Chapter 90
"Before you go, Bran, can we... talk a little more? Not about work or the Nameless Beast or anything like that. I want to know how you’ve been. I know I’ve not been a good father in the least, but... I want to... try. Will you give me that chance?"
The man looked and sounded so vulnerable, so uneasy in his own weakness that not even Bran could continue to harden his heart towards him. Bran looked away at the open door. He could smell the street pollution and someone roasting walnuts somewhere out of view.
They were standing in the entrance area of the main building at ground level, but to one side because of all the reporters trying to set up their equipment. None of them seemed to have realised the head of the latest news story was standing just a few feet away.
"I’ve been fine," said Bran.
"Ah, that’s good... You... grew up in Pearl City I take it?" asked Arthur quietly.
"Yes."
"Was it hard?"
Was it hard? Bran nearly laughed at the question, nearly screamed it sarcastically back and stormed out, but instead a calm settled over him and he replied plainly.
"Yes," he said.
"Is it hard now?"
"...It’s not as hard as before."
"But it will never be easy."