Pain pulls up at the scattered pieces left of Roland's face. It isn't the words that pain him so much as the tone, that impulsive, maybe desperate tone. As if it has to be true, as if surely there's some way to find the happy ending at the end of this particular tale. Surely.
"I believe I do remember you," he says, after a moment. "A little. On the way- somewhere. The Legion was going somewhere. You and your mother. She must be your mother. You reminded me-"
Again, he gazes down. The child down there is still silent. Of course he is silent.
"I wondered what was in her mind when she brought you along. Did she know what was in store, sitting there with you? Must've known, at least a little. That she could have stayed back. Stayed where it was safe. Settled somewhere."
"May be cruel to ask a boy this of his own mother, but I suppose I'm asking anyway. Of course I'm asking anyway. Boy- Did you give your name? Don't quite recall. Mm. What was-"
He searches for the scattered edges of his thought, finds them.
no subject
"I believe I do remember you," he says, after a moment. "A little. On the way- somewhere. The Legion was going somewhere. You and your mother. She must be your mother. You reminded me-"
Again, he gazes down. The child down there is still silent. Of course he is silent.
"I wondered what was in her mind when she brought you along. Did she know what was in store, sitting there with you? Must've known, at least a little. That she could have stayed back. Stayed where it was safe. Settled somewhere."
"May be cruel to ask a boy this of his own mother, but I suppose I'm asking anyway. Of course I'm asking anyway. Boy- Did you give your name? Don't quite recall. Mm. What was-"
He searches for the scattered edges of his thought, finds them.
"Ah. Yes. Child. Do you think she knew?"