Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

for the Ghost Warrior, convinced his father was still in there somewhere. Daniel always was desperate for his father’s approval.
    Jacob did love his children, in his own way, even Valentine, but they were all disappointments to him. I was going to give him new children, but we never got around to it before he was taken from me, so now I never will. Just another loss to grieve.” “He must have loved you very deeply,” said Robert, struggling for the right thing to say.
    “I hope so, but I was never really sure. I was a trophy wife, you see, young and beautiful, something to
    show off at Court and at parties. It was an arranged marriage, although I grew to love him. He was always kind to me, but… he never found it easy to talk about his feelings, even to me. So I was never sure.” “You must find it very difficult being a woman alone, and heading such a large Clan,” said Robert, just to be saying something. “You have no idea,” said Constance dryly. “I only got the position by default. I keep it by playing my many enemies off against each other and intriguing morning, noon, and night. As a result, every word I say, and even the smallest of actions, are analyzed endlessly by all concerned to see if they contain crumbs of valuable information. Sometimes I say things entirely at random just to get them worrying. There are always people around me now. Moments of privacy like this are rare. Everyone wants to see me, everyone wants something. You’ll find that out for yourself now you’re the Campbell.” “Then why not just walk away from it all?” said Robert. “You’re not trapped, like me. You’re only a Wolfe by marriage, not blood. You could give it all up, and no one could stop you.”
    “But the Clan is all I have left of Jacob. The one remaining connection to the happy time I shared with him. I owe him a duty not to step down till I can place the Clan in safe hands. That’s why I’m marrying Owen Deathstalker.” “I had heard. Congratulations.”
    “Thank you.”
    “What’s he like, really? I’ve only ever seen him on the holo. Some say he’s a hero, some…” “Say he’s a monster. I know. But he seemed very ordinary to me. Quite likable. Even charming in a clumsy sort of way. But he’s strong. Thoughtful. He’ll make a good constitutional monarch, and as his Queen, our two Families will merge, and I will be able to give up control to him. Can you think of any hands more secure than those of the legendary Owen Deathstalker?” “Not really, no. But how do you feel about him?” “He seemed kind. I’ll settle for that. I’ve had one great love in my life. I don’t think I could stand to lose another.”
    “Why did you agree to see me?” said Robert. “You said yourself that you’re greatly in demand these days, and I’m not anyone important. Yet. And our Families are mortal enemies. So why me?”
    “Because we have a lot in common. We both became head of our Clan much sooner than we ever expected, through the death of a loved one, taking on the responsibility through duty and need. We’ve both known terrible pain and loss, but it didn’t break us. I need someone like you, someone I can talk to, who’ll understand. Someone in the Families who isn’t afraid of Blue Block.” “Good reasons,” said Robert. “As for Blue Block, I don’t really know much about them. I was only with them for a short time before my Family took me away and placed me in the Fleet, where they thought I’d be of more use to them. I was never introduced into any of their mysteries or secrets. I never realized they were so widespread, so… powerful.”
    “Very few did,” said Constance, “until it was far too late. I’ve seen too much evil in the Families, Robert.
    Too many of us became inbred and corrupt, misusing our power and abusing our privileges. I was one of the few in the Families who actually approved of the rebellion. I saw in the new order a chance to remake the Families as they should be—the best of the best, leading and guarding, not ruling by fear and oppression. But now Blue Block is putting all that at risk. The Clans are so desperate to regain power, they’ll do anything Blue Block says to get it. We have no idea of what Blue Block really is now, what they really want. Someone has to stop them, and I can’t do it alone. I need allies, people of good heart and true, to whom duty is more than just a word. What do you say, Robert Campbell? Have I found an ally in