{"id":551,"date":"2026-08-17T15:44:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T15:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=551"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:13:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:13:41","slug":"the-hand-that-wasnt-his","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=551","title":{"rendered":"The Hand That Wasn&#8217;t His"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> If someone causes harm while claiming they cannot control what moves them, when does understanding the cause stop excusing the consequence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The glove belonged to a dead duelist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone in the tavern knew this except Tovan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was why nobody stopped him from taking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It had been hanging from a nail beside the fireplace for years: black leather, silver stitching, three buckles at the wrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhose is this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan pulled it on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The glove fit perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few people quietly moved their drinks farther from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The innkeeper polished a cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan flexed his fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The glove was extraordinarily comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He kept it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first incident happened the following morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan was buying bread when a man pushed ahead of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His gloved hand grabbed the man&#8217;s shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan hadn&#8217;t told it to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man turned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan&#8217;s hand struck him across the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bakery became silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan stared at his own hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man stared at Tovan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then punched him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A fight followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou expect me to believe the glove hit him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sister, Ena, pressed a cloth against the swelling beneath his eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBy itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTovan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI swear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen take it off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan reached for the buckles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His gloved hand closed into a fist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cInteresting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTovan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He grabbed the first buckle with his other hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gloved hand seized his wrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For several seconds, Tovan struggled against himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then it released him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ena stood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTake it off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am trying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTry harder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the next week, the glove became worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It slapped a child who stole an apple from Tovan&#8217;s basket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It threw a stone at a barking dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It grabbed a serving woman around the waist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It overturned a merchant&#8217;s cart after the merchant refused Tovan a discount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every time, Tovan apologized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every time, people believed him a little less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI didn&#8217;t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was the glove.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou know me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI would never.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At first, Ena defended him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy brother isn&#8217;t like this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then the glove shoved their mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She fell down three steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing broke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That seemed important to Tovan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ena did not agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou have to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan stared at his sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is my house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is Mother&#8217;s house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI didn&#8217;t push her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe was pushed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBy the glove.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan recoiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow can you say that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause Mother still hit the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He looked down at the black leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou think I wanted that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen why are you treating me like I did?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ena sat across from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know how to answer that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She thought for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan blinked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI believe the glove moves by itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd Mother still hit the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ena pointed at the glove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf a wolf followed you everywhere and bit people, would it matter that you weren&#8217;t biting them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause I could leave the wolf outside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ena looked at his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan went looking for someone who could remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A priest blessed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A blacksmith tried cutting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The scissors snapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A hedge magician burned three herbs and charged Tovan twelve silver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, an old woman at the edge of town examined the glove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou know it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan&#8217;s hope disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut I&#8217;ve known things like it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan you remove it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan leaned forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman held out her hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGive me your knife.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He hesitated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGive me your knife.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan placed it on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She took it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she insulted him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was an extraordinarily personal insult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan&#8217;s gloved hand immediately reached for the knife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The knife wasn&#8217;t there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The hand grabbed empty air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou knew what it would do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan became angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOf course I knew. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She placed the knife behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou knew what it would do, and you still carried a knife.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stared at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat isn&#8217;t fair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She agreed immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan hadn&#8217;t expected that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis thing is attached to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI didn&#8217;t choose it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou chose to put it on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI didn&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen that part wasn&#8217;t your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut now you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She could not remove the glove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She could weaken it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That required Tovan&#8217;s cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stopped carrying weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stopped drinking because the glove became stronger when he was drunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stopped standing close to people during arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He learned to keep his gloved hand inside his belt when children were nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before entering crowded places, he wrapped the hand in cloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People laughed at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some called him dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That hurt more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan complained to Ena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m doing everything they asked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey still don&#8217;t trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow long am I supposed to pay for something I didn&#8217;t choose?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ena looked at the wrapped hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was not the answer he wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it was the first answer that didn&#8217;t pretend there was an easy one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Months passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The glove still moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But less often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or perhaps Tovan simply became better at noticing the moment before it moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was usually a feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A tightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A small pull in the wrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He learned that sensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes he could stop the hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes he couldn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he couldn&#8217;t, he learned to move the rest of himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once, during an argument, the glove swung at a man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan turned his entire body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fist struck a wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two fingers broke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan laughed while the healer set them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is funny?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The healer tightened the splint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan winced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI just finally won one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, Tovan returned to the tavern where he&#8217;d found the glove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old nail beside the fireplace was still there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He sat beneath it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A young traveler noticed the black leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBeautiful glove.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan looked down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The silver stitching had faded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The leather was cracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhere did you get it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The traveler laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan I try it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then at the empty nail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a moment, he imagined unbuckling the glove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps it would come off now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps it had only needed another hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The thought was wonderfully tempting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He could be free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The traveler was already reaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan pulled his hand away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan considered telling him the whole story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause I know what it does.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The traveler shrugged and returned to his drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan sat alone for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then the gloved hand reached toward someone else&#8217;s cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tovan caught it with his other hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Held it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fingers relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He released them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The glove was still his problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was not the same thing as saying it was his fault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it was still his problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If someone causes harm while claiming they cannot control what moves them, when does understanding the cause stop excusing the consequence? The glove belonged to a dead duelist. Everyone in the tavern knew this except Tovan. That was why nobody stopped him from taking it. It had been hanging [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Hand That Wasn&#039;t His - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=551\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Hand That Wasn&#039;t His - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If someone causes harm while claiming they cannot control what moves them, when does understanding the cause stop excusing the consequence? The glove belonged to a dead duelist. Everyone in the tavern knew this except Tovan. That was why nobody stopped him from taking it. 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