. I just needed you to hear it. I needed you to know. I hoped you would be able to understand--that's all." The room was silent then for some time, both Rancoth and Adroman lost in their own thoughts.
    Once again it was Grecrum who broke the silence. "Time. It can be an unyielding enemy, or the ultimate ally. Through it wounds grow deep and fester with rot. Yet if we are patient, time eventually heals all things."
    Rancoth nodded and looked up. "Well, now that we've both had the opportunity to get some things off of our chests, what were you two conspiring about when I walked in?"
    Adroman and Grecrum looked thoughtfully at one another, and Grecrum took the lead. "As you know, I had a meeting this morning with Dal'Asaid, the new tribal leader of our friends to the south. He would like us to return to him a necklace that was loaned to us by his predecessor. He states that it belongs to the Elfkin people, and is rightfully worn only by the chief's daughter. According to their shamans, it contains great power, and