>>5143892“Edwin,” you begin, “I admit I’m… Not exxactly who I sssaid I am. And not from where I ssaid I wass.”
Edwin recoils slightly, despite his proclamation. It seems he really did want to be proven wrong, on some level. Still, you press on.
“I wasss involved in the attack on the Tower. You’re right.”
“You… You lied to me,” he murmurs, tears now building in his eyes. “Used me.”
“Yesss,” you admit sadly.
Again, he is shocked into silence, gripping the back of a nearby chesterfield.
“But not without love,” you say, truthfully. “That wasn’t fake. I promissse. And never for anything but a worthy cause… A caussse I think you can underssstand.”
Edwin seems to be struggling to take all this in, looking dizzy and faint. “What? How could you possibly think I’d approve of—”
“Of attacking the Tower?” you finish.
Edwin doesn’t speak up, so you continue: “The Tower that threw your mother out for the ‘crime’ of having a child—you? That rejected you, rejectss Paula? The elitissst ssnobss who rule thiss ccity in all but name, and trample on the little unmagical person like you—like me?”
>12: Edwin will not cast you out of his home without hearing you out“Izzy,” he appeals to you, “you blew up the Endless Fountain.”
“Not persssonally,” you protest.
“There were DEATHS, Izzy.”
You hesitate. That’s a tougher one to argue against.
“No unavoidable oness,” you say. “No unearned onesss.”
Edwin’s eyes widen at this callous utilitarianism—or, at least, so it must seem to him. Humans, especially the highly ‘civilzied’ humans of a Hawksong’s upper crust, they’re soft. It’s not Edwin’s fault, of course—he is a creature created by circumstance. But you have coddled him too long, perhaps, as his father and his entire society does. He deserves truth—hard truth, if not the WHOLE truth just yet.
“The Tower keepss thingss from you,” you say. “The demonss that esscaped into Hawkssong… That iss true. They did. But do you know who ssummoned thosse demonss? Who wass holding them there, using them?”
Edwin sits down. He doesn’t speak, but you can see understanding on his face.
“Yess,” you confirm. “They rail against demonisssts, or occultism, or hedge-magic, but it’ss only sso they can have a monopoly on all of it. Sso they can use exxxclussively what they deny to the rest of you... Even people with potential, SSO much potential, like YOU.”
You sit down beside him. He doesn’t look at you, but he doesn’t move, either. Taking a deep breath, you take his hand in yours. Finally, he meets your eyes.
“Edwin,” you say softly, “The Tower iss not GOOD. The attack wass jusstified.”
“How can I possibly know if you’re telling the truth?” he asks.
You smile, and squeeze his hand.
“Trusst me,” you implore.
