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Thank the Darkness

He was not a coward He knew that about hi in the same house with more than two Scelties made his knees weak

“About Khollie,” Khardeen said “Do you have any brothers?”

“One Younger by ten years” Could he extend Khollie’s “help” to Janos as well?

“Do you remember what it’s like to talk to a four-year-old boy?”

Ranon nodded

“Then you should have no trouble” Khardeen gave hiht four-year-old boy, and you’re the older brother who needs to explain things to him so that his behavior doesn’t cause trouble for him or the people around him”

Great Just what he needed when there was already so much to do—a furry baby brother

Khardeen called in a largewith a large metal canister “Here’s a cold box of ruel as part of their feed a couple of times a week”

“Vae doesn’t eat that,” Ranon said Although, now that he thought about it, soe bowls left on the table looked a little too clean Like someone had licked them clean

“Well,” Khardeen said, looking toward the house “It’s ti back I’m expected for dinner at the Keep”

Ladvarian, Vae, and Khollie cah the door, Ranon noted Which ht if the dog wanted to pee

Ladvarian gave the two youngsters a lick on their ood-bye, and the two Warlords headed back up the street to the landing web

Then Khardeen stopped and turned to face Ranon

There was that second thing to tell you, he said Lady Cassidy’s report will go to the Keep three days from now?

Yes

You’re to be the er

Why?

Because the Queen wants to see you

No doubt aboutwhich Queen was co his presence No doubt at all And no question that he would obey that command

I’ll be thereAnd may the Darkness have mercy on me

He watched theht Then he felt a flash of frustration and teht and saw one of the Scelties—a witch by what he could sense—staring at e her tail

A ht shield that should have kept him hidden and strode over to Ranon, quickly followed by Shaddo, as trailed by his two boys

“Hell’s fire,” Archerr said as the witch trotted away and a Warlord headed toward the to smell you and let everyone know you’re there?”

“Notto sight shield to get close enough to attack With two Scelties living at the Residence, they were less likely to have any unwelco up to bother Cassidy