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Then he smoothed her hair away frooing to find so bitter to s that you wanted to give me this burst of sweetness first?"

Jaenelle traced his collarbone "You’re healed now"

He could almost taste her reluctance "So?"

She rolled away fro tas open to clear away the dust and bits of grass, settled on the tree stuain, and waited

"Even after the war between Terreille and Kaeleer, people cah the Gates," Jaenelle said quietly, her eyes fixed on the horizon "Mostly those who’d been born in the wrong place and were seeking ’ho between Terreille and Little Terreille

"A couple of years ago, the Dark Council decided to allow an pouring in to see the Shadow Realrate to Kaeleer should have warned the Council about what courts are like in Terreille, but Little Terreille opened its arms to embrace the kinship ties However, Kaeleer is not Terreille Blood Law and Protocol can beunderstood differently

"Too et aith in Terreille isn’t tolerated in Kaeleer, and they died

"A year ago, in Dharo, three Terreilleanwitch for sport Raped her until herback to the body She was e"

Lucivar concentrated on his clenched hands, forcing them to open "Did they catch the bastards who did it?"

Jaenelle srimly "The Dharo males executed those men Then they banished the rest of the Terreilleans in Dharo, sending them back to Little Terreille Within six months, the fatality rate for Terreilleans in most Territories was over ninety percent Even in tittle Terreille it was over half Since the slaughter strained good feelings between the Realration Now, a Terreillean ants to irate has to serve a Kaeleer witch to her satisfaction for a specified tihteen hter Jewels have to serve three years, the darker Jewels five Queens and Warlord Princes of any rank have to serve five years"

Lucivar felt sick His body shook He felt detached sympathy for itTo her satisfaction Thatto him and he would have to allow it if he wanted to stay in Kaeleer

He tried to laugh It sounded panicked

She knelt beside him and petted him anxiously "Lucivar, it won’t be so bad Truly The QueensServing in Kaeleer isn’t like serving in Terreille I know all of the Territory Queens I’ll help you find so"

"Why can’t I serve you?" He spread his hands over her shoulders, needing her to be his anchor as he fought against hurt and panic "You like ether"

"Oh, Lucivar," Jaenelle said gently, cupping his face in her hands "I always like you Even when you’re being a pain in the ass But you should have the experience of serving in a Kaeleer court"

"You’ll be setting up your court in a year or two"

"I’ to have a court I don’t want to have that kind of power over someone else’s life Besides, you don’t want to serve me You don’t know about me, don’t understand--"

He lost patience "What? That you’re Witch?"

She looked shocked

He rubbed her shoulders, and said dryly, "Wearing the Black at your age makes it rather obvious, Cat Anyway, I’ve knoho, and what, you were since I ht weQueen I’d be proud to serve, and there you were Of course, you were a bit younger than I’d i to be picky about it Cat, please I’ve waited a lifeti you want Please don’t send ainst his chest "It’s not that easy, Lucivar Even if you can accept what I am--"

"Ido accept what you are"

"There are other reasons why youinside hi tests or challenges in order to earn a privilege Whether she realized it or not, she was offering him a chance "How many?"

She looked at him blankly

"How many reasons? Set a number, now If I can accept theave hie look "And will you be honest with yourself as well as with me about whether you can really accept the just out of reach After several minutes of tense silence, she said, "Three"

Three Not a dozen or so to natter about Just three Which ht When?"

Jaenelle flowed to her feet "Now Pack a bag and plan to stay overnight" She headed for the cabin at a swift pace

Lucivar followed her but didn’t try to catch up Three tests would determine the next five years of his life