His smile died, killed by the reality of what she was saying. “I suppose you’re right. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” she continued, “sometimes you have to fight in order to prevent a greater loss, but it should be done out of necessity, not some sense of glory. There is no honour in needless bloodshed.”
“Did your father teach you that?”
“He did. He didn’t like to talk of it very often, but every once in a while, he would miss his old life, and then the subject would inevitably turn to the invasion.”
“I would imagine he saw a lot of bloodshed?”
Charlaine nodded. “He did, especially in those last few weeks.”
“Your father fought? I thought he was a smith?”
“He was; he was the Royal Swordsmith, but like other loyal Calabrians, he took up the sword when the inva
