impure_tale

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105

If that experience has taught me anything, it is that even if I had been a virtuous man, I would still have been the victim of the same injustices, and why? There is always at least one person with power who cares nothing for law, cares nothing for honesty, or equality, or lawfulness, and only about silence and control.

My keepers in Charenton cared nothing for helping or healing me. They only wished to hide me.

[Private to Prefect]

I won't trouble you in person. I realize you were not the same man, just as I was not the same man, in terms of how we each arrived here. But there was still a core of truth in my identity, as I'm sure there must have been in you.

My point -- thank you. There are few that I could credit with saving what sanity I had, and I can say that one of them was most definitely you.

Merci, Prefect.

[Private to Iago]

We shall have this conversation here or in person.

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The file should have been enough. But, the Barge has other plans. I came through it unscathed. I need no explanations from you.

I'm somewhat glad you did see it. What I was subjected to -- that is the manner of wardening I would shield you from, Iago. I have lived my whole life surrounded by hypocrites in power -- a King who would throw my ilk to the wolves while he sends spies into the bedrooms of the aristocracy when his own becomes quiet and unmoving, priests defiling women on their altars of worship -- many others. They do not relish being told the truth, and they certainly appreciate it less when the truth is brought out in public. If they are powerful enough, they will do anything to silence those that would speak.

If you are to do well here, then your Warden must act to help you, and not just will you to silence and stillness. Surely you must understand that is all I wish to do for you.

I understand.

Is that all?

No.

The man that I was then was not your Warden. You were not my Inmate. As such, I want you to know that I would never harm you in the manner that I threatened then, and I have never been tempted to.

I never thought you had been tempted to do so, Marquis.

Loneliness has driven me to terrible things in the past and that is but one example of what it has done to me when I have been at my worst. It is something I have not had to confront since before I graduated. That is all I meant to keep from you, before this happened.

In doing so, I betrayed a trust that I have worked meticulously to build with you, and for that I apologize.

Fine. You apologize and I accept that. I do not wish to speak of this any longer.

Why? You demanded my honesty before -- it must go both ways.

Keep your secrets next time. I do not want to talk about it.

What did you do after it happened?

Nothing!

Iago.

I killed West...

...You what?

I convinced West to take Judas...thinking he would be safer with him. But West ended up getting killed because of it.

Because I convinced him to do it.

You...Oh, Iago -- sometimes you truly do astound me.

~~Henry~~

Major West understands the risks in his undertakings. Do not shoulder the blame of men who had weapons in their hands already poised to strike.

What is so astounding? And your words mean nothing. I know what I did. I gave him the knife...

Knowing that you feel that way proves to me that hope remains.

You did not give him the knife with the intention of delivering him to his own death. Surely you must see that.

Fine. I see it. Are we finished?

For now, Iago.

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