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As he turned to go back, he noticed one of the red banners that indicated a station where court contracts were filled out There were a few Eyriens standing to one side, and a line of the the proceedings that froze Daemon where he stood

The ht trousers favored by Eyrien warriors His black hair fell to his shoulders, which was unusual for an Eyrien male But it was the way he stood, the way he moved that felt so painfully faed his throat and tears stung his gold eyesLucivar

Of course, it couldn’t be Lucivar had died eight years ago, escaping from the salt mines of Pruul

Then the ht he saw the same fierce joy in Lucivar’s eyes before it was lost in blazing fury

Seeing the fury and re that the unfinished business between the spilled, Daemon retreated behind the cold mask he’d lived behind for one a few steps before a hand cla have you been here?" Lucivar demanded

Dae in hard enough to leave bruises "Two days," Daemon replied with chilly courtesy He felt the et away froht now, he wasn’t sure if he would ned a contract?" Lucivar shook him "Have you?"

"No, and there’s little time left to do it If you’ll excuse rip, and almost yanked Daemon off his feet "You weren’t on the lists," he muttered as he pulled Daemon toward the table under the red banner "I checked You weren’t on any of the daize for the incon--"

"Shut up Daethened his stride to ao into it being dragged like a reluctant puppy

"Look, Prick," Dae to balance Lucivar’s volatile te a contract with the Warlord Prince of Ebon Rib"

Daemon let out an exasperated huff "Don’t you think you should discuss it with hied look "I don’t usually discuss things with round roll unexpectedly and decided it was good advice "Have long have you been in Kaeleer?" he asked, feeling weak

"Eight years" Lucivar hissed as an older Eyrien Warlord signed the contract and stepped away froot taking so long to write a line of information?" He took a step toward the table Then he turned back, and said too softly, "Don’t try to walk away If you do, I’ll break your legs in so many places you won’t even be able to crawl"

Daemon didn’t bother to respond Lucivar didn’t ht, Daemon knew he couldn’t beat his Eyrien half brother Besides, the ground under his feet kept shifting in unexpected ways that threatened his balance

The Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih Lucivar was the Warlord Prince of the territory that belonged to Ebon Askavi, the Black Mountain that was also called the Keep--that was also the Sanctuary of Witch

That didn’t necessarilyThe land existed whether a Warlord Prince watched over it or not--or a Queen ruled there or not

But Lucivar being alive here nourished the hope in Dae about Jaenelle’s death as well Had she sent Lucivar to the service fair to look for histrom’s inquiries reached her after all? Was she

Daemon shook his head Too et answers But, oh, how he began to hope

As Lucivar approached the table, someone called, "Prince Yaslana Here are twotoward the voice, Daeround shift a little more Two men, a Sapphire-Jeweled Warlord and a Red-Jeweled Warlord Prince, were pulling tomen toward the table A brown-haired rily followed thehtened woman had dark hair, fair skin, and blue eyes It had been thirteen years since he’d seen Wilhelrown into a beautiful woman, but was still filled with the brittle fear she’d had as an adolescent Her eyes widened when she saw hi black hair, light golden-brown skin, delicately pointed ears, and blazing gold-green eyes was Surreal She had left the island fourshe had to do

At first, he didn’t know the linition in the man’s blue eye, he felt a stab of pain under his heart Andrew, the stable lad who had helped hiuards after Jaenelle had been taken back to Briarwood

"Lord Khardeen Prince Aaron," Lucivar said, for the Sapphire-Jeweled Warlord and the Red-Jeweled Warlord Prince

"Prince Yaslana, these Ladies should be part of the contract," Prince Aaron said respectfully

Lucivar gave both women a look that could have flayed flesh from bone Then he looked at Khardeen and Aaron "Accepted"

Wilhelmina trembled visibly, but Surreal hooked her hair behind her pointed ears and narrowed her eyes at Lucivar "Look, sugar--"

"Surreal," Dae any of the with each other