Role

Chapter 3

Mezai devoured books on the locales beyond their small slice of the western
continent. The questions continued: Did you know that the Sultan has trained
dancing camels in Hamsah Mu'tazz? Why can't we go to Darsylon? You said you
liked wine! One historian wrote about a cult in Arkham, but we can't know for
sure. What do you think, mom? To these questions, Merethyll had even fewer
answers. The widow found herself praying to her goddess, asking if she was
unfit to be a mother. Merethyll would read her Mezai's books late into the
night, trying - and failing - to understand the appeal of places like
Tir-Talath. Wasn't it just a smaller version of the many cities that were near
it?

Upon reaching the age of maturity, Mezai approached her mother with the
conversation she had been dreading. Ever diligent, her daughter had prepared a
list of pros and cons to convince her that she should support Mezai in moving
to Galadon. While Merethyll had no inclination to deny Mezai her wishes, she
noted that the cons column was suspiciously empty. Beneath the heading, a
small phrase had been penned and underlined: Mom - are you coming with me??

Merethyll finally understood her own parents, who had never much liked her
taste in men. They agreed to the wedding with a smile and a sigh, believing in
the joy that sparkled in their daughter's hazel eyes. Mezai had already made
her decision, and now it was time for her to decide on her own. In the end,
she spoke the words of her heart: "I can't. Galadon would suffocate me, and
I'm not sure you'll stay there for more than a year. You knew that already,
though. That's why it's in the cons list. Let us talk about your plans. How
will you afford to live there?"