Daegsatz was conflicted. On the one hand, he did not want to trod on Nero's privacy, but on the other hand, he did sincerely want to calm Roen's concerns. It would be so easy to just give everything away, to just explain everything about Nero's mannerisms and the effects of his past to her. She might then be able to understand him as the Sea Wolf did, and while it would not have made whatever Nero was doing more acceptable, it might have alleviated her concerns and grievances. She had said that she saw glimpses of a good man in Nero, and Daegsatz agreed; that good man, the one who cared for his ship and his crew, was the captain he followed. That man was the one whom Daegsatz swore on his life that he would watch over.
The smuggler had confided in exactly two people since coming to Limsa Lominsa. One was Daegsatz, and the other...well, she was no longer in the picture, to say the least. Vail himself had never particularly cared about his foster son's past; he had believed that the past should stay where it belonged. Even so, Nero did not divulge details whenever he had spoken to Satz; the Hyur had, as a teenager, spoken at length about his planned future, and the Sea Wolf could tell that a deep-seated anger simmered beneath the surface, and could discern much of what drove Nero.
But what could he tell Roen? Was this a choice he would have to make? Keep his captain's confidentiality, or betray it even if it was for Nero's sake?
Daegsatz did not consider himself a man of many moral quandaries. Life was for the most part simple, just the way he liked it. He briefly bit his lip, considering what to do. What would Vail have done? Vail would have gone about it as blunt as a hammer; if he felt someone needed to know something, he would have told them.
And Daegsatz did trust the paladin. She seemed to be the only one who remembered that he still existed in this city. The other Sultansworn who had made the arrest seemed to have forgotten about him. The guard was only there as a deterrent. Roen was really the only friend he had right now.
The Sea Wolf groaned and rubbed his forehead, making his choice. In the end, this was for Nero's sake.
"Ye not be wrong, lass," he began quietly. "Ye been seein' th' signs of a good man, a good leader. 'E be under there, the cap'n who cares fer 'is crew and 'is ship, 'is family and 'is brothers. I fear fer 'im." Daegsatz shook his head. "I know, ev'n if only smatterin' details, 'bout the bloody swath 'e be tryin' ta cut. I fear th' only way ta dissuade 'im will be to let 'is path run its course."
He leaned back, the cot creaking under the Roegadyn's bulk. "Ye be sayin' ye 'ad no plan 'fore meetin' 'im, lass. Ye ever consider that mayhaps, ye not be needin' one?" Daegsatz cocked an eye at the paladin. "Plans be made ta go wrong. Is it not enough ta simply be helpin' where ye be thinkin' it matters?" He spread an arm, gesturing to the gaol and the city of Ul'dah that lay beyond the heavy door. "Ye be wantin' ta change this place...a noble goal. Change not be comin' easy. Is it not enough ta dedicate yerself to th' people? Ye care fer 'em, an' will guard 'em best ye can."
Another sigh. "It...mayhaps it be true that th' lad be too far gone," Daegsatz admitted quietly. "'e spoke o' nightmares as a boy, ye know. Wakin' up screamin' bloody murder when 'e naught be younger than fifteen cycles. 'E never spoke o' what 'e saw...but it not be takin' a man much imagination ta guess." The Sea Wolf shook his head forlornly. "Men that close ta breakin'...it not be easy ta pull 'em back from th' edge."
The smuggler had confided in exactly two people since coming to Limsa Lominsa. One was Daegsatz, and the other...well, she was no longer in the picture, to say the least. Vail himself had never particularly cared about his foster son's past; he had believed that the past should stay where it belonged. Even so, Nero did not divulge details whenever he had spoken to Satz; the Hyur had, as a teenager, spoken at length about his planned future, and the Sea Wolf could tell that a deep-seated anger simmered beneath the surface, and could discern much of what drove Nero.
But what could he tell Roen? Was this a choice he would have to make? Keep his captain's confidentiality, or betray it even if it was for Nero's sake?
Daegsatz did not consider himself a man of many moral quandaries. Life was for the most part simple, just the way he liked it. He briefly bit his lip, considering what to do. What would Vail have done? Vail would have gone about it as blunt as a hammer; if he felt someone needed to know something, he would have told them.
And Daegsatz did trust the paladin. She seemed to be the only one who remembered that he still existed in this city. The other Sultansworn who had made the arrest seemed to have forgotten about him. The guard was only there as a deterrent. Roen was really the only friend he had right now.
The Sea Wolf groaned and rubbed his forehead, making his choice. In the end, this was for Nero's sake.
"Ye not be wrong, lass," he began quietly. "Ye been seein' th' signs of a good man, a good leader. 'E be under there, the cap'n who cares fer 'is crew and 'is ship, 'is family and 'is brothers. I fear fer 'im." Daegsatz shook his head. "I know, ev'n if only smatterin' details, 'bout the bloody swath 'e be tryin' ta cut. I fear th' only way ta dissuade 'im will be to let 'is path run its course."
He leaned back, the cot creaking under the Roegadyn's bulk. "Ye be sayin' ye 'ad no plan 'fore meetin' 'im, lass. Ye ever consider that mayhaps, ye not be needin' one?" Daegsatz cocked an eye at the paladin. "Plans be made ta go wrong. Is it not enough ta simply be helpin' where ye be thinkin' it matters?" He spread an arm, gesturing to the gaol and the city of Ul'dah that lay beyond the heavy door. "Ye be wantin' ta change this place...a noble goal. Change not be comin' easy. Is it not enough ta dedicate yerself to th' people? Ye care fer 'em, an' will guard 'em best ye can."
Another sigh. "It...mayhaps it be true that th' lad be too far gone," Daegsatz admitted quietly. "'e spoke o' nightmares as a boy, ye know. Wakin' up screamin' bloody murder when 'e naught be younger than fifteen cycles. 'E never spoke o' what 'e saw...but it not be takin' a man much imagination ta guess." The Sea Wolf shook his head forlornly. "Men that close ta breakin'...it not be easy ta pull 'em back from th' edge."
