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“My cousin did not return,” Zachary said

“No,” Colin replied “Willis said he was not a the dead or injured, and was fine when last he saw him We can only conclude he went in pursuit of the abductors immediately”

What Zachary thought of this he did not say “The fog Willis ic”

“He said it was unnatural,” Laren recalled “I agree”

“The Eletians will have to be questioned”

Laren thought that would be an interesting discussion

Neff the herald rushed through the throne room doors and down the runner He dropped to his knee before the dais “Eletians, my lord, from the encampment Three have come to speak to you”

Laren and Zachary exchanged glances, stunned by the uncanny ti

“Send thean, but the Eletians had already entered the throne roo down the runner

They cauards in the throne roo, hands on the hilts of their swords The Eletians did not appear inti, their features unperturbed Leading theuide in Prince Jareen cloak about her shoulders But for a few thin, looping braids, her pale hair was unbound and flowed to the small of her back

The other two Eletians, ray-green Sunlight slanted through the throne roohtened their faces as though pulled to them

The woman in the lead knelt before Zachary, followed in turn by her companions

“Greetings, Firebrand,” she said “My brother bade us speak to you in this troubled time”

Zachary indicated they should rise “And what troubled time does Prince Jametari think this?”

“Little passes without our notice, especially that of our Ari-matiel We are aware that your lady has been taken from you”

Zachary’s eyes narrowed just a hint “We have only just heard the news ourselves How is it the Eletians know so much?”

“We have different ways of knowing,” the wo the streaic in the woods west of us, and the tale is told to us by limb, by leaf, by breath of wind”