There was an awkward silence in the room broken only by the deep breath Kiara took before she spoke. "It's strange to me that you compare weapons to trees. They are not even close to the same thing. If you were to actually compare fighting in Berinike to something in Astora, I would suppose that would be dressing up in pretty clothes or possibly the arts. Do you not see how this limits the people? You call your son a disgrace because he will not learn to fight, and my family calls me one because I preferred it. Have you never once thought that maybe the reason our countries are warring in the first place is because we cannot accept anyone who's different?

"Besides, does Prince Lamont not have a point? Just because you have done things for years on end does not mean you should continue to do so. Callum is a threat now, that's true, but soon it will not be and then what will be of your people, your country? Will you leave them to rot? They won't be able to make money through weaponsmithing or soldiering any longer. What then? How is a lifetime soldier supposed to return to a normal life? You've set them up for failure."

Kiara was crazy. She must be to be getting in the middle of Berinike politics and the drama between father and son, but she could not stand to see someone being treated that way. It wasn't right, to call Lamont a disgrace just because he preferred a book to a sword. Both had their merits. 

"I completely understand why you would want him to learn to defend himself. It was this war that forced me to pick up a weapon, but that does not mean you also have to stifle who he is! Learning to defend himself and choosing a life of war are completely different things! You tell him to put away his passions to do something that [i]you[/i] want. How can you possibly ask that of your [i]son[/i]? You should be grateful that he is different because it means that this truce might actually have a chance!"

By now her voice was raised. It was not something that could help. For years, she had held these feelings inside as her mother and father expressed the same concerns towards her. All that time, she had just wanted to tell them who she was and what she wanted. It was the case, though, that when Kiara could not do something for herself she could always do it for someone else.

"It is [i]wrong[/i], the way you treat him as if his feelings and thoughts don't matter. If you want him to be safe then tell him so. If that's really want you want, and it should be, ask him to learn a few defense moves and be done with it. Do not tell him that he is a disappointment just because he will not bow to your will!" Her fist slammed on the table as she stood up, unable to stay any longer. 

"I am very sorry, but I think I must excuse myself," was the last thing she said before she turned and walked out those large wooden doors.