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He turns around, and I realize that if he leaves, I’m going to be left alone for a very long time.
“Please.” My own voice surprises me.
The sounds of his footsteps crunching across the hay stops.
“Are we starting to genuinely reconsider my offer?” he asks. “Because I’m already running out of patience for your games.”
“My dad needs me. He’s got nobody else. Just let me go to him!”
I don’t know what I expect to happen. Perhaps there might be an ounce of decency in this foul creature?
“Can I offer you some advice? Unsolicited?” he asks.
Hoping that he might be responding to me sincerely, I nod.
“You never shut up about getting your wings,” he says. “It’s actually really annoying. Please, for everybody’s sake, just let it go.”
I scoff.
He stares stoically. “I might not look like it, but a long time ago, I had dreams, too. Thought maybe I’d play politics, rise above my station. But then I realized all those ambitions were only holding me back.”
“Please let me see my dad,” I urge him, hoping that perhaps I’ve found a shred of humanity to interact with.
“I’ll tell you what,” he says. “If you come around to my offer, and I genuinely don’t believe you’re trying to double-cross me, I’ll let you see him.”
How long have I been locked away in this prison cell?
He surveys me as though hoping I’ll acquiesce. I could lie to him and find a way out of this situation.
Or maybe I could lie to myself, convincing myself that I’ve fallen for his advances, all in the hopes of aiding my father. He can’t make it on his own in New Solas.
Then Zathex’s static posture changes.
His chest heaves, and from out of his mouth comes the most disgusting laughter I’ve ever heard.
For a solid minute, he laughs at my misfortune, leaving me to question where I went wrong.
“You know, on second thought, you had your chance,” he says. “I could have made you great. Could have helped you earn your wings, or at least realize your limitations. But you spat in my face. You rejected me to my face, humiliating me. Did you really think you could earn my sympathies?”
“Zathex, please!” I beg, my chains rattling as I attempt but fail to emote with my body.
“No! I’m selling you off. Soon, you’ll be somebody else’s problem.”
He moves as close to the bars as physically possible. I try to lurch at him, badly straining my ankles.
I roar, noticing tears forming in my eyes for the first time.
“If you’d only seen the opportunity I presented to you sooner, maybe you’d be able to see your father again.”
I continue to flail at him, in spite of how much it hurts me. He speaks louder to talk over me.
“But you laughed at me. To my face, you rejected my offer, as though you were disgusted by me… as though I were so foul, you’d never consider giving me a minute of your time.”
The whites of his teeth become visible, the brightest lights available in the darkened room.
My stomach gurgles as I realize how incredibly hungry I am.
“I hear all the buyers come from far away.” He chuckles. “So when you get the chance, make sure to say goodbye to New Solas.”
