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Daughter Of The
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nExcerpt
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nHe poured them both glasses of water and took a seat across from her. “Ask your questions. I shall not lie to you.”
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nMyriad questions raced through Corinne’s mind, but she voiced on the one of utmost importance: “Do I have a choice?”
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n“For as long as I can give it to you,” came the evasive answer.
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n“What does that mean, Uberon? Either I have a choice or I don’t.”
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nHe met her gaze without flinching. “Free will is sacred to me.”
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nShe nodded, understanding from what he did not say that free will was about the only thing that he held sacred. “But?”
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n“But there are … compulsions … that even I cannot resist indefinitely.”
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n“Compulsions?”
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n“I lost my son because I allowed him to act of his own free will. I split the fae realm because I refused to coerce my own people.”
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n“Why would that split your realm?”
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n“Law and its enforcement has limits if it is not to become tyranny: national defense and protection of property.”
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n“I don’t understand.”
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n“I gave my people leave to make their own choices, to govern themselves, except for violation of one another’s property and to protect their country. They often made poor choices, and those choices brought darkness and hardship to them. That is one reason why my realm became known as the Unseelie Court.”
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n“What has that to do with me? Us?”
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n“Mogren, king of the Seelie Court, currently works to reunite the Unseelie Court with the Seelie. We shall once again be one nation, one race, one people.”
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n“And?”
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n“And I shall have no place there. But I cannot linger here for long, nor do I wish to do so. This realm is … tainted.” He picked up his fork and gestured to her. “Eat. You are weary and need to rebuild your energy.”
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nCorinne wished she could argue. With a small sigh, she stabbed a piece of sausage and brought it to her mouth. She chewed, swallowed, and said, “I still don’t see what that has to do with me or us.”
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n“Your denial will … pressure me until I must succumb.” He blinked. Corinne could have sworn his eyes flashed red. “If that happens, the aftermath will not be pretty.” n
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