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Leesha dropped her eyes, unable to keep contact with Renna’s intense gaze "Asked ed "History’s full of folk whose parents knew better"

"Din’t ask about history," Renna said "Asked why the sot wood for brains No one ever tell you how babes are made?"

Leesha bared her teeth at that The woe "If you won’t tell me your secrets, I’ve no reason to trust you with mine" She swept a hand out at the valley "Go Pretend to look for Arlen till we’re out of sight, then go and meet him I won’t stop you"

Renna sone

Why did I let her get to ers slipped to her belly, and she knew full well

Because she was right

Leesha had been drunk on couzi the first time she’d kissed Ahmann She hadn’t planned to stick him that first afternoon, but neither had she resisted when he moved to take her She’d foolishly assue, but Krasians considered it a sin for a inning to grunt, and could have pulled away But a part of her had wanted it, too To feel a man pulse and jerk within her, and corespawn the risk It was a thrill she’d ridden to her own crescendo

She’d ht, but instead found herself kidnapped by Inevera’s Watchers, ending the night battling a mind demon by the Damajah’s side Leesha took a double dose the next day, and every tiether since, but as herchild finds a way, no reenland princeling, as he stood before Ashan He was a big race He moved like a warrior

"I expect you’ll want your men to search the valley," he said

Ashan nodded "And you, yours"

Thaave a nod in return "A hundred men each?"

"Five hundred," Ashan said, "with the truce of Dohten Five hundredto the Krasians, the tiniest fraction of the Deliverer’s army But it washad little choice but to agree, and he gave his assent "How do I know your warriors will keep the peace? The last thing we need is for this valley to turn into a war zone"

"My warriors will keep their veils up, even in the day," Ashan said "They would not dare disobey It’s your men I worry over I would hate to see the showed his teeth at that "I think there’d be hurt enough to go around How is hiding their faces supposed to guarantee peace? A man with his face hidden fears no reprisal"

Ashan shook his head "It’s a wonder you savages have survived the night so long Men reed them, and those enht, so that all otten If your men cover their faces, there will be no further blood spilled in this Everaave a short, shallo, the barest respect to aaway The other greenlanders followed

"The Northerners will pay for their disrespect," Jayan said

"Perhaps," Inevera said, "but not today We must return to Everam’s Bounty, and quickly"

CHAPTER 1

THE HUNT