[The man -- his name is Acacius -- lets out a strangled noise when Yuan speaks and Acacius notices, finally, that Kratos is not alone.]
I -- ah -- Yes. Yes, Commander Ka-Fai. I'm -- we sell pottery, sir. Clay and glass-fired as well, fit for anything from kitchenware to lamps. Our small vials for scented oils are especially popular; much of it's from -- um.
[He stumbles, his gaze flickering toward Kratos. The anguish and guilt in his expression hasn't really left. Kratos knows, because his gaze hasn't left the man's face, though he hasn't said anything. He says something now.]
From Abalastron, correct? The province where you were born.
[Any colour which had returned to Acacius's face when he saw Yuan drains out of it, and his voice is very nearly a whisper.]
You remember me.
[All this time, he must have been hoping Kratos passed him off as a random guilt-stricken ex-Tethe'allan officer who simply recognised Kratos. It's an entirely possible; Acacius isn't the first ex-Tethe'allan or Tethe'allan slave who's blanched when they saw Kratos's face. But yes, Kratos remembers him. He'd been one of Kratos's lieutenants, in charge of one of the regiment's platoons -- just low enough to be convinced that his commander would not have bothered to know his name.]
no subject
I -- ah -- Yes. Yes, Commander Ka-Fai. I'm -- we sell pottery, sir. Clay and glass-fired as well, fit for anything from kitchenware to lamps. Our small vials for scented oils are especially popular; much of it's from -- um.
[He stumbles, his gaze flickering toward Kratos. The anguish and guilt in his expression hasn't really left. Kratos knows, because his gaze hasn't left the man's face, though he hasn't said anything. He says something now.]
From Abalastron, correct? The province where you were born.
[Any colour which had returned to Acacius's face when he saw Yuan drains out of it, and his voice is very nearly a whisper.]
You remember me.
[All this time, he must have been hoping Kratos passed him off as a random guilt-stricken ex-Tethe'allan officer who simply recognised Kratos. It's an entirely possible; Acacius isn't the first ex-Tethe'allan or Tethe'allan slave who's blanched when they saw Kratos's face. But yes, Kratos remembers him. He'd been one of Kratos's lieutenants, in charge of one of the regiment's platoons -- just low enough to be convinced that his commander would not have bothered to know his name.]