“There is no discussion,” Falonar snapped. “He’s the Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih. I serve him. He’ll do as he pleases.” He looked away. “I’d rather be tied to the whipping posts than be sent back to Terreille.”

“There’s no reason for you to be punished at all!”

Falonar smiled grimly. “That’s the way it is, Lady Surreal.”

We’ll just see about that, Surreal thought.

5 / Kaeleer

Daemon watched Saetan pour a large brandy. “Can you drink that?” he asked, keeping his voice mildly curious.

“It gives me vicious headaches,” Saetan replied, pouring a second glass for Daemon. “But I doubt it’s going to make the one I’ve already got any worse, so…” He raised his glass in a salute, then swallowed half the brandy. “Dejaal was Prince Jaal’s son.”

Mentioning the tiger Warlord Prince seemed an abrupt change of subject. “Lucivar found the men?”

“And got the information we wanted before they were executed.”

Daemon studied his father. Something wasn’t quite right here. Since he didn’t know what questions to ask, he voiced his own concern. “Jaenelle isn’t here, is she?”

Saetan shook his head. “She’s gone to Ebon Askavi—and has asked to be left alone for the time being.”

“Are you going to abide by her wishes?” Daemon asked carefully.

Saetan’s look was steady and far too knowing. “We are going to abide by her wishes. If she needs to remain cold in order to make the decisions that have to be made, forcing her to feel before she’s ready would be cruel.”

Daemon nodded. He didn’t like it, but he could accept it. His thoughts went back to the three men who had been waiting to help Osvald abduct Wilhelmina. “Those men served Hekatah and Dorothea?”

“They worked for them.”

He felt Saetan retreat, so he pressed. “Lucivar executed the men?” It wouldn’t have been Lucivar’s first kill, so that couldn’t be bothering Saetan. Was there something different about a formal execution?

“The other males in the First Circle withdrew their right to collect any part of the debt that was owed them for the death of a Brother,” Saetan said.

“What does that mean?” Daemon asked slowly.

Saetan hesitated, then finished the brandy before replying. “It means they gave those men to Jaal…and to Kaelas.”

6 / Kaeleer

Fuming silently, Surreal glared at the four men in the High Lord’s study. She had snarled her way into this little discussion, only to be bluntly told that they would tolerate her presence as long as she didn’t interfere. Her opinion wasn’t requested or required.