Shireroth

"You what!" The walls of the great hall threw his voice back again, and again at the girl. "He isn't even human!"

The girl looked pleadingly at the Lord who had long since abandoned his throne in anger. "But father I love him!"

"He- No it is just an insect Sora. I will not have this folly from you."

"Father! The Ohl'Tar are not insects! They are a people just as cultured as ours. Your are nothing but a hypocrite!"

"Do not presume to judge me Sora" he roared "I wish for my family to continue. Not only do you deny me a legacy but mock your mother's memory. She died for you! For her child!"

The girl began to sob hysterically. "She is with the Great Sheep Father. Do not presume to speak for her."

"Guard your tongue child. I am still your father." But a strained silence settled none the less as the memory seized both the Lord and his daughter.

After what seemed a lifetime Sora spoke in a whisper. "Father. Please I beg your blessing. Renley is the only one that I hold close to my heart. If you deny me him then I would be lost."

"You will not be dissuaded from this foley?" She shook her head in response, loosing a tear from her nose. "Very well. Bring Renley before me."

Sora lifted her head in hope and met her father's eyes. Her joy rotted as it blossomed and despair set in. "No you can't do this!" She let out a strangled cry as two men appeared at her side and escorted her from the room. The door shut on her desperate cries for the Ohl'Tar leaving the Lord in silence. Wolfraven needed a heir. He was doing the right thing.

Then why did he feel like he was tearing out his own heart?

"A wise choice lord. Procreation with an Ohl'tar, being not only physiologically and biologically impossible is also deeply abhorrent to all right thinking gentlemen. God's holy trousers! Why the very thought makes my gorge rise. You were lucky the Kopfjaeger was in the area on a wide patrol when this unfortunate incident occurred.

Now if you'll bring the beast in, perhaps you would be so kind as to hand over responsibility for it to us and we'll take it outside and do the job quietly.

Also, if I might suggest, about your daughter - she might require some... some... uhm...well, you know, counselling. What with developing unnatural feelings for giant talking spiders and the like. That ain't right you know. "

"For a gentleman you sure know how to ruin a sappy existential crisis moment for a guy."

"Just doin my job chap."

"Of course."

"Well pardon me Sir but I did never claim to be a gentleman. Gentlemen is those what have the time and the luxury to be having sappy existential crises over daughters who have fallen in love with giant bugs and who belong in the nut house. Now I may be a detriment to that existential crisis but it's detriments like me who keep this empire safe for gentlemen to be sappy in by killin', without the barest trace of mercy or pity, all the wrong'uns who come stumbling into it. And for God's sake will somebody please shoot that fucking Ohl'tar before I have to do it myself. Hats on."