The Swans' War 1 - The One Kingdom by Sean Russell Page B

need a reason other than the pleasure of your company?" She hooked a chair near with her foot—a terribly unladylike act, but she was sure her father would not recognize it as such.” You may visit me anytime you choose, as you well know, whether it is merely for the pleasure of my company, as you put it, or because you need to unburden yourself, but sometimes I sense it is the latter...." She squeezed his hand, wondering where to begin.” Menwyn .. ." he said softly. It was not a question. She nodded.” Shall I assume you are nodding agreement?" This made her smile.” Yes." "He is our particular bane, isn't he?" her father said conspiratorially.” He is pressing you to accept a suitor?" "He keeps saying that it is you who will make the decision ..." she blurted out. Her father sat back in his chair.” Yes, he would say that." "But, Father, Menwyn would have me marry... anyone if his father had enough men-at-arms and was belligerent in nature." She rose from her chair, taking three quick steps in the gathering gloom, but then stopped.” I don't want my marriage to support this senseless feud," she said in a harsh whisper, as though one did not speak such words within these walls. For a moment her father did not answer.” No," he said in a normal tone.” I don't want that either. We shall have to set ourselves to resist Menwyn, though he will rally all the others against us. You know the truth, Elise: he has isolated me almost entirely. We can count on no one but ourselves." He turned his head toward her as he said this, as though she were visible to him. She came and put a hand on his shoulder, bending to kiss his cheek. He was ever her supporter. He reached out and ran his fingers over the strings of the harp, the sound of falling water, and smiled.” You should know, Elise," he said, suddenly serious, "that all of us make appropriate marriages. That does not mean you must marry someone you detest, but even so, you must find a fitting match.""Yes," she said softly.” You loved Mother, didn't you?" "More than words can express, almost more than music can.""But you hardly knew her when you married. . . ?" She knew the answer to these questions, but it had become a litany of reassurance.
    "I had met her but twice, and spoken to her for less than an hour.""But you trusted Grandmother's judgment." "Entirely.""There is the heart of my problem," she said.
    "So it is," her father agreed.
    "Father? This is not selfishness. I will marry whom you choose, but I don't want to see the fighting begin again. Do you understand? I will not have my marriage give Menwyn the means to make war. Enough Wills have died to assuage family pride"—she paused and took a long breath—"and others as well.""I know you are not being selfish, my dear. But, Elise? When it comes to marriage, it is acceptable to be a little selfish." He paused.” And you are not being willful just to spite Menwyn?""I don't think so," she said, hoping it was true.
    "I don't think so either, as tempting as that would be. We shall have to consider carefully how to proceed. Menwyn is a formidable opponent. He bested me in the past," he said without sign of rancor.
    "I was too young to help you then," Elise said, not really feeling that this would mean much.
    Her father smiled.” Yes," he said, "you are more stubborn than I. And stubbornness is a trait never to be underestimated."Carral made his way up the unlit stair. His meeting with Elise had unsettled him substantially, leaving him pacing back and forth across his room for a long time. Mid-eve had rung some time ago, and had shaken him from his worries at least temporarily. Despite his reassuring words, the truth was, he was unable to provide the protection his daughter required. He could not even offer her proper guidance. If her mother had lived ... But regrets were of no use. Past events couldn't be changed. One couldn't simply wish the illness upon Menwyn, though the thought had occurred to Carral more than