p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Three days later./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemon scrubbed his face and tried to remember that he loved his nephew. Tried to remember that he loved his brother. Didn't love them quite so much before the sun was up, but he did love them. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Stopping at the bottom of the stairs he was not greeted by both of his nephews or even his niece. Just Daemonar. And the way the boy was pacing and chewing nervously on his nail… something was wrong. "Prince?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemonar continued to pace. Back and forth such a useless movement. Didn't even stop as he answered. "Draca opened the gate so I could get here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Not what he was asking. Hell, the thought about how this nephew had gotten here hadn't even crossed his mind… yet. "Why don't we go into the study and you can tell me why you're here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemonar led the way and didn't stop until he was seated in the formal part of the study and waiting for his uncle to take a seat. Not a move Daemon expected. Or at least not at this time of the morning. "Alright, first things first. Since your brother and sister didn't join you I'm assuming this isn't one your twice-yearly visits?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""No sir. Mother sent me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Sir? Not uncle. A clear signal that something was terribly wrong. "Your mother sent you directly here." Not a question but clarifying what it was that he was hearing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Of course not. She sent me to the Keep to ask Draca to help me get here. Draca decided using the gate was more practical than using a web coach."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Too much of an answer for this nephew. "Fine then I won't argue about how you got here. However why did your mother send you when she could have called out to me?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemonar blinked then looked down at his hands. "She wasn't sure if Papa would think something if she used the /spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"communication/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;" threads."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"That didn't make any sense. Marian always contacted him or Surreal if she was sending the children to him in a hurry. So, no matter what his nephew was told that wasn't the reason. "Alright say what you need to. Then I want you tucked into bed. It is much too early for anyone to be awake."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Papa isn't sleeping. His temper. I'm not sure what's wrong. He's fine around Andovar but … I'm really good at not provoking a pissed off Warlord Prince. Or at least good enough to know how not to look like a threat."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Your father…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I think he sees male... threat before seeing that I'm his son."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"There was hurt there. The boy who loved his father didn't understand the nature of a warlord prince. Or his nephew was mentally exhausted from trying. Both were real possibilities. "Alright. I'll deal with your father and what will you be doing?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Sleeping?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Those young eyes looked too hopeful. Told him too much about whatever had his brother's back against the wall. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Cloaked in a black sight shield Daemon watched Lucivar's attempt to make mulch. Watched at the mulch became less than sawdust. Phantom hands held his brother in place. Didn't stop him from fighting… struggling against then. At least not until his long black nails pressed down on his shoulder. "Prick?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"He allowed for Lucivar a moment to fight the nasty internal battle with himself. Even understood the attempt to shake off the hand that was clamped on his shoulder. Stood there patiently until Lucivar took a deep breath. "Now, are we going to go have nice strong drink… or do I need to kick your ass all over the valley first?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Another deep breath and Lucivar glanced over his shoulder. "It's too early for drinks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""My darling, what part of that sounded like you had a choice?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"A few minutes more to fight another nasty battle and then he finally sagged. "A drink sounds wonderful."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"If it sounded any more wonderful he would need to break bone before Lucivar agreed to anything. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar took one glance around at the empty dinning house that Daemon had dragged him to. Amrah. Fancy aristo dinning house. Not a place that he would normally enter without good reason. But the private room was inviting. The calming spells that Daemon was creating would do more for him then the drink that his brother decided that he needed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Then the tall glass flute appeared on the table. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Carefully he sniffed it. It had been a long time since he had tasted this kind of drink. Far longer since he did so with the knowledge that he was expected to be drunk by time he stopped drinking. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""They serve gravediggers here?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemon narrowed his golden eyes just a hair, "The only establishment that does. Or at least the only one that does so with the proper ingredients for darker jeweled blood." He paused and took a sip of brandy, "The other establishments changed the recipe to be tolerable for those who wear less than the red."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"That was more about the taverns then he needed to know. But at least he knew where he could go when he needed to be stuck drunk and didn't want to make the drinks himself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar drained the first drink without thinking about anything./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Now, should I ask why my nephew showed up on my door step by himself, or should I order you another drink."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I already asked for another." Lucivar paused pushing the empty glass around in a slow circle on the table. "Marian said he was becoming to uncomfortable."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Prince your daughter is uncomfortable. Daemonar is trying hard to think of a reason your directing temper at him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Draining the second glass Lucivar finally locked eyes with his brother. "I haven't been sleeping but I have /spanemspan style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"not /span/emspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"been directing temper at/spanemspan style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;" my /span/emspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"son."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Well they were getting somewhere. He didn't know where, but they were getting somewhere. "And why haven't you been sleeping?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I think I need to be drunk before we discuss that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"For more glasses appeared on the table./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Narrowing his eyes Lucivar glared at the drinks. "One of those for you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Nope. I'm not the one who needs to work through whatever this is."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Three gravediggers later Lucivar finally sat back in his seat his eyes glassy. "You know. It occurred to me. If were both drunk no one could throw us out of the city."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""You're probably right. But I'm not feeling up to seeing if I can annoy my wife that much twice in one week."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Psh." He started to say. Ended up spitting on Daemon. "She's only mad because she couldn't knife whoever pushed you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Sounded like an interesting story. More so since he had not a single clue as to what Lucivar was talking about. "Is that why you're not sleeping."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Damn dream keeps coming back. Damn, Cat. I would throttle her if it wasn't a dream." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Cat? Jaenelle? Witch. Lacing his finger Daemon leaned forward. "Why don't you tell me about the dream that way we can both throttle her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar picked up the seventh gravedigger. Held it up in silent toast before draining it. "Yes, why don't I do that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar sat in the dining hall. His head pounding in a way that reminded him all too well why he didn't drink gravediggers. Reminded him why he didn't get stupid drunk. The sound of his own whimpering only making his head throb worse./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"The sound of a heavy glass sitting down on the table next to him was enough to make him shutter. "I think I remember why I don't get drunk."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemon glared down at him. "Lucky you. Now drink."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"His brother's voice was quiet. Didn't mean that the timber in that voice didn't make his bones vibrate. Something about the way Daemon was watching him. The way he was standing. Like a predator watching his prey. He slowly, cautiously reached for the glass and smelled it. Sweet and spicy. Not something that he ever smelled before. "What is it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Something you're going to drink even if I have to hold you down and pour it down your throat."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Not a threat. Daemon didn't make idle threats. He didn't have to. Closing his eyes, he drained the glass then grabbed for the table as the liquid gold turned into ten teams of demented draft horses running through his veins. "What the hell was that?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Tonic to cure hang overs."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Yes, he was thinking clearly now. Still that wasn't the point. "When the hell did you come up with that?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I didn't. Your sister did after she decided there was times that she liked to be blissfully drunk but didn't much care for the headache after."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"What Lucivar wanted to do was jump up and pin Daemon's ass to the table for holding out on the knowledge of this tonic long before now. The rage that was barely control just behind those dark eyes kept him from doing anything that would make his wife a widow. "Do I dare ask what you're pissed off about?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Follow me Prick. And don't touch anything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Well that couldn't be good. Not when said in that tone. But at least the anger wasn't directed at him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Following Daemon down a terrifying flight of stairs that laid beneath the study, Lucivar sucked in a deep breath. He could feel all of the webs down here. What they did or what they were meant to do he didn't dare ask. The old expensive parchment and tattered books was a good guess this room had belonged to their father. The jars of different ingredients… a work room of sort. Not taking a step into the actual room Lucivar leaned against door frame. "What am I doing done here, Bastard?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemon turned sharply, "Do you know what this room is?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""A black widow's work room. So, I ask again why am I down here?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Because you're an idiot."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"How wonderful. Somehow while very drunk he had managed to piss of his brother. And irritate the patriarch of the family. And insult a black widow. "You're mad at me because I got drunk when you're the one who wanted me drunk."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Hell no, I'm not mad at you because you were drunk. I'm trying hard not to dent your head because you were an idiot three days ago."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Since Daemon didn't sound like he was going to explode in the next minute or two he took his first step into the room. "Mind telling me how I was an idiot?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""How many black widows do you know?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"He was being baited. He knew it. Still he answered, "I have known my fair share. And am related to a good number of them to boot."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"It happened fast one minute Daemon was standing before him and next his hand connected with back of his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""What the he/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"l/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"l was that for?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Your uncle would have done worse."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"True but he would have also told him why. "Are you going to…" Something in the way Daemon looked at him made him swallow the rest of the remark for it could be said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Tersa taught you about how to detect webs. I'm going to teach you the difference between a damn dream and a vision. And yes, prince that is why you keep having it. Witch wanted you to deliver a message. Damn if I know why I couldn't find the answer in any damn web."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar landed hard in a chair thankful it was there. "Are you telling me that…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Damn it hell if I know but it would explain a thing or two." Daemon took a deep breath and reined in his temper. "Do you know how many times I have been down here. How many time I have gone through these books?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Was there a safe answer? "Probably more times then I care to know about."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I have read every single damn book down here. Yet when I came down here to make /spanemspan style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"you/span/emspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;" the tonic I found this tucked in the page."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"A neatly folded piece of paper. Janelle's careful handwriting. "A map?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Somewhere in Terreille. The lines are the winds Red to black so I'm assuming there are none less than red." Daemon paused slid his hand through his hair, "And when you find her I want an explanation as to why there are now butterflies in Hell."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""You mean illusions of butterflies made from colored chalk."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""No. I mean damn living butterflies that are smart enough not to land on the flora and are annoying the demons that live there. "/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Choosing not to respond to things that he really didn't need to know about Lucivar looked at the map a bit more carefully. "Any chance you have a map of that realm?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""The one father had only showed an island that he destroyed. This one looks further out since there is no other land marks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Fine. Then I'll go poke around and see what I find."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Grabbing Lucivar's should Daemon leaned in real close, "Does this have anything to do with the queens of all three long lived races contacting me and explaining why they haven't done anything to warrant their deaths?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""You mean the queens in Kaeleer?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""No. I Do not mean the ones in Kaeleer."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Ah shit. "I'll take Surreal with me and she can poke her nose around the Keep. Maybe even contact a few to find out why they are… "trying to get themselves killed. "… contacting someone that has no interest in their territory." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemon scrubbed his face and tried to remember that he loved his nephew. Tried to remember that he loved his brother. Didn't love them quite so much before the sun was up, but he did love them. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Stopping at the bottom of the stairs he was not greeted by both of his nephews or even his niece. Just Daemonar. And the way the boy was pacing and chewing nervously on his nail… something was wrong. "Prince?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemonar continued to pace. Back and forth such a useless movement. Didn't even stop as he answered. "Draca opened the gate so I could get here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Not what he was asking. Hell, the thought about how this nephew had gotten here hadn't even crossed his mind… yet. "Why don't we go into the study and you can tell me why you're here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemonar led the way and didn't stop until he was seated in the formal part of the study and waiting for his uncle to take a seat. Not a move Daemon expected. Or at least not at this time of the morning. "Alright, first things first. Since your brother and sister didn't join you I'm assuming this isn't one your twice-yearly visits?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""No sir. Mother sent me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Sir? Not uncle. A clear signal that something was terribly wrong. "Your mother sent you directly here." Not a question but clarifying what it was that he was hearing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Of course not. She sent me to the Keep to ask Draca to help me get here. Draca decided using the gate was more practical than using a web coach."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Too much of an answer for this nephew. "Fine then I won't argue about how you got here. However why did your mother send you when she could have called out to me?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemonar blinked then looked down at his hands. "She wasn't sure if Papa would think something if she used the /spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"communication/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;" threads."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"That didn't make any sense. Marian always contacted him or Surreal if she was sending the children to him in a hurry. So, no matter what his nephew was told that wasn't the reason. "Alright say what you need to. Then I want you tucked into bed. It is much too early for anyone to be awake."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Papa isn't sleeping. His temper. I'm not sure what's wrong. He's fine around Andovar but … I'm really good at not provoking a pissed off Warlord Prince. Or at least good enough to know how not to look like a threat."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Your father…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I think he sees male... threat before seeing that I'm his son."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"There was hurt there. The boy who loved his father didn't understand the nature of a warlord prince. Or his nephew was mentally exhausted from trying. Both were real possibilities. "Alright. I'll deal with your father and what will you be doing?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Sleeping?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Those young eyes looked too hopeful. Told him too much about whatever had his brother's back against the wall. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Cloaked in a black sight shield Daemon watched Lucivar's attempt to make mulch. Watched at the mulch became less than sawdust. Phantom hands held his brother in place. Didn't stop him from fighting… struggling against then. At least not until his long black nails pressed down on his shoulder. "Prick?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"He allowed for Lucivar a moment to fight the nasty internal battle with himself. Even understood the attempt to shake off the hand that was clamped on his shoulder. Stood there patiently until Lucivar took a deep breath. "Now, are we going to go have nice strong drink… or do I need to kick your ass all over the valley first?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Another deep breath and Lucivar glanced over his shoulder. "It's too early for drinks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""My darling, what part of that sounded like you had a choice?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"A few minutes more to fight another nasty battle and then he finally sagged. "A drink sounds wonderful."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"If it sounded any more wonderful he would need to break bone before Lucivar agreed to anything. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar took one glance around at the empty dinning house that Daemon had dragged him to. Amrah. Fancy aristo dinning house. Not a place that he would normally enter without good reason. But the private room was inviting. The calming spells that Daemon was creating would do more for him then the drink that his brother decided that he needed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Then the tall glass flute appeared on the table. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Carefully he sniffed it. It had been a long time since he had tasted this kind of drink. Far longer since he did so with the knowledge that he was expected to be drunk by time he stopped drinking. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""They serve gravediggers here?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemon narrowed his golden eyes just a hair, "The only establishment that does. Or at least the only one that does so with the proper ingredients for darker jeweled blood." He paused and took a sip of brandy, "The other establishments changed the recipe to be tolerable for those who wear less than the red."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"That was more about the taverns then he needed to know. But at least he knew where he could go when he needed to be stuck drunk and didn't want to make the drinks himself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar drained the first drink without thinking about anything./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Now, should I ask why my nephew showed up on my door step by himself, or should I order you another drink."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I already asked for another." Lucivar paused pushing the empty glass around in a slow circle on the table. "Marian said he was becoming to uncomfortable."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Prince your daughter is uncomfortable. Daemonar is trying hard to think of a reason your directing temper at him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Draining the second glass Lucivar finally locked eyes with his brother. "I haven't been sleeping but I have /spanemspan style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"not /span/emspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"been directing temper at/spanemspan style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;" my /span/emspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"son."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Well they were getting somewhere. He didn't know where, but they were getting somewhere. "And why haven't you been sleeping?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I think I need to be drunk before we discuss that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"For more glasses appeared on the table./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Narrowing his eyes Lucivar glared at the drinks. "One of those for you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Nope. I'm not the one who needs to work through whatever this is."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Three gravediggers later Lucivar finally sat back in his seat his eyes glassy. "You know. It occurred to me. If were both drunk no one could throw us out of the city."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""You're probably right. But I'm not feeling up to seeing if I can annoy my wife that much twice in one week."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Psh." He started to say. Ended up spitting on Daemon. "She's only mad because she couldn't knife whoever pushed you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Sounded like an interesting story. More so since he had not a single clue as to what Lucivar was talking about. "Is that why you're not sleeping."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Damn dream keeps coming back. Damn, Cat. I would throttle her if it wasn't a dream." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Cat? Jaenelle? Witch. Lacing his finger Daemon leaned forward. "Why don't you tell me about the dream that way we can both throttle her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar picked up the seventh gravedigger. Held it up in silent toast before draining it. "Yes, why don't I do that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar sat in the dining hall. His head pounding in a way that reminded him all too well why he didn't drink gravediggers. Reminded him why he didn't get stupid drunk. The sound of his own whimpering only making his head throb worse./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"The sound of a heavy glass sitting down on the table next to him was enough to make him shutter. "I think I remember why I don't get drunk."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemon glared down at him. "Lucky you. Now drink."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"His brother's voice was quiet. Didn't mean that the timber in that voice didn't make his bones vibrate. Something about the way Daemon was watching him. The way he was standing. Like a predator watching his prey. He slowly, cautiously reached for the glass and smelled it. Sweet and spicy. Not something that he ever smelled before. "What is it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Something you're going to drink even if I have to hold you down and pour it down your throat."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Not a threat. Daemon didn't make idle threats. He didn't have to. Closing his eyes, he drained the glass then grabbed for the table as the liquid gold turned into ten teams of demented draft horses running through his veins. "What the hell was that?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Tonic to cure hang overs."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Yes, he was thinking clearly now. Still that wasn't the point. "When the hell did you come up with that?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I didn't. Your sister did after she decided there was times that she liked to be blissfully drunk but didn't much care for the headache after."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"What Lucivar wanted to do was jump up and pin Daemon's ass to the table for holding out on the knowledge of this tonic long before now. The rage that was barely control just behind those dark eyes kept him from doing anything that would make his wife a widow. "Do I dare ask what you're pissed off about?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Follow me Prick. And don't touch anything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Well that couldn't be good. Not when said in that tone. But at least the anger wasn't directed at him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"XXX/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Following Daemon down a terrifying flight of stairs that laid beneath the study, Lucivar sucked in a deep breath. He could feel all of the webs down here. What they did or what they were meant to do he didn't dare ask. The old expensive parchment and tattered books was a good guess this room had belonged to their father. The jars of different ingredients… a work room of sort. Not taking a step into the actual room Lucivar leaned against door frame. "What am I doing done here, Bastard?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Daemon turned sharply, "Do you know what this room is?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""A black widow's work room. So, I ask again why am I down here?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Because you're an idiot."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"How wonderful. Somehow while very drunk he had managed to piss of his brother. And irritate the patriarch of the family. And insult a black widow. "You're mad at me because I got drunk when you're the one who wanted me drunk."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Hell no, I'm not mad at you because you were drunk. I'm trying hard not to dent your head because you were an idiot three days ago."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Since Daemon didn't sound like he was going to explode in the next minute or two he took his first step into the room. "Mind telling me how I was an idiot?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""How many black widows do you know?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"He was being baited. He knew it. Still he answered, "I have known my fair share. And am related to a good number of them to boot."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"It happened fast one minute Daemon was standing before him and next his hand connected with back of his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""What the he/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"l/spanspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"l was that for?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Your uncle would have done worse."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"True but he would have also told him why. "Are you going to…" Something in the way Daemon looked at him made him swallow the rest of the remark for it could be said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Tersa taught you about how to detect webs. I'm going to teach you the difference between a damn dream and a vision. And yes, prince that is why you keep having it. Witch wanted you to deliver a message. Damn if I know why I couldn't find the answer in any damn web."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Lucivar landed hard in a chair thankful it was there. "Are you telling me that…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Damn it hell if I know but it would explain a thing or two." Daemon took a deep breath and reined in his temper. "Do you know how many times I have been down here. How many time I have gone through these books?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Was there a safe answer? "Probably more times then I care to know about."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""I have read every single damn book down here. Yet when I came down here to make /spanemspan style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"you/span/emspan style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;" the tonic I found this tucked in the page."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"A neatly folded piece of paper. Janelle's careful handwriting. "A map?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Somewhere in Terreille. The lines are the winds Red to black so I'm assuming there are none less than red." Daemon paused slid his hand through his hair, "And when you find her I want an explanation as to why there are now butterflies in Hell."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""You mean illusions of butterflies made from colored chalk."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""No. I mean damn living butterflies that are smart enough not to land on the flora and are annoying the demons that live there. "/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Choosing not to respond to things that he really didn't need to know about Lucivar looked at the map a bit more carefully. "Any chance you have a map of that realm?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""The one father had only showed an island that he destroyed. This one looks further out since there is no other land marks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""Fine. Then I'll go poke around and see what I find."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Grabbing Lucivar's should Daemon leaned in real close, "Does this have anything to do with the queens of all three long lived races contacting me and explaining why they haven't done anything to warrant their deaths?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""You mean the queens in Kaeleer?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;""No. I Do not mean the ones in Kaeleer."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: 'yes'; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.0000pt;"Ah shit. "I'll take Surreal with me and she can poke her nose around the Keep. Maybe even contact a few to find out why they are… "trying to get themselves killed. "… contacting someone that has no interest in their territory." /span/p