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Rising slowly, Talon left the dance ring When he reached the top of the slope, he turned back You did well Warlord

Resting his cheek on Lia’s head, Jared rocked her until her tears finally stopped "So did you, Lady," he whispered "So did you"

Chapter Forty

Dena Nehele Froh the Ta hills, the sweeping forests, the rivers and lakes He saw the cultivated fields, the pastures dotted with anih up in the mountains, the autue came more slowly to the land below hireen of late suave way to golds, oranges, and reds

A beautiful land A healthy land A thriving people

Jared looked back at the Coaches Lia was still inside, still sleeping off exhaustion and the brew Talon hadthe hours it had taken to reach this caht one--for both of therateful he wouldn’t have to be the one to tell her And he hoped with all that was in hiret the decision

After they finished the simpleof the journey By sunset, they’d be in Grayhaven, the town that took its name from Lia’s faers would be all right Shalador’s seeds would thrive in Dena Nehele’s soil

What would the former slaves do? Most likely, Eryk and Corry would return home Little Cathryn would remain, probably with Lia’s family So would Garth--at least until a Black Widow helped untangle the rest of his ht choose to return to their own people

Blaed would not

Like Thera, the young Warlord Prince had e to his family, but he had chosen the land he would now call home--and he had chosen the Queen he would serve

Jared blinked against the stinging in his eyes Just the wind, he lied to hi to ers and joined hi--and worthy of an "older brother"--to tease Thera about leaning on a man, but it didn’t seem fair to rile her and spoil Blaed’s contentment

"I’d like to ask a favor," Jared said

"Of course," Blaed answered instantly

Thera said nothing Her eyes held a hint of anger

"My youngest brother, Davin, now lives in one of the southern villages I’d appreciate it if you’d locate hiive him the two honey pear trees our mother planted for him"

Blaed nodded cautiously

"The ones meant for Janos" Grief for the boy he reme gift"

"We haven’t even handfasted yet," Thera grumbled

Jared smiled "But you will" His smile faded "The ones she planted for , Blaed’s eyes flicked to the Coaches and back to Jared

Thera just watched hih to tell Thera He wasn’t sure he would have survived telling Lia

"I’ with Talon," he said, his voice suddenly husky

"Then what you saidhis eyes, he didn’t lie to hi"

After a moment, Thera nodded She stepped away from Blaed, put her hands on Jared’s shoulders, and kissed his cheek "What should I tell Lia?" she asked quietly

Hugging her, Jared pressed his cheek against hers and replied just as quietly, "Tell her I’ll be back in the spring"

Chapter Forty-one

Jared stepped off the landing place The abandoned traveler’s inn looked rougher than it had six ht Lia there to be healed Yet the call that had been ht had co farther into the room, he looked at the table tucked near the stairs, at the bottle of wine and the two glasses, at the beautiful, golden-eyedfor him

"Will you join me for a drink, Lord Jared?" Dae his heavy winter coat, he approached the table "Thank you I will"

Dae, Jared lifted a hand self-consciously to his hair He’d shaved off the beard that had kept his face warrow long enough to tie back and hadn’t decided to cut it yet His clothes, by even the kindest stretching of the truth, couldn’t be called anything but sturdy and warrubby child

And resented it