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Valrik pulled back, shocked, his hand clalazed He stumbled back a step

Dorothea daintily licked the blood froive your life forValrik as he staggered out of the rooe

A pity to lose such an excellent Master of the Guard and a bother to have to replace him She vanished the nail file and smiled But at least Valrik, by example, would teach his successor a very necessary lesson: too et a man killed

7 / Kaeleer

Saetan balled the freshly ironed shirt in his hands, rimly satisfied with the results, and slipped it on

He hated this He had always hated this

His black trousers and tunic jacket received the same treatment as the shirt As he buttoned the jacket, he smiled wryly Just as well he’d insisted that Helene and the rest of the staff take the evening off If his prim housekeeper saw him dressed like this, she’d consider it a personal insult

A strange thing, feelings He was preparing for an execu-

tion and all he felt was relief that his appearance wouldn’t bruise his housekeeper’s pride

No, not all There was anger at the necessity and a si anxiety that, because of what he was about to do, he ust instead of warmth and love

But she ith Mephis in Aht

Saetan called in the cane he had put aside a feeeks ago

Of course Jaenelle would know She was too astute not to understand thebehind Menzar’s sudden disappearance But ould she think of him? What would it !---that he could live here quietly and not give people reason to remember too sharply who and what he was He had hoped to be just a father raising a Queen daughter

It had never been that simple Not for hi to fight on Dhemlan Terreille’s behalf when Hayll had threatened that quiet land all of those long centuries ago Both sides had assu force within him But what had driven him had been far more seductive and far simpler: he had wanted a place to call home

He had wanted land to care for, people to care for, children--his own and others--to fill his house with their laughter and exuberance He had dreamed of a simple life where he would use his Craft to enrich, not destroy

But a Black-Jeweled, Black Widow Warlord Prince as already called the High Lord of Hell couldn’t slip into the quiet life of a sth, built SaDiablo Hall in all three Realms, ruled with an iron will and a compassionate heart, and yearned for the day when he would er than her fear of him

Instead, he had met and married Hekatah

For a while, a very short while, he’d thought his dream had come true--until Mephis was born and she was sure he wouldn’t walk aouldn’t forsake his child Even then, having pledged hiood husband, had tried even harder to be a good father When she conceived a second tiain that she cared for him, wanted to build a life with him But Hekatah had been in love only with her ambitions, and children were her payment for his support It wasn’t until she carried their third child that she finally understood he would never use his power to h Priestess of all the Realms

He never saw his third son Only pieces

Saetan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and cast the sled web of illusions that he’d created earlier in the day His leg muscles trenarled and had a slight but noticeable shake "I hate this" He smiled slowly He sounded like a querulous old man

By the time he made his way to the public reception roos began to burn froh to suspect a trap, the physical discomfort would help hide the web’s illusions

Saetan stepped into the great hall and hissed softly at thesilently by the door "I told you to take the evening off" There was no power in his voice, no soft thunder

"It would not be appropriate for you to open the door when your guest arrives, High Lord," Beale replied

"What guest? I’ with her younger sister in Halaway I will join theuest arrives, and ill dine out"

Saetan rested both hands on the cane and raised an eyebrow "Mrs Beale dines out?"