“I acknowledge your point. And, it is also not my intent to upset Frisha. When I decided to name her my heir, it was in hopes that I could give her a better life—not that her life was so terrible in the first place. Her father has been quite successful for a commoner. Ever since she came here, though, I have been regretting my decision. I had not imagined she would encounter so much danger on the trip here, and I certainly did not consider that she might meet the man she wished to marry during the journey. I would never have expected that it would be one such as you, but conversely, if it had not been you, then she likely would not have made it here at all.”

Rezkin furrowed his brow. “To be honest, I do not know why she is so upset. She has so many other options,” he stated as that tightness in his chest returned, “and aside from the protection I have provided, I have given her no evidence of my worth.”

“The heart is fickle,” the general grumbled. “I spoke with Tam, and from what he says, that girl has wanted you since the moment you met. But,” Marcum stated as he held up a finger to make a point, “what we want is not always what is best for us.”

“What one man believes is best is not always so,” Rezkin countered.

“There are certain truths throughout society, and what you are, Rezkin, is not wholesome,” the general stated.

Rezkin scoffed. “Name me a noble who is wholesome, General. For every major and minor house, I could reveal at least a handful of scandals and hidden skeletons. Men and women alike cheat and steal and even murder on occasion. Some men beat their wives, engage in extramarital affairs, and have a dozen illegitimate children running homeless in the streets. They plot and scheme against each other always seeking some new morsel of power or wealth. No house is spared, General. Not even your own.”

General Marcum narrowed his eyes at the young man. If Rezkin were anyone else, he would think the man knew far too much for his own good, but this particular man could handle any problems and probably knew expertly how to use the information. He wondered just what Rezkin knew of the clandestine affairs of his own house. It was just one more thread of power the young man had over him that Rezkin refused to use against the general to get his way. Not that Rezkin really needed any more power, but it was astonishing that the man could restrain himself from taking what he wanted. This whole situation with Frisha was obviously upsetting to them both. If he were in the same situation, Marcum knew he would not be so noble. And, there it was again. The noble Rezkin.