Stormaway looked silently at him for several long seconds. Then he said quietly, “Think what you are saying, Waterstone. You are absolutely right. I could simply have let Falling Rain go. And in all this, that is my one true regret; that Falling Rain was exiled. But for the rest, no.” He gave Waterstone time to think before continuing, “I forced you to accept Prince Tarkyn. But I knew enough of your society from my father to be fairly sure that only force would make you accept an outsider, especially one in authority. And I knew enough about Tarkyn to know that as your liege lord, he would give you everything he had, to support you. I told you I knew of the portents concerning Tarkyn.” He glanced briefly at the prince before returning his gaze to Waterstone. “I gave you Tarkyn. You needed
