Previous Richard and Jhereg file
Narrator:
Jhereg and Richard meet that afternoon for a late lunch. Guards see to it that they will not be disturbed in Jhereg's tent. They talk of light topics until the conversation turns serious.
Jhereg:
A week ago I hung six mercenaries. In several hours I will hang yet another. You would think that they would get the message by now.
Richard: [shrugs]
After centuries of hanging such scum in Chesterton, we still occasionally have to hang some more. At this rate, though, I think you won't be hanging them en masse for much longer. The countryside is already vastly improved since the last time I was here.
Jhereg:
Bye the way, this morning's events disturb me. What did you do to pull the information from Bart's mind. My mother said that my father had similar powers.
Narrator:
Richard stops and stares at Jhereg. Moments pass and Jhereg is casting about for something else to say to break the tension when Richard finally speaks.
Richard: [Starting slowly]
Sometimes I forget that you weren't raised in York, Jhereg. Your father... at the time of his death, I was beginning to think that we might become friends. Until he killed a dozen innocent people, almost including myself, in a vast self-immolation to avoid being in a jail cell. That's how he got himself into that spot. His mind was strong with powers ripe for ill-use, and he did so often. In my family, we teach responsibility with such abilities. Even so, a display like the one you just saw is rare. I'll be feeling the repercussions for years. 'tis odd, isn't it? I could have flayed him alive with a dagger and few would have thought ill of me because I had cause, yet display a power outside the ken of most people, and one becomes a monster, the most sensible activities become evil.
As for how... well, it's hard to explain. The ability grows on you slowly. Not everyone has any powers, and the specific types seem to run largely in family lines. I can read the thoughts from someone's mind. I am not terribly good at it, and it doesn't always work. Your father didn't have that talent, but had others far more potent. He could heal vast hurts with his mind, change his shape, and control the minds of others. He died by controlling the mind of the Abbot of the Claw. The Abbot was an evil man, and we were certain he was involved in something bad, but it was a reckless thing to do. In truth, I don't believe there is ever a good way to use such a skill.
Rabban rarely thought through the consequences of his actions, relying on his position, skill, and power to carry him through. That was such a case. Even if the Abbot hadn't been under observation, how could we have extracted ourselves from that mess? As soon as he had been released, the Abbot would have ordered Rabban's arrest, at the least, if not the arrest of our entire party, and a friend would have burned at the stake without our aid. It was folly, and evil, and ended ill. I'm sure you know the basic story -- the Abbot began parroting your father's words and fawned over him. Guards burst in, led by a man larger than Hesketh -- Captain Laurent, a Paladin with an enormously powerful sacred sword. Rabban had a magic necklace with pendants that exploded into fire when thrown. He threw one at the priests and guards before I could stop him, but was too close to the explosion. It exploded all of the other pendants and turned your father into a charred mass of melted armor and burned flesh. It would have killed all of his companions if Laurent hadn't been there; Laurent's sword protected the Abbot and a few others, and Laurent managed to heal me enough to keep me alive.
[Voice sinking low]
Bahamut forgive me, but I have never been able to forgive Rabban for that act.
Narrator:
Richard is now staring at the table, thoughts hundreds of leagues away. After a moment, he sighs heavily.
Richard:
I'm sorry, that wasn't what you asked me. You may carry these powers within your blood, Jhereg, and you or your children might have them. What can I tell you? Ask me, and I will try to answer. It is not a subject often discussed, even within families. But you have a right to know. Uncontrolled, they can be very dangerous. You should at least know what to look for.
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