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"Isonei?" Lislora interrupted quietly, "You can do a great deal more as Duchess than you could do as a postulant. If you have half a year to spend here..."
Closing her eyes she nodded slightly in his hands. Draeseth's relieved exhale and kiss to her forehead somehow made her feel as though she'd made the wrong choice. But Lislora was right, half a year and she could have free rein to help those who needed it. Escaping on her own was impossible. She needed to consider embracing this life.
"I want to bring Hodrim to the Keep."
"I will give you children, woman."
"I want to bring all of them; I'm trying to be reasonable." Isonei tilted her chin up.
"I will consider it." Draeseth tilted her chin back down. "Perhaps as a reward, if you charm my family and do not let them know I have come so close to driving you away."
"You said you wanted a large family, letting me adopt..."
"We will amend the Arrangement, for every child you adopt you must give me two." His dark eyes glittered. "Once it is amended and we come home, I will allow you to bring Hodrim to the Keep. It will amuse my father that you want as large a family as I do." He stroked her face beginning to smile. "Come. You will ride with me; we should be home by dawn."
"We can't sleep here?"
"No. We will sleep at home." He turned to the door and Isonei met Lislora's tired eyes.
"I will look after him, Isonei. 'Dear Hodrim' will be eager to see you again."
"Thank you, Lislora." Isonei darted forward and embraced the woman.
- COMMENTS
Anonymousalmost 3 years agoDraeseth is a mysogynist abuser who considers women chattel.
To wit, the traits and actions of an abuser:
Makes promises, and agrees to everything the abusee wants as enticement/reward for relationship, or as 'apology' after an abusive event.
For example: "Come to my homeland, and you can return to visit as often as you need/want."/
for example: "You can spend all my money to help people of Duchy."
Demands further commitment(s) from abusee, or limits abusee's freedom, in exchange for enticement/rewards or promises, even though promises are first offered as apology for initial abuse.
For example: In exchange for not forcing marriage, agree to 50/50 arrangement, then tells the abused his non-50% must be spent in convent.
For example: Allows abusee to stay at orphanage, and agrees to amend Arrangement, but abusee must pretkend to be happy 'wife' during visit to abuser's Father.
Creates excuses/reasons to break promises, or frames reneging as punishment when one of his ever-changing/ever-expanding number of demands are not met.
For example: Breaks promises to Dagas & King "because they will take what is mine", even though the agreement was for one year, then back; not marriage, or more than one year, AND they allowed her to leave.
Isonei is in an abusive relationship, with few allies, and no resources. She needs to develop some steel in her spine.
You've managed to bring characters back towards their roots, and have shown enough duplicity of male protagonist's action, and explained enough 'out of alignment' events to keep me reading.
Superb writing; you have a knack for writing truly despicable characters, and for weaving intricate and mysterious sub-plots into your story line. Above average mechanical wiriting skills, and average plot/story line mgt skills.
Thanks for sharing.
GeoD
Anonymousover 5 years agoI thought i disliked Dreaseth but now i know i HATE him. He is so manipulative and he is sooo toxic. I would not have let so much sh*t fly. He is horrible and he KILLED A Priest! Isonei. Run! Tell him you hate him. Break his heart like he has broken yours time and time and time again. Please dear Isemay, PLEASE, let Isonei find a healthy love and let Dreaseth receive his just desserts.
With love
A devoted fan.
Anonymousover 5 years agoFrom potentially becoming a future queen to a sister in an orphanage, that's a serious lifestyle change!
Anonymousover 5 years agoYour Draeseth is such a flawed and complicated man. I love that he has so many dimensions. Most characters on Lit are as shallow as a piece of paper. They're either all good or all bad, all black and white without any grey. The grey is where the real people are found.
Isonei is so trusting and forgiving. She wants to believe that this time he's telling the truth, this time he really means what he says but will he walk his talk? Not bloomin' likely!
