The years hadn't left their mark as heavily on him. I guess not having a bunch of kids to support, and raise, and worry about, is good for your looks. As well as not having the wasting disease. He was still in pretty good shape. He hadn't gotten fat, like a lot of older men. He looked concerned and a little scared, but I think that was natural. He should have been afraid to face me because I had a devastating speech for him!

Venzik closed the door and my father moved toward me, slowly. "It's good to see you again, son."

"Is it?" I raised one of my eyebrows disdainfully.

"Of course it is."

"If it is so good one has to wonder why you waited so long?" Why was I talking like some pretentious lord? I guess I was nervous, too.

He was either a very fidgety guy or he was more worried about meeting me than I had expected. He sighed and pushed the hair that had fallen in front of his eyes back up onto his head and then kept his hand going up and over until it rested on the back of his neck. My eyes narrowed as I recognized the gesture from when I was a child with a complete family.

"I don't know why I waited so long to come find you. I really don't."

He sure looked like he didn't know. He looked bewildered. I realized that I no longer had any desire to give my speech. I just wanted him to leave. "Please say what you came to say. I have a lot to do."

"I just bet you do. You're real important now." I know that sounds sarcastic but he seemed to be sincere. And, hey, I am pretty important now.

I shrugged. Even though I'm a hero now I still try to be humble.

"I'm real proud of you, son."

I nodded, holding back all of the mean things that popped into my head to say. Being a hero is tough. "Thanks." I finally managed to say.

"Look, can we sit down? Maybe get a bit of something to drink?"

"Sure." I pointed to the little table and chairs that I had last used to eat a meal with Jade. While he sat down, I grabbed a bottle of wine and an opener off of a shelf with one hand, and a couple of mugs off of a different shelf with my other hand. At the table I opened the wine and poured us each a half a glass. I wanted to let the rest breathe, but I agreed with the old man that a drink would be very helpful right about now.

He drank everything I poured in what seemed like one gigantic swallow then held his mug out for more. I gave him a full serving. He took a more reasonable drink then set the mug on the table and looked me right in the eyes.

"I can't tell you why I left you, and your mother, and everyone, all those years ago because it still doesn't make any sense to me. One day I was a happy man with a wonderful family. I swear that I loved you all so much! But the next day I just had to get away. And nothing happened to make me change how I saw things. Out of the blue I just had the thought to leave town. And I couldn't ignore it. It sounds crazy, I know. It was crazy!"

He looked at me expectantly. "I don't know what you want me to say." I finally said. "Yes, it seems odd. But that doesn't change what happened to the family you left behind."

"I know it don't. But I kept tabs on you. One of my old friends sent me what news he managed to gather. That's how I knew your mother died. And that you were a big deal now."

So that was it. "And now that I'm 'a big deal' as you put it you came back because you need something from me? Money? A place to live? A job?"

"What? No!" He looked aghast at the idea. "Every single day when I woke up I swore I'd come home to my family but everyday something happened to change my mind. Then, just over a week ago, I woke up with the plan to come back, same as every day, year after year. But this time nothing changed my mind. I sold my things and started walking."

It sounded like he wanted some praise for returning after almost twenty years. I couldn't give it to him. "Okay." I said.

"I'm here to help. You, and all your brothers and sisters." He had a very hopeful look on his face. "What can I do for you, son?"

"I don't need anything from you now. I needed you when I was a kid." He looked like I had punched him in the gut, but I didn't stop. "We're facing two wars right now, one with the drants and another with the Kathaldi. If we lose either one all of your children will probably die very shortly thereafter. If you want to help why don't you go join the army." I took a sip of wine to calm myself. I'd been getting pretty riled up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work. Just go back through the door you came in, someone will be waiting to show you out."

He looked quite defeated by this point and I'll admit I was enjoying that a little bit. The fires of vengeance danced in my belly, or some such. He paused as he reached for the door and turned back to face me. "I don't blame you for wanting nothing to do with me, son. You did all this without me." In spite of him, more like. "I just want to say that I'm so proud of you and so ashamed of myself." He opened the door and was gone.

I poured myself another glass of wine. I had some thinking to do. It was nice that I had this to think about in between thoughts about Jade.