A Walk on the Water

"Alannah, where and how did you learn all this?" Anya asked faintly.

Alannah smiled in response, but there was no humor in her smile. "I learned these things because of who my father is. In the beginning, being alienated I wanted to know everything there was to know about my father and his so called friends. Over time I learned the truth, and realizing that truth made me something that my mother wasn't, unwavering in my convictions. Which is why my father was faced with two choices where I was concerned - imprisonment or death."

"Why couldn't he just keep ignoring you? Why couldn't he simply just let you go and have you out of his life?"

Alannah chuckled. "Anya men like my father don't just give up, they can't stand the notion of a woman having thoughts of her own. My father demands that women be in a submissive role. My father sees me as his property and he thinks that I am no better than a rabid dog needing to be put down. And because I am his flesh and blood, I am therefore a reflection on him as a man, as a father, and as a control figure. Remember he is a feudal lord and because I disobeyed him - he has decided that I need to be dealt with at all costs."

"If what you say is true," Anya asked her, "what will it take to stop him?"

Alannah let out a long breath of air, "No war was ever defeated an idealist." She said, shrugging, "My father's ideology serves him well, so there's no stopping him."

"There must be a way if Dominic intends to confront him, something has to happen." Anya protested.

"I'm not sure if that is indeed Dominic's intent," Alannah said thoughtfully. "I am not entirely certain what it is that Dominic intends to do at all, or what he is up to. He is both calm and very closed lipped when it comes to matters dealing with my father."

Anya's eyes widened. "Well then that means you haven't hear the news."

Alannah looked at Anya with a questioning look.

"Dominic, your husband, intends to invite your father to stay at the Chateau and win him over."

"I think I need to go talk to Dominic"

Later that evening after supper, Alannah went to find Dominic, there sitting at his desk in his study, she found him pouring over some paperwork.

"Dominic," she said coming up behind him. "Why did you not tell me about your plans with my father?"

Dominic's only reaction was a barely noticeable hesitation. "I saw no need to worry you."