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“Iinto town as I was leaving I think all four of them come from the Heartsblood River Province”

Recruiting, Talon thought bitterly Trying to woo enough Warlord Princes to support Ker enough to challenge Cassidy’s—and break Cassidy’s court in the process

But he’d knohen they left Grayhaven that Theran wanted Kermilla to rule and Cassidy’s court would break when Cassidy’s First Escort, the ht her to this land in the first place, walked away And the reason he said nothing then was the sa now: Gray

The ht be able to serve in a court, or at least fill an eive the boy as much time to season as possible before that decision had to be faced

“You hear anything else, I want to know,” Talon said “I’ll ht coo further than the three of us You understand me?”

“Yes, sir, I do,” Ranon replied

“Get some food and head out,” Talon said “Take Burne and Haele with you And take the biggest Coach you can handle fro station here”

Ranon paled “You’re talking about a fast retreat Take the er to pack up what can be saved before the enemy takes notice You can’t believe Theran would attack women and children, landen or otherwise Youcan’t believe that”

He didn’t believe it possible of the boy he’d raised, but he wasn’t so sure of thethe leash, he wasn’t sure what Theran would do

“How many times have you seen soh to find safe ground?” Talon asked Ranon paled even more, which told him the man had seen firsthand what had happened to some of those people “I don’t care if you stuff them into a Coach and ons, but you get those people out of Grayhaven tonight”

Talon released the Sapphire lock and dropped the aural shield

Looking dazed, Ranon walked out of the room

Talon sank in a chair and rubbed his maimed left hand over his face

So Theran was recruiting And either Ker an a in Theran’s house—and sharing his bed?—or he had told her he was going to try to make her the Queen of Dena Nehele

Da Dena Nehele back to what it had been If Theran let a pretty face dazzle him stupid, he could ruin this for all of them

Before that happened, he, Talon, who had been Jared and Lia’s friend, would spill whatever blood needed to be spilled Even if he had to tear his own heart out in the process

I still think he’s a goodthat every tiainst Kermilla and defend his people So I promise you this, Lia I won’t let your bloodline destroy your people, no matter the price