Two Hundred Thirty Two

"Why?" I ask finally, after a moment of silence.

Victor looks at me, eyes dark. "My father made a deal with dark elves, and we have seen the result! I will not follow in his footsteps."

"Then why did you make the deal with C'raiven?"

He paused. "At the time, I saw no other way to save you."

"Then you must honor the agreement."

He glares. "You will not tell me what I must and must not do! If you would have been silent, I would have offered him something else in place of land."

"They will not have it! They don't want anything else!"

"I cannot do it, Zaphael!"

"Then let me," I reply. "I was the one saved. I shall pay them. You can turn a blind eye, and all shall be happy."

"Do you truly wish to undermine me?"

"Of course not!" I cry. "I only wish to help you!"

At that he seizes me and drives me back against the table. "If you truly wish to help me you will be silent!"

"I will give those elves land," I tell him. "And then I shall go after Zin. You may assist me with either or both, but you cannot stop me."

"We shall see," he growls, just as the door opens.

"Zaphael?" Soren asks, voice full of concern. "What has happened? Victor, what are you doing?"

Victor releases me to glare at Soren. "I suppose you support Zaphael in all matters, don't you?"

"Most," he admits, glancing at me. I see him notice my face and frown. "It is not becoming to strike your wife, Victor, particularly when she is Lady of Dunn Maris."

"Then perhaps she should start acting like both a wife and a Lady," he snarls, and shoves past us both to storm out the door.

"Are you all right?" Soren asks me.

"Of course," I sigh. "He is a stubborn fool."

Soren eyes me with an expression I cannot name for a long moment before opening the door for me. "Come," he says quietly.

I nod, and follow him from the room.

This is becoming a more frustrating position by the moment.