There are only two people in the world who have read the story this comes from. <grin>
The Sural
looked amused, a small smile playing around his mouth. “I cannot have a
Terelian take up permanent residence in my stronghold, daughter. You know
that.”
looked amused, a small smile playing around his mouth. “I cannot have a
Terelian take up permanent residence in my stronghold, daughter. You know
that.”
“I cannot have
such an annoying, aggravating, irritating man in mine! Why did you let him
follow me here?”
such an annoying, aggravating, irritating man in mine! Why did you let him
follow me here?”
He leaned
closer. “Because, dear one, he was heartbroken when you did not take him with
you, and you are just as attracted to him as he is to you.”
closer. “Because, dear one, he was heartbroken when you did not take him with
you, and you are just as attracted to him as he is to you.”
“I am not
attracted to him.”
attracted to him.”
“You are. You
always have been.”
always have been.”
“You sound like
my apothecary.”
my apothecary.”
“I sound like
your father. We shared a parental bond until recently, if you will recall. You
may not have been able to name your feelings for him, but I had no such
handicap. Would you like another perspective? I can send for your mother.”
your father. We shared a parental bond until recently, if you will recall. You
may not have been able to name your feelings for him, but I had no such
handicap. Would you like another perspective? I can send for your mother.”
She sighed. “No,
Father, that will not be necessary.”
Father, that will not be necessary.”
“You are
certainly not obligated to act on your – or his – feelings, but I would not
recommend an heir so early in your rule.”
certainly not obligated to act on your – or his – feelings, but I would not
recommend an heir so early in your rule.”
“Father!”
“It would be
best to have the province running smoothly first. You have plenty of time. Wait
a few years.”
best to have the province running smoothly first. You have plenty of time. Wait
a few years.”
“Father!”
“Yes,
daughter?”
daughter?”
“You are not
helping.”
helping.”
He chuckled. “Yes,
I am. You are not listening.”
I am. You are not listening.”
“You are not
making sense. You cannot tell me how I feel.”
making sense. You cannot tell me how I feel.”
“Yes, I can. I
shared a parental bond with you.”
shared a parental bond with you.”
She scowled.
“Your mother
would tell you not to assume that expression. She would say that the wind might
shift, and your face will get stuck.”
would tell you not to assume that expression. She would say that the wind might
shift, and your face will get stuck.”
Her mouth
twitched in spite of herself.
twitched in spite of herself.
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