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The real issue.

Ah.

Dozer remained quiet. The boy did have a point, though he still didn’t want to admit it, even after all these years.

There was a particular incident that had caused the fallout between them, an incident that Dozer had been struggling to get past.

Maybe he really had gotten too old. Becoming too stuck in his ways. Unable to forgive and move on.

Eh, who was he kidding? He’d never been one for forgiveness.

“You still fault me for killing Suresh,” said Gohvis.

“...Yes,” said Dozer flatly.

And for a time, the lad just looked at him, a rare expression of surprise on his reptilian face. He’d not been expecting that, had he?

Hell, even Dozer himself hadn’t. On any other occasion, he might’ve deflected or outright denied it.

The truth, that was.

It was supposed to be ancient history by now. How could anyone hold onto a singular grudge for so long?

But here and now, he wanted to acknowledge it. Finally. It was almost a relief--for him and his son both, seemingly.

The look on Gohvis’ face melted gradually into one of somber exhaustion. The lad let out a deep sigh and sat down on the floor, wrapping his tail around and resting it on his own lap.

What now, he wondered?

This was what they called progress, he supposed. A step in the right direction, perhaps.

Or perhaps not.

“In killing him, more information was lost than in the sacking of Ethori. Or the destruction of Arkotesh. Do you understand? In that one act, you deprived me of incalculable value. Even if I were to annihilate your precious Erudia, the loss would not compare.”

“Now you exaggerate.”

“I do not. You simply did not realize the depths to which he was still useful to me.”

“He was trying to kill you, Father.”

“And he would have failed, son.” Dozer almost laughed. “The more things change, the more they stay the same. Just as you thought me incapable of defending myself then, you still think that now. Only your reasoning has changed, it would seem.”

“And you continue to not see my true worth,” said Gohvis. “I am now far more knowledgeable than Suresh ever was. Whatever plans you had for him, I can fulfill in his stead if you would but trust me.”

It was Dozer’s turn to sigh.