[WFRP2e] The Power of One - Part 2 - "Transire Benefaciendo"

[BananaPhone]

Taalia Giovanni

Taalia knelt down next to Cestie, Maso, and listened to his story. It was not a good one. He told her a history that was full of regret, wasted talent, deception, family shame, dishonorable conduct and exploitation that resulted in a man of his talents fleeing to the far end of Tilea and settling in quiet, beautiful little Bella Collina. Now the hike that Cestie had taken her on made a lot more sense in hindsight, witnessing that spectacle of the engineers with their flying suits and his words that she should be her own person in the world. In a way he had possibly been telling her: don't make the same mistakes he did.

It also put into focus this grand adventure they were on with the flying machine. At Cestie's age he figured that this was his final chance to really do something worthwhile, to give him a place, however minor, in the history books. To prove to future generations he had even existed.

The shepardess listened and just gave the man an avenue to own up and let it out. She didn't interrupt him or provide comments. No judgements or criticisms, they were useless by this point. Instead she just provided a a warm presence into which to reveal a deep and insecure vulnerability. Finally, when she felt it was the right time, she gave Cestie's shoulder another affectionate squeeze.

"You have to tell him," she spoke softly. Though, the more Taalia thought about it...what did Cestie owe him? It was a tragedy he had gone this far in life thinking Cestie was his father, but that wasn't the truth, nor was it Cestie's fault. That whore and her merchant were to blame, not Cestie. But still, that didn't take away from the devastation that was coming Biago's way. He looked in his 40s, thinking his whole life his father had abandoned him, now only to learn the truth: his mother was a lying she-devil and his actual father a manipulative opportunist.

"From the looks of things, he has been raised well. He has adoptive family looking out for him. That he's not yours won't change their fondness for him. Or it shouldn't anyway," she continued.

"He has a respectable life and position, provides a valued service to people, has those who care about him. He's done better than most. Be honest and tell him the story you just told me, and remember: you don't owe him anything. You're both victims of Illuminata's deception. Why do you think she told him you were the father instead of the merchant she was with? Inheritance, most likely."

Illuminata meant 'filled with light', in Tilean. Well, she was filled with something anyway.