From: Kristen Gant <kgant@interaccess.com>

Darril
***

News had come of the deaths of his brothers, only moments after the deed
had been done. Darril Lothar had thanked the bearer .. then closed the door
and met the eyes of his wife. She'd been there to catch him as he dropped
into her arms, completely numb.

"Their dead .." he whispered, not really a statement .. nor a question.

Bryn couldn't be sad for the death's of the two Lothar brothers, however
she did feel her husband' pain. No matter what either had done to him, they
were still his brothers .. and somehow he'd still managed to keep that
younger brother devotion for them.

"I can't believe it .." he muttered. Bryn was surprised at the bitterness
that echoed in his voice. "They finally did it, didn't they?"

"What?"

"Destroyed each other .." he shrugged, "I guess I always knew they would
eventually."

"At least they didn't destroy you with them, my love." She said gently.

"Only thanks to you and your cousin."

Bryn giggled. It still seemed so odd to think of Glynwieth as her cousin.
But the woman insisted on it.  And Bryn had become very fond of the woman
.. and honestly, now she really felt like family. As long as she didn't
think about the title or the power she held.

"They're meeting early to discuss Lotherra's fate." Darril told her.

She nodded, "Is there any doubt? You're the sole heir."

Darril shrugged, "Probably just a formality."  But there was no joy in his
voice. He would have his father's home and lands .. which he intended to
rule as his father had, rather then the way Regil had done. He would see
Lotherra returned to what she used to be.

***

>Coneta's voice rose to an impassioned plea. "Your Grace, I know that you
>are fond of Darril Lothar, but please, my husband's child is the true heir
>of Lotherra... you cannot mean to take that away..."

Darril listened to Coneta and could hardly believe the words that came from
her lips. Well, not so much that he could not believe that she had spoken
them .. for in the time he had lived with his brother and sister-in-law, he
had often seen her speak such beautiful words as this. The thing he could
not believe was that they were true.

There was little doubt in his mind that Coneta had no children, because
Coneta wanted no children. And he had never seen a ounce of love issue from
her eyes toward his eldest brother. In fact in the privacy of their own
home it had been clear what she felt for him would be more akin to contempt.

He could feel Lotherra slipping from his grasp. Not that he'd really ever
expected to hold it .. but in the past few months as he'd spoken with the
duchess, he had come to like the idea. Something to give to his son .. and
to Bryn.

But how could he oppose Regil's heir ..

"Lady Coneta," a sharp voice rung out, drawing everyone's attention to the
toothpick thin old dowager of a neighboring village. "I'm curious about
your relationship with the brother. If you were *so* devoted to your
husband, what were you doing here in Eos with his brother?"

Darril turned sharply to look back at his sister-in-law. He had wondered
the same thing. She'd told Gerard that Regil had been beating her. She'd
said horrible things about her husband. That had run more true in his ears
then this devotion she expressed now.

Coneta
***

Coneta turned her dark eyes on the woman and smiled gently. She'd been
expecting this. "My husband was a good man. But he was not without his
flaws. And as in any marriage we quarreled. And I admit to being somewhat
jealous when his concubine became pregnant .. and I took that out on Regil.
We quarreled horribly and I left him."

A pained look crossed her face, "Gerard has .. always been a friend to me,
despite his differences with my husband, and he took me in .. as any good
brother would do."

There were several chortles and someone called out, "Are you trying to tell
us that Gerard Lothar thought of you as a sister?"

Coneta shrugged, "I can't speak for what he thought, sir. Only what I did.
I suppose I am guilty of being to gentle with him, when he spoke of his
feelings for me. I was still upset with my husband. In fact, we only
reconciled the other day when he arrived .." A sob caught in her throat.

Regards,
The Remaining Lothar's
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  |\  /^~~^\  /|
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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Th'rin & Areena, Whiteriver Warren, Head Healer
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                      Saul & Fayloth, Jasra Warren, Searcher
                      Darlea & Makayla
                      Devon & Xanith
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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