Compromise
“Then, that’s what we should do. Lafe’s safety is more important than those things. I just…I just wanted one to be comfortable. One is my guardian now. It’s only right.”
“One?” she asked.
“That’s the respectful way to refer to me,” you explained. “I’m Kyn.”
“But are you a man or…”
“It’s rude to ask,” Forban interjected quickly. “One is my parent. One is one.”
“That’s another thing. If this situation gets out of control, the guardianship will be contested. That’s his next move.”
“We can’t let that happen,” you said resolutely. “Under no circumstances can we let that happen. Your father will kill him. You know that, don’t you?”
She looked nervously at both of you. It was difficult to read her expression. Did she believe that Forban should be killed? Did she think that was for the best? What was going through her mind?
“…or die trying,” you added pointedly.
“I don’t wish either of you harm,” she said defensively. “I’m scared. I’m scared for my father and my family. The situation needs to be resolved.”
“I agree. For everyone’s sake, we’ll compromise,” you said as you looked over at Forban to make sure you were in agreement.
Forban nodded.
“Good. Good,” young mistress Gannon said, sounding relieved. “I’ll do everything I can to assure your safety and comfort. I’ll convince my father to be reasonable, but this needs to end.”
“Has you father told anyone else what’s happened to his nephew?” you asked.
“One of his body guards was telling everyone, but nobody believed him and my father sent him away.”
“It’s probably best that others don’t know,” you said. “We don’t want panic. We don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”
“Then help me end this,” she said in earnest.
“I will. You can tell your father that.”
The next week was tense, but you were able to negotiate a compromise that allowed Mister Gannon to save face. At first, you believed that Mister Gannon would sell off the assets to recoup the money he relinquished to you, but he didn’t.
Instead, his daughter built a relatively modest home on the estate and set up a business trading seeds, herbs, and various plants. She worked with the central government to erect a memorial to those who died in the fires. It was inaccurate to what had actually happened. It became a symbol of imperials and locals cooperating for the common good.
Eventually, everyone who knew the truth let it be forgotten.
Forban continued to change into a magnificent creature, but kept his mind and his resolve to maintain peace. You taught him well.
Despite her father’s protests, his daughter remained at the estate and married a local.
She continued to visit Forban and her fear of him subsided.
Slowly, she gained your trust, and you began cultivating the medicinal plants that the Kyn Order were known for, teaching her what you knew and helping her grow her business. She became family.
One day, when you were in town buying supplies, a child came up to you and asked, “Are you Kyn?”
You smiled and nodded. “One is one.”
“I think…I think I am one.”
“If you think you are one, you are one,” you answered smiling.
“What do I do? Do I climb the stone stairs?” one asked. “Can you teach me?”
“That depends, can you keep a secret?”
One nodded.
“My child protects us,” you whispered in one’s ear, “and we protect him.”
The Beginning
