User blog comment:Doctor Ibrahim/Ask the Doc and his Family!/@comment-25808351-20180124030225/@comment-28358106-20180130051549

"Not a relevant matter, unless I'm concerned with your intentions?"

Thomas was before relaxed, but now he slowly sat up, his eyes bearing down on Adelhard. Marcus could see the lion roused from his sleep, see the cobra rising, flaring his hood. His voice is even, his tone cordial, but it balances on a dangerous edge.

"Let's be clear before you say another word, boy.  Lucida is my daughter, and every blessed minute of her life is a relevant matter.  Where she goes, what she does, how she feels, and who she sees.  I'm the judge of what is relevant when it comes to my daughters, and if a boy I've never met before is going to cross the spanse that lies between my house and Zahmeria just so he can see my daughter, he'd do well to remember that he's not going another godsdamned step until I say so."

He sinks back into his chair but sits straight, his arms on the rests. "My wives and I will be the judges of what your intentions are.  Lucida is eight years old."

"...Papa!" Lucida, her discomfort finally getting the better of her, blurts out, albeit quietly.

Thomas holds up his hand, and looks back to Adelhard. "My daughter, Lucida, is eight.  As a Golem, she has the appearance of someone older.  You think I'm not going to be concerned about a stranger wanting to see her?  Because if that's the case, we need to put that idea away right this godsdamned second."

Thomas' expression is sharp now, though he isn't angry.