“I consider myself a fair and reasonable man, bruther. You don’t want me to stand up for the evicted and downtrodden? Fine! I hereby relegate all my altruistic impulses to the bottom of my priorities for the duration of our partnership. In return, you’ll keep your hands to yourself. I swear, I might allow one such blow to pass without redress, but I’ll never let two.”
Ehomba’s voice had returned to normal. He looked away. “There is more at stake here, friend Simna, than your precious pride. Remember that I have a family I have not seen in far, far too long anxiously awaiting my return, and a home to go back to. You are burdened by no such responsibilities. You carry your home with you.”
“Hoy, and after seeing these past many months how heavily such duties weigh on you, long bruther, I know for a certainty that it was I who made the right choice in deciding how best to contrive a journey through life. Homes!” His tone grew bitter and contemptuous. “They burn down or are pillaged, or storms and Earth-shakings destroy what a man takes years to build. Children die young, and wives grow bored and find excitement in unfaithfulness.” He slapped himself on the chest. “I am a free man, Etjole! The whole world is my home, and everyone I choose to embrace is my family.”
Ehomba’s gaze was inclined westward, down the canyon that led to a no-longer-so-distant sea men called Aurreal. It stayed focused in that direction—as well as on other things. “The world may be your house, Simna. It is not your home. As for family, I wish you a real one someday.” With a casual wave of one hand as he sheathed the apparently undamaged sky-metal sword with the other, he beckoned for his companions to follow. Hunkapa Aub fell into step on his right while the black litah ranged farther afield off to his left.