Arelius Lionsmane

[Corwinius]

In one of the poorer districts of the Gate, an old man lay on his deathbed. His thin lips trembled with each breath, but the fire in the man's eyes burned brightly still as he regarded his son.

"I am proud of you, son."

Arelius Lionsman, recently chosen to be squire to Sir Tomar Goodmannen, a paladin of virtue quickly reaching the status of legend even while alive, shook his head with a faint smile, but remained silent. He would not spoil the old man's illusions by mentioning that indeed he felt there was very little yet to be proud of. In time, perhaps, he would feel that he was worthy of his new honour, but for now there was very little that he had done yet to be proud of.

He patted his father's hand, and replied with a voice he hoped sounded more even than he felt: "I know, father. I know." He managed a smile toward the man who single-handedly raised him to the man he was today. "You are a good father to me, you always have been. If there is any good in me, it is because you put it there."

He felt the old man's grip getting weaker, and saw his father close his eyes. Weak as he was, it was hard for the man to stay conscious for too long. Arelius rose silently, placed a single kiss on the old man's brow, and headed to the door to begin his way back to the temple through the narrow alleys that littered the poorer districts.