Lake Rodney Sailor Song

His ears twitched as he listened, gaze flicking to hers and then away again, retreating. It was a painful thing to admit, he knew, and somehow eyes upon you made it all the worse.

He breathed deeply. I never knew my real father. But there was a man—he came to Godsmouth every moon. Always with ‘gifts’ for Herod. My mother despised him. I didn’t understand why, not then. But now... now I think I do.

He shook his head slightly, as if disbelieving, working out something in his mind as he spoke. It was Herod that raised me, since I was just a pup. He—he wasn't all bad, you know. There was good in him. I've seen—saw it. He had a sense of humor, though you wouldn't believe it.

The half-breed looked down, fidgeting as he picked dirt from around his nails. I didn't realize, for a long time, that anything was wrong. Not until Juno. That was when I learned that what we did... wasn’t what other families did.

A sharp, humorless chuckle broke through, brittle and forced, I mean, besides the cult and all, obviously.

Machi paused, silent for a moment before his voice broke through the lake's serenity, Your father, he is your Herod? There was no need to clarify his true question further. He knew she would understand.