( She had expected a number of things: to observe her poise, she anticipates the unexpected, often. It ricochets off her, more often than not.
But not this, her mouth soft and gaping, her eyes widened. )
I... we were children. Only children. I do not know the specifics of Macaluso's affliction, I did not see him. We were kept apart, on the chance that... we have often been kept apart, at times of sickness. An heir and a spare, it does not matter which. But grandfather always insisted we should be kept in isolation, if there is ever a risk of contagion. He was... inconsolable when our parents passed. His own children.
( A pause. ) He never believed their deaths were innocent. Perhaps he was right. He cared for Macaluso with his two hands, until they both returned to me. I was told later, he did not even trust the healers. When Macaluso was ill, grandfather watched over all the servants like a hawk. He shared Macaluso's bed quarters, tasted each of his meals, even brought in his hunting daggers, should anyone think to come in the night.
no subject
But not this, her mouth soft and gaping, her eyes widened. )
I... we were children. Only children. I do not know the specifics of Macaluso's affliction, I did not see him. We were kept apart, on the chance that... we have often been kept apart, at times of sickness. An heir and a spare, it does not matter which. But grandfather always insisted we should be kept in isolation, if there is ever a risk of contagion. He was... inconsolable when our parents passed. His own children.
( A pause. ) He never believed their deaths were innocent. Perhaps he was right. He cared for Macaluso with his two hands, until they both returned to me. I was told later, he did not even trust the healers. When Macaluso was ill, grandfather watched over all the servants like a hawk. He shared Macaluso's bed quarters, tasted each of his meals, even brought in his hunting daggers, should anyone think to come in the night.