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4--Kaeleer
"Witch-child, since a list of your friends would be as long as you are tall, you can’t possibly give each of theifts from all of them, do you?"
"Of course not," Jaenelle replied hotly She slumped in the chair "But they’re ift they could have in a hundred lifetimes
"Winsol is the celebration of Witch, the Blood’s remembrance of e are Gifts are condiments for the meat, and that’s all"
Jaenelle eyed him skeptically--and well she should How ht hi of what it would be like to celebrate Winsol with her? To be with her at sunset when the gifts were opened? To share a tiny cup of hot blooded rum with her? To dance, as the Blood danced at no other tilory of Witch? The daydreah the corridors of the Kaeleer Hall watching the staff decorate the roo secrets; as he and Mephis prepared the benefaction list for the staff and all the villagers whose work directly or indirectly served the Hall; as he did all the things a good Prince did for the people who served hiht rubbed at hi that special day with her family in Terreille, away from those ere truly her own
The one small drop of comfort was that she would also be with Daemon
"What should I do?"
Jaenelle’s question brought hiers against his lips "I think you should select one or two of your friends who, for whatever reason, ive gifts to the will be worth a great dealmany"
Jaenelle fluffed her hair and then smiled "Yes," she said softly, "I know exactly the ones who need it most"
"It’s settled, then" A paper-wrapped parcel lifted from the corner of his desk and came to rest in front of Jaenelle "As you requested"
Jaenelle’s smile widened as she took the parcel and carefully unwrapped it The soft glow in her eyes melted century upon century of loneliness "You look splendid, Saetan"
He smiled tenderly "I do my best to serve Lady" He shifted in his chair "By the way, the stone you gave h?" Jaenelle asked anxiously "If it wasn’t--"
"More than enough, witch-child" Re the expression on the jeweler’s face when he brought it in, it was hard not to laugh at her concern "There were, in fact, a good nu an account in your name with the re in Kaeleer, you need only sign for it, have the store’s proprietor send the bill to me at the Hall, and I’ll deduct it frorin ue The Darkness only knehat sheto be just asto be for hi to really et an unusual gift, you could always get a couple of salt licks for the unicorns," he teased
He was stunned by the instant, haunted look in her eyes
"No," Jaenelle whispered, all the color draining fro ti what it was about salt that could distress her so much
5--Kaeleer
Draca stepped aside to let Saetan enter "What do you think?"
Saetan whistled softly Like all the roothe suite Cassandra had once had, the walls of this roolass A wood floor peeked out fros that could only have come from Dharo, the Kaeleer Territory renowned for its cloth and weaving The four-poster blackwood bed could comfortably sleep four people The rest of the furniture--tables, nightstands, bookcases, storage cupboard--was also blackwood There was a dressing rooe cupboards of cedar, and a private bath with a sunken e shower stall, double sinks, and a commode enclosed in its own little roo into a sitting roonificent, Draca," Saetan said as his eyes drank in the odds and ends scattered on the tables--a young girl’s treasures Fingering the lid of a box that had an intricate design created from a number of rare woods, he opened it and shook his head, partly aer idly stirred the contents of the box, stirred the little seashells that had obviously come from widely distant beaches, stirred the diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires that were no more than pretty stones to a child He closed the box and turned, one eyebrow rising in amusement
Draca lifted her shoulders in the"Would you have it otherwisse?"
"No" He looked around "This roo she’ll need more and more as the years pass"
"Not all ssanctuariess are dark, High Lord The rooave her pleasess her, too" For the first time in all the years he’d known her, Draca smiled "Sshall I desscribe it to you? I have heard about it often enough"