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Any shock Sartaq and Hasar had shown upon the queen bowing so loas hidden as they bowed back, the portrait of courtly grace "My father," Sartaq said, "re with our siblings Duva and Arghun But my brother Kashin sails with the rest of the arlanced to Chaol, and he nodded Solittered in her eyes at the confiret ing for aid and pro only a better world in return

Hasar picked at her nails "Perhaps I get far too many letters from fellow princesses these days to possibly remember or answer all of thee no one else could understand, a special code between two equally arrogant and proud women But she motioned to her companions, who stepped forward "Allow me to introduce my friends Lord Gavriel, of Doranelle" A nod toward the tawny-eyed and golden-haired warrior who bowed Tattoos covered his neck, his hands, but his every raceful "My uncle, of sorts," Aelin added with a smirk at Gavriel At Chaol’s narrowed brows, she explained, "He’s Aedion’s father"

"Well, that explains a few things," Nesryn muttered

The hair, the broad-planed face … yes, it was the same But where Aedion was fire, Gavriel seemed to be stone Indeed, his eyes were solemn as he said, "Aedion is estured to the dark-haired le with, he decided as he surveyed the granite-hewn features, the black eyes and uns mouth

"Lorcan Salvaterre, formerly of Doranelle, and now a blood-sworn h, Aelin winked at the i male Lorcan scowled "We’re still in the adjustment period," she loudly whispered, and Yrene chuckled

Lorcan Salvaterre Chaol hadn’tin Rifthold, but he’d heard all about him That he’d been Maeve’s most trusted commander, her most loyal and fierce warrior That he’d wanted to kill Aelin, hated Aelin How this had come about, why she was not in Terrasen with her army … "You, too, have a tale to tell," Chaol said

"Indeed I do" Aelin’s eyes guttered, and Rowan put a hand on her lower back Bad--so terrible had occurred Chaol scanned Aelin for any hint of it

He stopped when he noticed the smoothness of the skin at her neck The lack of scars Thescars on her hands, her palhtened her shoulders, and another golden-haired male came forward Beautiful That was the only way to describe him "Fenrys … You know, I don’t actually know your fauish wink at the queen "Moonbeah

Fenrys laid a hand on his heart "I am blood-sworn to you Would I lie?"

Another blood-sworn Fae male in her court Across the tent, Sartaq cursed in his own tongue As if he’d heard of Lorcan, and Gavriel, and Fenrys

Aelin gave Fenrys a vulgar gesture that set Hasar chuckling, and faced the royals "They’re barely housebroken Hardly fit for your fine company" Even Sartaq smiled at that But it was to the sestured "And the only civilized member of my court, Lady Elide Lochan of Perranth"

Perranth Chaol had coh the family trees of Terrasen just this winter, had seen the lists of so many royal households crossed out, victi theed to evade Adarlan’s butchers

The pretty young wo step forward, and bobbed a curtsy to the royals Her boots concealed any sign of the source of the injury, but Yrene’s attention shot right to her leg Her ankle "It’s an honor to meet all of you," Elide said, her voice low and steady Her dark eyes swept over the and clear Like she could see beneath their skin and bones, to the souls beneath

Aelin wiped her hands "Well, that’s over and done with," she announced, and strode to the desk and map "Shall we discuss where you all plan toshit out of this ar to the captain of their ship when the ruk had flown past

According to her ht into the ship thanks to the dense fog on the sea A scout--frost theh the scout hadn’t been privy to the royals’ plans All she kneas that the khagan’s aro after that--to Rifthold, to Eyllwe--had not been decided

So Aelin would help them decide Make sure that when this business with Anielle was over, the khagan’s army marched northward To Terrasen

And nowhere else Whatever she needed to do to convince thee for it, she’d pay it Even if hauling ass to Anielle hadher own return to Terrasen