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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 3787106" data-attributes="member: 3285">As Gray and Cold as Stone - Part 7: Meet the ParentsKham got a quick glimpse of Acastus’ reaching for the statue of Illiir.  He tapped it once and it glowed with the brilliance of daylight.  Then he ducked down again to avoid being seen.The door closed behind them. As soon as it was closed, Acastus snarled at Roderick.  “What treachery is this, boy?  Your father and I had an agreement!”Kham hung from the windowsill by his fingertips.  “Yes m’lord,” said Roderick, nervous.  “And believe me, I had every intention of rejecting your offer, just as my father instructed.”It was cold outside.  Kham’s arms were beginning to hurt.“Then what in Illiir’s name happened?”Kham made the mistake of looking down at the tindertwig he had hastily discarded.  It tumbled down the slope.  That’s when he realized he that the villa was built into the side of a hill.  It was a long way down.Roderick walked over to the window to look up at the moon.Don’t look down, Kham screamed mentally as hard as he could.“She is beautiful, my lord,” Roderick said simply.  “Beautiful beyond words and her eyes shine like those of Larissa herself.  When I saw her face, I knew in that moment that I could not bear to turn her away from me.”Kham rolled his eyes.  He’d been there, but the kid was sappier than most.“You idiot!” shouted Acastus.  “There are greater things at stake here than your loins, you damnable lout.  And now that you’ve done this in public—in front of Calsestus no less—it’ll be hell getting out of it.”“I still don’t understand, Acastus.  If you did not want me to marry your daughter, why offer me her hand in the first place?”Acastus laughed bitterly.  “if you ever plan to succeed your father as Duke, boy, you’d better learn to think.  The Emperor ORDERED me to offer you Elandre’s hand.  He wants you to marry her in order to keep General Menisis from attacking your father’s lands again.  Menisis has been a friend of my family for years, and he won’t risk a war if Elandre might be endangered.  She’s a hostage for the General’s good behavior.”“Holy crap” mouthed Kham.Roderick’s voice grew cold.  “All the more reason that I SHOULD marry her, then! My father’s lands do not belong to Coryan, nor will they ever.  If Elandre’s presence will keep Menisis from spilling more blood, I will be doubly glad to wed her.”“Do you honestly think the Emperor cares any more than Menisis does for your homeland?  Calsestus would see all of Milandir rejoined to the Empire as a captive province once more. And if he forces the Mother Church to reunite with the Canceri heretics, there will be enemies on both sides of your nation, ready to crush you in the middle.”Kham had to admit he had a point.  Although he would have felt much more agreeable if he could still feel his fingertips.“Menisis is the only one in Coryan who can oppose the Emperor.  If this marriage goes through, Calsestus’ position on the Alabaster Throne will be secure…and Milandir doomed as much as Coryan.  I have explained all of this to your father, and he saw the wisdom of my reasoning.  And now your adolescent lusts have ruined everything.”There was a pause.  Roderick turned away from the window to reply.  “What would you have me do?”“Go back to the courtyard and try to put a good face on this.  Surely, even you are capable of that much.  I’ll be here trying to come up with a way out of this mess. “Althare’s ass!, thought Kham.  Acastus was going to be there all night.  Kham’s arms were numb, it was cold, and he had just finished an entire bottle of wine.  All this conspired against him.And finally, Kham’s fingers decided they had enough.</blockquote>

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