She released his hand so that she could move closer to it and stare out at the brilliant lights that made it appear as if the stars had fallen to the ground. “This is amazing.”

“Yeah. I used to love staying here when I was a kid. I would cry myself sick whenever my parents made me leave.”

“I can see why.” She paused as she saw the oil portrait over the fireplace. Gaping, she stared at it in awe. “Who is that?” she asked breathlessly.

“The first Dancer, and founder of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk. My grandmother left it with the house when she moved out. Since I was named for him, she thought it only right that it should pass to me.”

Sumi studied the image of the warrior whose handsome face was mostly shielded by the cowl of a dark burgundy cloak. He wore bracers similar to the ones Dancer had and held a winged sword with glowing red eyes that matched the one eye of his the artist had painted in. He stared out with a grim countenance and the bearing of a proud sentinel ready to defend his family, home, and planet.

“He was stralen?” As soon as she asked the question, she remembered that had been part of the legend.

“He was. It’s said that he only lived ninety-two minutes after his wife was buried. That he so couldn’t bear the thought of living without her, his heart exploded the minute he returned home to an empty house.”

She passed a frown to Dancer. “Andarions have the most beautiful and horrific legends.”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “That is the mark of our breed.” He inclined his head to the portrait. “And that sword in his hands is what my yaya is giving to you to fight Dariana with.”

“Really? It’s still battle-worthy?”

“Oh yeah,” he said with a sarcastic laugh. “Andarion hyriallium. There’s no metal like it on any world. It never breaks, rusts, or dulls. His sword used to rest in the brackets beneath the portrait, and when we were little, we would dare each other to try to touch it without getting caught or cut.”

She smiled at the image of him and Fain trying to climb up to it. “Why did she take the sword and leave the portrait?”