Lucivar glanced at the women, then turned his attention back to the Eyrien warriors. “That’s Karla, the Queen of Glacia. She’s a Black Widow Queen and a Healer. One of three who have a triple gift.”

A triple gift and a big mouth, Daemon thought darkly.

“You’re excused from the practice today, but I’ll expect you to be on time tomorrow,” Lucivar said.

Daemon sputtered. “I am not going to drill with sticks against Eyrien warriors.”

Lucivar snorted and looked at Daemon’s feet. “I’ve got some boots that will fit you until you can get your own made.”

“I’m not doing this.”

“Until the official transfer is made, I own the contract you signed, old son. You’ve got no choice.”

Daemon swore quietly, viciously.

Lucivar started to step away from him to speak to Falonar.

“Give me one good reason why I should put myself through this,” Daemon demanded through clenched teeth.

Lucivar turned back to him. “Do you understand how good I am with the Eyrien sticks?” he asked quietly.

“I’ve seen you.”

“Jaenelle can put me in the dirt.” Lucivar grinned when Daemon’s jaw dropped. “Not often, I grant you, but she’s done it.”

Daemon thought about that little nugget of information while Lucivar talked with the Eyrien males. He thought hard. When Lucivar returned, giving him a questioning look, he stripped off his jacket, rolled up his shirtsleeves, and growled, “Where are the damn boots?”

4 / Kaeleer

Pulling her shawl more tightly around her, Alexandra Angelline wrapped her arms around her waist as she stared out the streaked inn window that overlooked the service fairgrounds. The rain that had started falling an hour earlier was more of a drizzle that only managed to smear the dirt that covered everything rather than a downpour that would wash it away.

This is Kaeleer? she thought bleakly. This is the Shadow Realm that so many were so desperate to reach? Oh, it was probably unfair to judge an entire Realm by ground that had been scraped bare by the hundreds of people who had waited there, hoping to be chosen for a service contract. But she knew that, no matter what else she saw, this is what she would always picture whenever someone mentioned Kaeleer.

She felt someone approach, but didn’t turn when her daughter, Leland, joined her at the window.

“Why would Wilhelmina have wanted to come to this place?” Leland murmured. “I’ll be glad when we can leave here.”

“You don’t have to stay, Leland. Especially now that Vania and Nyselle have so graciously insisted on accompanying me.”

“They didn’t come with us out of loyalty,” Leland said quietly but bitterly. “They just wanted a chance to see the Shadow Realm and knew they might not get in any other way.”