Inheritance

Part 2. Sixty-Four: Friends

"The Arrozan family drove Ashaya mad...?" Eory repeated Terran's sentence.

Terran nodded, feeling somewhat amused by Eory's apparent shock. "You seem to find this surprising. You've spent most of your life being lectured on your family's atrocities—why should you be surprised?"

Eory lowered his head in shame, unable to meet Terran's eyes.

"Terran, be kind." Eliita pleaded. "He is not like the rest of his family."

Eory smiled, soothed and encouraged by the dwarfess' understanding nature. "It's okay, Eliita. I know my family did unforgivable, reprehensible things. It only makes sense that I should carry the burden of their mistakes as their last living heir. Please go on, Terran."

Terran was impressed by the fairy's response. He gave him a nod and a smile. "It is responsible for you to carry your family's sins as your own burden. Perhaps you are learning what being a man entails. I think you're holding your head higher every day and speaking easier, too."

Eory blushed and hid a smile at the elf's praise.

Terran cleared his throat "Ashaya's whole family—the Heraths--were tortured and killed by your mother and father."

Hearing of his family's evil deeds never got easier. Eory leaned his forehead into his palm with his eyes closed.

Terran gave him the moment he needed.

Eliita interjected with compassion, "You're not your parents. You shouldn't feel bad for the pain they have caused. Don't listen to Terran. Being a man has nothing to do with taking on sins that aren't your own."

Eory took a deep breath. Gutturally, he choked out, "Why? Why would they do such a thing?"

Terran sighed. "It's always the same story with your parents, Eory. The Heraths stood up to your father, and Pollyana tortured and killed them. Ashaya was also a victim of this torture. Pollyanna released him back into society as a broken, addled man to show everyone in Maribel the price of treason. He can't possibly hope to take his revenge on Pollyanna, but he can hope to take it on you. I don't envy you, Eory. I think you're sitting in a room full of people who hate you."

Eory looked around.

He could have sworn that everyone in the hall was looking at him and whispering about him in that moment.

Eliita violently shoved an elbow into her lover's side. She then turned to Eory with a bright, understanding face. "Don't worry, we'll protect you as best we can from anyone who means you harm. However, may I offer you some advice?"

Eory nodded eagerly.

"The best way to secure your safety is to try and show the people here that you are a good person—that you want to be everyone's friend—and to do that, you have to try harder at making friends!" Eliita exclaimed.

"But... I don't know how to make friends."

"I think you do!" Eliita protested. "You have a friend in me, and Them likes you, and Pollyanna does, too! And even Terran likes you!"

At the mention of Pollyanna, Eory's face fell. He took a sip of his orange juice, but otherwise could muster no words.

Them chimed in around a mouthful of eggs, "She doesn't hate you, you know. She's avoiding you because she wants you all to herself."

Eory blushed, his heart thumped wildly. "...Wants me all to herself?"

Them wolfed down the bacon on his plate and swallowed. "You have a good thing going with her. She's not as pretty as Maruka, but she'll protect you no matter what. That's invaluable."