In Which Severin's Answer Is Silence

February 10, 1178

"So the guard said your daughter was ill."

And why had the guard told Remiel that? Trying to guilt him for all of this? Annoyed as he was, Severin supposed he couldn't blame him; he himself had only come down here to gloat, after all. "Not so ill as my other daughter was."

"Then it must have been given freely, whether she realizes it or not." The monk gave a knowing, nonchalant shrug. "They all catch on to that eventually. They learn that they won't be stuck in bed for weeks if they cooperate."

A hint of a smirk lurked on his lips. Severin frowned. "You are one twisted son of a bitch."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that; you don't know half of what I've done." He was begging to be asked but he wasn't about to answer, so Severin kept silent. He wasn't sure he cared to know anyway. "But enough about me. Fire still giving you headaches?"

Again, Severin said nothing. But it was a quiet Remiel could read. "Yes, then. The water as well? That's strange; water was your mother's strength, you know. Maybe it's not hereditary. Or perhaps you take after your father--not that he has a drop of that blood in him, but he's always struck me as an air man."

"My father?" His father knew Remiel too?

"I only met him once. Thought he was harboring your mother. Turns out I was right." Scowling, Remiel hucked a wad of spit to the stone floor. "Lying piece of shit doesn't know how much trouble he caused me."

Lying piece of shit. Hello kettle, meet the pot. "My father is a hundred times the man you ever were."

"Your father is a disgusting sinner. You know your mother was working as a whore when she met him, don't you? You never would've been born if he hadn't had his purse on him." A dry, hollow cackle rasped from within the cell. "Ah, but I can't imagine they told you that. Same reason your mother never told you about her heritage, no doubt. You're already a bastard; you know what it is to be unwanted and abhorred."

Severin's lip curled and his toe twitched in agitation. This was hardly what he'd come for. "I just wanted to tell you that we found your stash. Lucien may be up again in a few days."

"And why do you think I care?"

"I don't." For the first time that day, Severin smiled. "I just wanted to thank you for your oversight."

Remiel's mouth fell agape. Satisfied, Severin turned on his heel and started to leave.

"Severin."

He wasn't immediately allowed to finish. "That would be Lord Severin to you."

Another chuckle. Another scowl. "Call yourself what you like, boy. But I'm curious; before all of this, did you ever do something unnatural? Something you couldn't explain but you knew deep down was always your fault? Perhaps something that made you happy--even if it shouldn't have?"

No--he had not come down here for this.

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