Role

Chapter 6

On this last trip with his mother he again visited with Shadow. The beast was
quite friendly at this point. It would follow him around in his wanderings,
often out of sight if anything came near. Shadow seemed as though it was
still formidable, but wouldn't behave with aggression toward others any
longer, which was not always the case. On their last night in the forest,
Barthomel and Reeia were visited by Tjirbin, Barthomel's father.

The exchange went better than Barthomel had expected. When he had
eavesdropped on the conversations his parents had on these trips, Tjirbin
always had disdain and critical judgements to offer. Now, seeing his son in
the flesh his tone was lighter, and he wore what was close to a smile. A few
times his demeanor changed and he cursed about something to do with city
life, but at the end he offered to teach Barthomel a thing or two if ever he
had the stomach to live on the land.

Hopeful of what the exchange could mean for the future, Barthomel and Reeia
returned home to the Loch. Within the turn of a season Reeia had become
infirm. She had lived a very long time and done much in her life, devoted to
the gods as well as her son. When she passed in the following month it
wounded Barthomel like nothing he had felt. He grieved her well, but it took
him many months. The Elders of Loch Terradian offered that he could stay in
the town as long as he wished, but he was coming of an age where he must
decide his path.

Barthomel decided he would visit his father before anything else. Uncertain
if the elder giant had even heard of his mothers passing, Barthomel wanted to
at least inform him and speak with the man before deciding his next step.