Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
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Generated <strong>by</strong> ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html<br />
Sova <strong>and</strong> Megan exchanged a remembering look, which Shkai'ra didn't miss. For a moment the<br />
Kommanza's teeth clenched, words failing her. "Listen! Until I was exiled, I thought the way of Stonefort<br />
was the way of the world. The Warmasters said that a child taught to hate all that lived was the better<br />
killer… warrior, most peoples say. When I saw the ways of some other peoples, where parent <strong>and</strong> child<br />
could… feel for each other, it was as if they walked with their heads held under their arms, it was so<br />
strange. For a time, I doubted everything I'd been taught, down to how to latch my boots, because so<br />
much seemed to be lies." A softening. "Then I met Megan… She's always telling me I'm sensitive as a<br />
stone shithouse, <strong>and</strong> occasionally it's true, I know."<br />
"Occasionally?" Sova said, blinking. That went past Shkai'ra, but Megan smirked, then shook her head<br />
scoldingly.<br />
The Kommanza raised her h<strong>and</strong>s in a gesture of helplessness. "How good a parent I can be, I don't<br />
know. I know whatnot to do, mostly: the way I was raised was shit." Sova's thin brows rose in surprise.<br />
"Administered <strong>by</strong> people who were shits, <strong>and</strong> all it taught me was to turn outmore shits, if you take my<br />
meaning. I'm still learning else."<br />
"I don't want to be a shit," said Sova. "Khyd-hird, you molded me no less than my parents. They would<br />
have said it was aman's mold. I wanted to marry a nice Thanish man, <strong>and</strong> live in a nice house in<br />
Branvniki. I can't now, never will. You say that's only because I was raised to want nothing else; but<br />
maybe, underneath that, I reallydid want it. I'll never know now. I never would have known had things<br />
been left as they were, either; I wouldn't have known either way."<br />
Shkai'ra paced. "You've got choices, girl. More than most: peasants grow to be peasants, because their<br />
lord'll lop their heads if they try otherwise, or else they get dragged off to the levy <strong>and</strong> filled full of arrows.<br />
Crafters count themselves lucky to get apprenticeship… You have half a dozen callings you could take.<br />
You're getting a good general lessoning—I can hardly write more than my name, you know—"<br />
"Emmas Penaras,solas ," Megan cut in. Shkai'ra's words were lost in laughter, even Sova's.<br />
The Kommanza went on, "So if you want to shake the dust of the House of the Sleeping Dragon off<br />
your feet, you can, easily enough."<br />
"I didn't think you cared what I wanted," said the girl. "You certainly didn't, at first."<br />
"Well—true. But that changed. Don't you remember the words: "Sova, do you consent to be the child of<br />
these,as of their blood ? Wewanted you to be our daughter, <strong>by</strong> then; wefelt like you were our<br />
daughter. You'd fought at our side, shed blood with us; we knew you <strong>and</strong>… hmmm. A lot of reasons.<br />
Megan saw something of herself in you, I think, <strong>and</strong> wanted to make the story come out better this time."<br />
Sova looked; the Zak nodded, confirming. "Shyll has a loving heart, <strong>and</strong> you appealed to it. Rilla<br />
likewise, <strong>and</strong>… well, you'll have to ask them for the details."<br />
"Me… had I a daughter born of my blood, I couldn't ask for better. You're as brave as any youngser<br />
I've met, you've learned fast, you're smart, <strong>and</strong> you've got a loyal heart, when push comes to shove." She<br />
grinned. "Don't get a swelled head, girl, but I'm actually quite proud of you. Besides, having you around<br />
makes life… more alive,ia ? Of course, you're sullen <strong>and</strong> flighty <strong>and</strong> give me grief, at times, but I said you<br />
were a daughter to be proud of, not a god. Gods know,I'm no vessel of sweetness <strong>and</strong> light…."<br />
"It was for honor, too. Once we had you, we had to dosomething for you, <strong>and</strong> would have—fosterage,<br />
an apprenticeship, something. Less would be acting like a shit to someone who'd done me no wrong;