A light snow began to fall as John and company stood around the carriage, and James shook the building flakes from his cloak. He spoke, his gaze still trained on the bloody husk of the carriage.
"His wife lived, barely. Lost an arm trying to protect his wife."
John looked around, gazing at the mountains thoughtfully. How much will James lose protecting me?
"Have you seen my mother of late?"
"Elizabeth? Afraid not, my boy. News is that she keeps herself in the old Cromwell house, never leaves."
John's mouth set itself in a grim line. This had all been his doing.
"Any news of Richard?"
James sighed heavily. "Grief makes a man do strange things, John. After all of it happened, and you were gone....I'm not sure. Maybe he went mad, maybe it was too much for him to bear." James pressed a hand to John's shoulder, having to reach up slightly.
"Your father disowned you, John.
John took a step away, pulling from James' touch. "What?"
James followed, reaching out for his adoptive son again, who pulled away further.
"No," he said, he pleaded. Disowned me?
"Please, John," James said again, reaching out. "He was doing what he thought best for Hou-"
John stepped away, turning toward the carriage. "House Cromwell, yes! Always his devotion to House Cromwell, always above his loyalty to the people."
"John..." James said, looking past him.
"No, James, I will speak and you will listen," he said, pointing a finger toward the older man. "What good did it do my father to disown me? What good? House Cromwell is a pariah, James, and nothing can change that stigma but time. Anyone who remembers what I did will remember the name Cromwell with fear. What does it benefit the people or the name that I am cast out after the fact, hm?"
"John!"
The half-giant then understood, turning to see Daugi with her nose pressed close to the ground. His mind snapped back into reality, he clutched the scabbard and nodded in the direction she was pointing.
"Your province, yes? What lies over there?"
"One of the older, deeper mines. We've been recently having some trouble with mercenaries who've holed up in the mountain. Come, I have a carriage nearby, we can follow that way."
John turned his back to the dog, following James, and feeling a little ashamed of himself.