Lucivar nodded. “I’ll contact Marian and ask her to come to the Hall to keep Jaenelle company.” He waited a beat. “What about Surreal?”

“I’ll find Surreal.”

Lucivar pushed away from the table. “In that case, let’s get this done.”

3

Daemon waited until Lucivar and Jaenelle were on their way to the Hall before trying to contact Surreal. The staff had cleaned off the dining room table and brought him a fresh cup and another pot of coffee.

Pouring a cup, he sent a call on a Gray psychic thread, aimed toward a mind he knew well. *Surreal?*

*What?*

The surly tone relieved him enough to make him smile. *Are you all right?*

*I’m . . . fine.*

*Where are you?*

*Country house. Don’t think it’s that far away from Amdarh. *

*Are you sure you’re all right? You sound breathless.*

*Damn . . . ax . . . is dull.*

Daemon raised an eyebrow. *Do I want to know what you’re doing with an ax?*

*Have you had breakfast?*

*I’ve eaten.*

*Then you don’t want to know.*

He sipped his coffee while he considered how to respond to that.

*In a few hours, I might have some information for you,* Surreal said.

*I know who’s behind the rumors.*

*Well . . . shit.* A pause. *Guess I’ll finish this anyway.*

*Do you need help?*

*Do you?*

*No.*

*Then I’ll take care of my business, and you take care of yours. I’ll be back in Amdarh late tonight.*

Taking a last sip of coffee, Daemon left the dining room. Since Surreal didn’t need his help, he’d take care of the next errand.

4

After he and Saetan had settled in comfortable chairs in one of the Keep’s smaller sitting rooms, Daemon got to the point.

“I have business to take care of in Amdarh. Until it’s done, I would appreciate it if you would stay at the Hall—at least for part of the time.”

“To protect Jaenelle?” Saetan asked softly.

Daemon nodded.

“What about Lucivar?”

“He’ll be there. So will Kaelas and Ladvarian. But . . .”

“But?”

Daemon looked into his father’s golden eyes. “But they aren’t you.”

Saetan inclined his head. “Understood.”

No questions about his business, no comment about why an Arcerian cat and an Eyrien Warlord Prince wouldn’t be sufficient protection. There was no need. He was, after all, his father’s mirror.

“Anything else?”

Daemon hesitated. Who else could he ask? “I—There was something I wanted to say to Jaenelle . . . in the Old Tongue. But it didn’t come out as I intended.”

Saetan raised an eyebrow. “What did you say?”

Daemon hesitated, then said the words.

“ ‘I eat cow brains’?” Saetan burst out laughing.

Since there was nothing else he could do, he sat back to wait out his father’s amusement. So he waited. And waited. And waited.