Summary: (media.clonepod.org/DaughterColor.jpg)(http://media.clonepod.org/DaughterColor.jpg) Warning PG13 for violence and suggestive language Illustration is by Rikki Niehaus. You can find more of her work at http://rikkiniehaus.com (http://rikkiniehaus.com/). Read by Leslie Ann Moore, author of Griffin's Daughter "I Have a Daughter", was first published by Earlyworks Press in the high fantasy anthology, "The Sleepless Sands." Ms. Edmunds is an English poet, novelist and short story writer, with many works in various anthologies, as well as one published novel. Catherine Edminds' recent poetry book can be found at our site's bookstore. “I have a daughter.” My father’s deep tones rang out, commanding silence, and the moment I’d been dreading since I turned sixteen finally arrived. I clutched Shull’s fur and watched intently from behind the grill that had helped keep me invisible all these years. The tall warrior’s eyes lit up. These were the first words of a ritual, and barbarian or no, he knew them well, but had never expected to hear them himself. None in the hall would have known of my existence; the fact that my father had a daughter. There was a murmuring of surprise, then a hushing to silence. “I have a daughter,” my father repeated, softly this time, and this time the warrior responded. The ritualistic words were spoken harshly, his voice cracking with the strain of sudden unexpected hope. “I have need of a wife.”
