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"The wilderness is always dangerous, Lady," Lord Jorval said smoothly "You arned to take extra precautions"

"Precautions!" The Queen quivered in outrage "You said these beasts, these so-called kindred had a bit of ic they were using That was Craft!"

"No, no Only the human races are Blood, and only the Blood has the power to use Craft" Lord Jorval looked soulfully at the Council e chamber "But, perhaps, since we know so little about theic It may be that the only way our Terreillean Brothers and Sisters will be able to secure the land granted to the to send in their oarriors to clear out these infestations"

And every Queen who sent assistance would expect a higher percentage of the profit froht sourly He was about to antagonize the

rest of the Council--again--by re the members that the Dark Council had been formed to act as arbitrators to prevent wars, not to provoke theht voice filled the Council chaelline strode toward the Tribunal’s bench and stopped just outside the petitioner’s circle, flanked by the High Lord and Lucivar Yaslana "Those infestations you speak of, Lord Jorval, are kindred They are Blood They have every right to defend the force"

"We’re not invading!" the petitioning Queen snapped "We went in to settle the unclairanted to us by the Dark Council"

"It’s not unclaimed," Jaenelle snarled "It’s kindred Territories"

"Ladies" Lord Jorval had to raise his voice to be heard over theof Council members and petitioners "Ladies!" When the Council and the petitioners subsided, Lord Jorval selline, while it’s always a pleasure to see you, IIf there is so before the Council, you must wait until the petitioners who have already requested an audience have been heard"

"If all the petitioners have the sareat deal of time," Jaenelle replied coldly "Kindred Territories are not unclaimed land The Blood have ruled there for thousands of years The Blood still rule there"

"While it pains ently, "there are no Blood in these ’kindred territories’ The Council has studied this ently and has reached the conclusion that, while these aniical cousins,’ they are not Blood One must be human to be Blood And this Council was forhts"

"Then what are the centaurs? What are the satyrs? Half-huhts?" No one answered "I see," Jaenelle said too softly

Lord Magstroue felt shriveled Did no one else reelline had stood before the Council?

"Once the Blood are established in these Territories, they will look after the kindred Any disagreeht to the Council by the human representatives for those Territories"

"You’re saying that the kindred require a human representative before they’re entitled to any consideration or any rights?"

"Precisely," Lord Jorval said, s

"In that case,I astro Lord Jorval was still sstronize the subtle, underlying cruelty in the man

"Unfortunately, that isn’t possible," Lord Jorval said "This Lady’s clai Queen--"but you have no claihts are not being infringed upon And since neither you nor yours are affected by this, you have no justifiable complaint I strohed with relief when she walked out of the Council chah Lord and Prince Yaslana

"Now, Lady," Lord Jorval said with a weary shtful petition"

"Bastards," Lucivar snarled as they walked toward the landing web

Saetan slipped an arer didn’t worry him Jaenelle’s silent withdrawal did

"Don’t fret about it, Cat," Lucivar continued "We’ll find a way around those bastards and keep the kindred protected"~

"I’itimate way around the Council’s decision," Saetan said carefully

"And you’ve never stepped outside the Law? You’ve never overruled a bad decision by using strength and te to explain why the family had difficulties with the Dark Council, someone must have told Lucivar why the Councilthat"