“Everyone in the First Circle who lives in the western part of Kaeleer. The Ring has more of a range than if we were trying to reach someone on our own, but the alert wouldn’t be felt beyond that. However, every male who felt that call for help will relay a warning through a communication thread to the First Circle within his range.”

“Then relay this message to the First Circle as fast as you can: ‘Stay put. Stand guard.’” Daemon paused. “And locate Jaenelle.”

“Yes,” Khary said grimly. “The Queens need to be protected. Especially her.”

Satisfied, Daemon rushed out of the house and swore. He couldn’t reach any of the Winds from here.

He started to run down the drive, then turned toward the sound of pounding hooves. Sundancer slid to a stop beside him.

*I heard the call,* Sundancer said. *You must ride the Winds?*

“Yes.”

*I can run faster. Mount.*

Grabbing a fistful of Sundancer’s mane, he swung up on the Warlord Prince’s bare back.

It was a short but harrowing ride. The stallion chose the fastest route to reach the nearest Winds without regard for what lay in his path, and Daemon’s legs were shaking when he slid off Sundancer’s back. Before he could say anything, the stallion pivoted and was gone.

*Fight well!* Sundancer said as he raced back to Khary and Morghann’s house.

“You can count on it,” Daemon replied too softly. Catching the Black Wind, he headed for Glacia.

8 / Kaeleer

Kaelas made an effortless leap to the roof of a human den in time to see Morton fall. He snarled silently, the desire to attack warring with the instinct for caution. Slipping down to the depth of his Red Jewel, where he couldn’t be detected by the winged males who were there, he opened his mind and carefully let a psychic tendril drift toward Morton.

The first thing he sensed was the Lady’s shield. That wasn’t a problem. The Lady had made a Ring of Honor for the kindred males, too. So he had the same protection and, more important right now, he had the means to safely slip past that shield.

The moment he did, he knew Morton’s body was dead, but he could still sense Morton, very faintly, inside it. Morton was a Brother in the Lady’s court, and the Brothers looked after each other. That was important. So he would get his Brother away from the enemy and then decide what to do next.

Looking in the opposite direction, he saw the Sanctuary that held the Dark Altar. Near it was a large, old tree that wouldn’t wake again. The pale humans would have cut it down and burned it in their fires. They wouldn’t need it now.

Using Craft, he opened the Sanctuary door, letting it swing as if it hadn’t been latched properly.