Part 461: Panne B

Hello, Panne.

What now, priest?

I apologize for disturbing you, but there's something I need to ask. Why did you come to the exalt's aid?

Can you not believe a taguel would help a human?

Apologies. That isn't what I meant. Had you even met her before?

No. The night of the assassination attempt was the first I saw her. I knew neither her face nor her name. All I knew is she was descended from the first exalt.

Your debt was to a man who died over a thousand years ago?

It is the debt of all the taguel. We are told the story as kits. In his time, the taguel were slaves to humans. Kept as labor - or even pets - we were treated worse than livestock. The slightest resistance would earn a swift execution, to serve as an example.

I've never heard of such cruelty.

Humans are quick to forget history. ...Or rewrite it. But the first exalt had the strength and courage to end the horror. He stood up for the taguel, though it earned him the ire of his fellow humans. "We are all the same," he said. "Equal beings. No difference separates human and taguel."

.....

It was a platitude then, as now. But in that platitude, my kind found salvation. Liberation and equality took time, but in those words we found dignity. And so we teach our young of the debt we owe him. Should any exalt ever need our aid, we will give it regardless of the cost.

I see.

Despite our history, I never hated mankind. The exalt proved your race's worth. Until man-spawn slaughtered my people and put my warren to ruin, that is.

Panne, I haven't the words to tell you-

I've spoken all of mine as well, and wasted both of our time.

Not at all! You've allowed me to better understand who you are, Panne. And convinced me you are someone I would dearly love to know still better. I thank you for sharing your story with me.

Hmph.