#askrye

Interesting scenario! Supposedly, Skel's mother Rye is dead. She was a slave to the Atlas family until she broke her back, then she says she will most likely be returned Kelvingyard for a partial refund and executed. This is backed up in "Lost and Found", when an elven slave girl twists her ankle and begs Lukas not to tell Sofia Atlas, fearing Sofia will send her back to Kelvingyard. It seems this is the standard protocol for crippled slaves in Evangeline Kingdom.

However, I don't think there was any confirmation that Rye met this fate. It is possible that she escaped on her way back to Kelvingyard. It would be hard to escape with a broken back, but maybe she had some "help"...After all, vampires are known to attack slaver caravans and steal the slaves, and even rival slaving companies may do the same. Theoretically, Rye could be anywhere, and it's not impossible that Skel may encounter her in the future.

As for Skel's father, the narrative doesn't mention him at all. It's unknown whether Rye was already pregnant with Skel when she was enslaved at Kelvingyard, or if she was impregnated by another slave after she arrived. His father could be anyone, we just don't know enough information yet.

But we do know a little about his mother, and based on her interactions with Evan, she was a tough, no-nonsense type of person. We know she lived at Kelvingyard with Skel until he was 5 years old, then he was bought by Jasenia's family and separated from her. That separation must have been brutal for poor Rye. Her son was all she had in that horrible place, and he was ripped away from her just like that. Skel went on to live the rest of his childhood in luxury, while Rye was sold to the Atlas family and subjected to hard, grueling labor on a farm.

I imagine this experience hardened her heart quite a lot. But if she were to reunite with Skel now, I think her heart would not only soften, but melt into goo! She would be overjoyed to see him again, and she'd probably want to make up for lost time by babying him.

Skel, however, would feel differently. Goblins have perfect memories--they remember every little thing that happens to them in their lives. Skel remembers the day he was separated from his mother like it was yesterday, and the memory chills him to the bone. So far, he's coped with the pain by telling himself his mother was just a worthless peasant, she couldn't provide for him, she had nothing to offer, etc...and convincing himself that their separation was for the best.

He has told himself that he doesn't miss her for so long, he started to really believe it. But if she actually stood before him, I think his walls would break down pretty quickly. He would be emotional and conflicted, wanting to be close to her as much as he wants to push her away. He would protect his wounded heart by yelling at her, telling her she's not good enough to be his mother, and how dare she think her peasant self worthy of his love now?

Rye would be crushed. But on some level, she understands, and feels guilty for birthing him in a slaveyard to begin with. She agrees that she can't give him all that he deserves, but tells him that his love was what kept her clinging on for all those miserable years in Kelvingyard. All she wanted for him was freedom, and though she failed to give him that, she must have done something right, because he grew up strong, smart, and self-respecting enough to secure that freedom for himself.

This realization hits Skel hard, and I think he would give in to her love then. He apologizes for rejecting her at first, and decides to accept her as his mother after all. Sure, he's a little embarrassed to be out in public with her...the way she dresses and speaks, it's obvious she's from a poor background, and this brings him shame. But he learns to get over it, and the whole experience makes him more accepting of other people in general.

Of course that's just one possible scenario. I think there are a lot of different ways this could go! We'll see if this event comes to pass in the series one day. ;)

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Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost