Pop had hurt me worse than anyone ever had, and that was a fact. But all the same, I realized I still loved Pop. No matter what he had done, no matter what he would do. I loved my pop, and only people you love can hurt you like that. That’s why Mom sat up nights crying, that’s why she wouldn’t let Pop into the house when he came by to visit. It’s because she still loved him, and that’s what made it hurt so much. I still loved Pop too. Maybe that’s wrong, or maybe that’s what love is, how it’s unconditional, how it forgives and forgives. I’m not saying it forgets, because never could I forget what I had seen and felt from Boss Authority’s Orating, never could I forget the cruelness on my daddy’s face, never could I forget how it felt to be the object of a losing wager. It all mattered, it did, and nothing would ever be the same. Pop wasn’t my hero anymore, not by a long shot. When I grew up, I didn’t want to be anything like him, not anymore. I wanted to be someone better, someone kinder and gentler, someone who would never bully or hurt another person, someone who would never take my family for granted. But even if he wasn’t perfect, if sometimes he was downright wicked, I still loved my pop. And I realized I always would.

“Fine, Boss,” I said. “I’ll tell my tale. I’ll tell the story of the Fish Boy who loved the Rambling Duke so much until he found out he wasn’t perfect, that he’d done some downright horrible things in his life. Oh and it broke that little boy’s heart, it did. And Boss, I want to apologize to you, on behalf of my daddy, who ruined your life. I know it ain’t any consolation—nothing could ever be, not really—but you didn’t deserve that, not one bit. And if my blood has any say in the matter, then let my apology count for something. Please.”

I bowed my head to him.

“But if you think what Pop did gives you the right to bully other people, to rob them and steal from them and banish them, to take power over other folks any way you see fit, well, you’re just wrong about that. And I won’t stand for it. Because let me tell you something about this Fish Boy right here. He still loves his pop, flawed a man as he is, and this boy still forgives his daddy for every ounce of pain he caused him. Let me tell you, Boss, forgiveness can whoop vengeance’s tail anytime.

“Besides, I’m sick of all these games.” I threw Pop’s cards onto the ground. “I won’t put my fate on any cards, no sir. I’ll put them on my actions, and on my friends, and on whatever lies beyond the stars. I’m through with Parsnit, and I’m through with games, and I’m through with bullies, both my pop, and you, Boss Authority.”