Free The Sword of Darrow by Hal Malchow

saw her father. Red-faced and raging, angry at Babette’s endless antics, he exploded in a tirade against his young daughter, whose pet snake had almost been swallowed by the visiting king.
    “You are unworthy of this kingdom! The fate of every man, woman, and child of this kingdom rests with this family to which you belong. Do you know what that means? What if our kingdom is forced to turn to you in search of a queen? What will they find? A lowly girl unworthy of the crown!”
    Though this moment was years ago, the king’s ferocious eyes burned in Sesha’s mind. She arose and left the room.
    “Father was right,” thought Sesha. “I am not worthy even to live here in Asterux’s home.”

    The next day, Sesha sat in her room and thought of her father again. Her remembrance of his harsh words, so often delivered, drove her deeper and deeper into despair.
    Memories rolled by. He was standing before his subjects, thousands of them, at the gates of the palace and he spoke with beautiful words of kindness and love. But he found no such words for her, for she was not worthy.
    Another memory emerged. She had entered a room and found him alone. He was seated, slumped forward, his head in his hands. When he heard her, he looked up. She jumped back, fearing his rage. But what she saw in his face was not anger but a deep sadness.
    “Babette,” he said, “if I have failed you, if I have failed our kingdom, please forgive me. A king, your father, is only a man.”
    An advisor entered the room and whispered something to the king. The king stepped out onto the balcony. There, standing before him, was the army of Sonnencrest, ready to depart for the forest to defend their land. His words betrayed none of his doubts.
    His voice boomed out over the army, “The fate of our kingdom rests in your hands. Some say that a terrible destiny lies ahead. But goodness is always the greater force. Our own courage, fortified by virtue, is a mighty power. Darkness can never withstand the power of the sun. As you leave this city to do battle in the forest, know that the force of evil can never vanquish the good. We will drive these goblins from our land.”
    With those words, a great cheer erupted and the soldiers, confident and inspired, marched away to meet their foe. Stepping back into the palace, the king’s sad face returned and he went to his study to be alone.
    It had been a long time since Babette had thought of that moment. It had confused her at the time. Now, four years older, she saw her father in a new way. She saw in his life a loneliness she had never realized before. She saw the weight of the kingdom pressing down upon him. She understood for the first time that every citizen, in some way, depended upon him for their well-being, their livelihood, and their freedom itself.
    As she thought of these things, his harsh words took on a different meaning. His words were meant to prepare her. She was never meant to wear the crown, but the crown might find her nevertheless. That her father never understood her could not matter. His job was to make her ready to rule.
    Suddenly, a new idea raced through her mind.
    “Perhaps his words were painful to him as well. Perhaps he understood her better than she knew. Perhaps he was never free to love me as I am.”
    From these thoughts came a new understanding of the man who had towered over her life. From this understanding, she found a new love for her father. As she did, she felt a powerful force grow inside her.
    Her arms began to tremble and she climbed to her feet. More and more, the power grew until it surged with a force that she never imagined possible. With this power, her life passed before her and once again she forgave Keanu and the goblins in the meadow and even the executioner who danced across the balcony with his sword. At the end, she saw her father and the love she felt for him welled up from deep inside her soul. For a long time she trembled and shook until finally she fell to