This is not to say that my faith was flawed then, or that I was more arrogant or lazier than I am now. Nor can I prove that I am more devout, humble or diligent now.
Because of the environment, though, there were many things that I thought were not necessary when I was in Laterano.
In Laterano, all that the people sought was right there. The Holy City's blessing was right there.
Food is in short supply these days. I hope you don't mind.
Gerald
Not that minding would do any good. At least it fills the stomach, even if the taste is nothing to write home about.
Federico
I don't need to eat right now.
Gerald
Eat. Don't let it go to waste.
Federico
......
Federico
Gerald, leader of Sarkaz. You knew the two Liberi children.
Gerald
Are you always so direct?
Gerald
Don't call me a leader. I've seen the true King of Sarkaz. A humble hunter is not worthy of the title.
Federico
Why do you call yourself a hunter?
Gerald
Because that's what I am. I hunt to feed myself and others.
Gerald
I think you have an idea of what's going on here, even though you just arrived today.
Federico
Not the full picture.
Federico
You lead the group of Sarkaz that lives here. You were latecomers, but at one point you got along well with each other.
Gerald
Yes. At one point.
Federico
Now, conflict has arisen, and it is likely to escalate, given the circumstances.
Gerald
Yeah, which is why we're leaving.
Federico
Normally, you would have the advantage in conflict with the other inhabitants.
Federico
There are few able combatants amongst them, which is one of the reasons they took you in.
Federico
But Laterano's intervention has taken away your martial advantage. Leaving is the logical choice.
Gerald
You're good with those logical conclusions.
Gerald
But I learned a long time ago—
Gerald
Our lives are not logical—and I get reminders about that all the time.
The candlelight flickers.
The aging Sarkaz casts his gaze on the wall. The shadows reflected upon it have become blurred, one fading into another.
Gerald
We didn't choose to leave because we couldn't live anymore.
Gerald
Before I came here, I never thought we would have a life like this.
Gerald
There were dangers, there was conflict, but we were accepted, we built our own homes, worked for our daily bread...
Gerald
That all might seem normal to you, but it was beyond our wildest dreams.
Federico
What is the true reason you chose to leave?
Gerald
It's simple.
Gerald
We see the writing on the wall, just like you do. The rift can no longer be repaired. All that's left is to watch things get worse.
Gerald
Today it's just an argument, an accusation, but what about tomorrow?
Federico
Violent confrontation between the natives and the Sarkaz is likely.
Gerald
Today's fire was a warning.
Gerald
Leave now, and we remain friends to be missed.
Gerald
But if we allow ourselves to be burdened by attachment and fail to make a decision...
Gerald
We will become the Sarkaz that the rest of the world knows—a band of vagabonds who bring conflict with them wherever they go, who are not welcome anywhere, who have no place to call home, and no place to go.
Federico
That's just prejudice.
Gerald
To us, it's a fact.
Gerald
The Sankta have Laterano.
Gerald
But where do the Sarkaz belong to?
Federico
......
Gerald
It's time.
Gerald
It may take a while for the little ones to get used to life without a roof over their heads, but it'll happen.
Gerald
As for those two children...
Federico
You knew them.
Gerald
...I know a little about where they came from.
Federico
The people at the abbey and Raimund don't.
Gerald
Very few do.
Gerald
I guess they're wanderers who came from the outside. Their family could be dead, or they could have abandoned their children.
Gerald
Stefano has taken in other wanderers before, but this place could hardly accommodate any more inhabitants these days.
Gerald
But someone secretly took the children in.
Federico
You know who it was.
Gerald
Few secrets can truly be kept forever, especially now, when every single grain counts.
Gerald
Hyman took them in. She set aside a part of her own rations each day, and stole from the hunted game a few times. I covered it up for her when I discovered it.
Gerald
Even then, life isn't easy for them.
Federico
Where is she now?
Gerald
That's what I'm wondering. She should have come back with game today, but I haven't heard from her.
Gerald
She's missing. We don't know where she is.
Gerald
Whatever happened, I hope she doesn't do anything stupid.
Federico
Missing? No, this isn't right.
Gerald
What do you mean?
Federico
Hyman would not allow the children to go out, in order to keep their existence a secret. Erendel and Estara's appearance at the sacrarium was not an accident.
Gerald
Someone brought them outside.
Federico
Where is Hyman's home? I want to see it for myself.
The battered wooden hut was a shelter in the storm for the young children.
Abandoned by adults who lacked the means to raised them, they wandered the wastelands and were picked up by a Sarkaz on death's door.
The battered hut was leaky and cold, but there were clean clothes, even if a little tattered, and food, even if the taste was not great.
The walls did a poor job of keeping the cold out. They could gather all the fabric in the house and wear the thickest winter clothes they had, and they would still shiver at night.
