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"No lies, Hallevar I’ll take them for themselves, subject to the Queen’s approval just like any other male"

Hallevar smiled, obviously relieved "I’ll tell thes" A curt wave of his hand had the two boys racing toward the barracks Without looking at Lucivar, he asked, "Is he proud of you?"

"When he doesn’t want to throttle h and ended up wheezing "I’d like to meet him"

"You will," Lucivar pro accepted or needing a little tie, others approached hi Warlord, Endar, and his wife, Dorian, their son, Alanar, and their little Queen daughter, Orian

The woave him a sweet s for hirinned "Don’t get any ideas, bright-eyes I’le When he gave the girl back to her rown another head

Next ca yet, and her younger sister, Jillian, as on the cusp of changing froirl to woman

There was Kohlvar, a weapons maker And there were Rothvar and Zaranar, tarriors Lucivar reed at him as he talked with the -lived races, when Lucivar was first sent away from Askavi Even then, when Kohlvar was just past his journeyth and the balance of the weapons hein Terreille, and he could have stayed away froue if he’d chosen to Rothvar and Zaranar were seasoned warriors, the kind who could have found a position in most of the courts in Askavi or accepted any independent work they chose

And ould an aristo Warlord Prince like Falonar leave Terreille?

The wariness inside his far worse in Terreille than anyone here suspected, or were these hts aside He hadn’t sensed anything in the people who had approached hiainst them, so he would let the questions rest for now And he would let Jaenelle pass judgs froreed to take twenty males and a dozen females

How many of these people would survive the full term of their contracts? he wondered as they hurried toward hi with theers in Kaeleer beyond the ones they expected And there were the de the the de them

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly "Ready?"

It amused hiroup and answered him as if he’d already accepted the man as his second-in-command

"We’re ready"

2 / Kaeleer

Daeers, and rested his long, black-tinted nails against his chin "What about the Queens in the other Territories?" he asked in his deep, cultured voice

Lord Jorval smiled wearily "As I’ve explained before, Prince Sadi, the Queens outside of Little Terreille are not eager to accept their Terreillean Brothers and Sisters into their courts, and even the iet contracts are made to feel less than welcohtly A stranger or slight acquaintance ht he looked tired or bored, but that sleepy look would have terrified anyone who really knew him

"I inquired," Jorval said a bit sharply "The Queens didn’t reply"

Daelanced at the four sheets of paper spread out on the desk in front of him In the past two days, he and Jorval had sat in this roo the four Queens ere interested in obtaining his services, had been offered to hi They had been the only ones offered

Jorval folded his hands and sighed "You erous asset, even when he wears a lighter Jewel and is serving ath and reputation" He shrugged "I realize your expectations ht be different The Darkness knows, there are so many who have an unrealistic idea of life in Kaeleer But I can assure you, Prince, that having four Queens who are willing to accept the challenge of having you serve in their courts for the next five years is unusual--and not an opportunity that should be brushed aside"