Saetan and Ranon were moving around the room in a controlled yet hectic manner. Ranon said he would tend to Shira while he could tend to the other healers. Saetan yielded knowing that Ranon and Shira were lovers and that would make the difference.

He had been there years ago while Jaenelle had done an extensive healing on Lucivar. Had been there while she sang to the webs. And had been there as she rebuilt his wings. All of which never made him want to puck. No during that time he hadn't see anything that caused his gore to rise but this… he was getting a good look at why healers rarely let other's watch a healing. And a good look at why skin and muscle were kept on a living body. Mother night he never wanted to know what all those things inside one's body did and sure the hell didn't want to watch as they had to be healed.

The door glided open as Karla and Morghann came in. Shira looked at them briefly then turned back to the heart that she was massaging in her hands.

Grateful for a chance to leave Saetan kissed Karla's cheek as he said, "Learn what you can from them. And please never tell me."

She would have said some smart remark but his eyes warned not to. No those dull gold eyes has seen too much already. And she was sure the High Lord would use everything he just learned not for healing but for repaying the debt. With a forced smile she said, "Kiss, kiss."

Just before he left the room he heard, "I think Chaosti and Khary could stomach being in here…" more words followed but he couldn't clear his mind enough to comprehend them till he heard, "Your son's are not to come in here till told otherwise." He swallowed hard closing the door behind him.

Lucivar was doing a slow prowl in the hallway and stooped short when he saw his father coming out of the room. "Should I …" indicating the room.

Saetan places his shacking hand on Lucivar's arm, " Come we'll have a bite to eat and we can talk about something else for a few moments."

"Father?" he didn't like the distance in that voice.

"Chaosti and Khary can help for now. You're needed for other things."


"Fine we'll eat and then you can tell me about my brother."

Morning meal hadn't gone according to plans. They talked but not about Daemon. No the High lord had asked, "So why did you try to gut your cousin?"

Lucivar had tried to dismiss it by saying, "It doesn't matter."

That had provided an almost deadly feel to the room and the High Lords voice had become such a soft purr. "The first circle does not fight with its self, prince. You would you like to tell me the truth this time?"

In a deadly calm voice Lucivar grumbled, "And when did he become first circle?"

"The same moment I asked my queen what she thought of them."

Interesting. And when did you have time to ask her that? No he knew better to ask that question right now. "And she said?"

"If she had a court … and she doesn't by the way… they would have been considered for first circle. Then she said something about not letting Peyton take after you whatever that meant."

"He threatened to shove her in a cold shower if she dared say she wasn't the queen… Damn should have realized it then that he served."

"Yes you should have. All things considered I'll excuse it this time. Now what happen between you and Revenar that he deserved to be gutted?"

"It happened a long time ago."

Saetan only raised an eyebrow in response. An unspoken reminder he was not letting this one go.

Lucivar sighed. "I was young. Just out of the hunting camps and still wearing the Red. I had escaped from my first court leaving the streets in a river of red. I had thought that I hid my tracks well enough and had been foolish enough to light a fire for some warmth. Shortly before the sun fully set he was standing there a few arms lengths away and just glaring. "

"I made no attempt to hide that I saw his Gray jewel or how puzzled I was at seeing it… since as I had just learned slaves don't wear their jewels openly. And he … well his trousers were un-kept and tattered. I thought he would issue a challenge. Not that I cared if he wanted to fight …" He shrugged "… but all he did was use his jewel to make the fire look smaller then said,' if you're planning to hide for a while that fire is going to give you away.'"

"After that we spent three nights sparing. Come to think of it he showed me things that I thought I had learned in the hunting camps but Uncle Andulvar had taught me. Then he showed me a few things that honed my temper. Why did he show me?"

Saetan sat back since his son was so clearly reconciling whatever it was that he thought his cousin had done with the knowledge of things that he had forgotten he decided to only say, "Since I don't know what he taught you I can't say."

"Anyways on the fourth day. He actually tried to help me into my sleeping bag. I thought it was strange at the time… well right up until that bitch showed up and used the ring. He told me something . I know it was old tongue. Well at least I do now but I still don't understand what he said or why. But at the time it looked like he was helping Prythian. And because of that …"

"You promised to gut him if you ever saw him again."

Lucivar only nodded. "Doesn't make sense now though. Not after he taught me how to escape and how to hide only to turn me back over to them?"

A rough voice came from the doorway, "Well puppy you didn't expect me to say 'you're the high Lords son. You should go to the Keep as fast as you can fly' now did you? Besides up to three years ago I couldn't remember enough of Uncle Saetan to send you there. So I told you to hide in the dragon mouths. I hadn't realized you didn't know enough old tongue to understand."

It made sense now. He remembered someone telling him that there was a gate in the dragon's mouth. Had remembered it when he had tried to fly that last run before finding himself in Kaeleer. Never realized that or imagined that it had been Revenar who had been the first to tell him.

Growling Lucivar got to his feet. He would talk things out later with his cousin, but right now there were other matters to take care of. 'You'll be going back to the Keep then?" the question was directed at his father and was a direct way to change the subject he didn't want to continue to talk about now.

"After the sun sets. I trust that there will be no further disputes between the two of you."

"It's settled." Lucivar gave his cousin a quick glance to make sure he agreed. Then felt the light brush against his inner barrier.

Slowly he opened it. * He seem anxious to leave.*

* The last bitch who tried to cause Daemon harm met an unpleasant death. He returned later that night and walking around the twisted Kindom.*

*Ah.* "High Lord if you have a moment before you retire for the day I would like to discuss some things."

Protocol? Andulvar's son using protocol? In a grumbling voice he asked, " What things?"

"Well since I'm not really sure on how court works out here. Or how the hell two queens are here without a full escort…"

"NO. I am not listing to this. I have not had to deal with it and I will not now. You want to know about court service in the Lady's court ask one of her –" Saetan looked at Lucivar and smiled all too knowingly "- former court members. I'm sure her former first escort would love to tell you about all the finer points. And when I get to the Keep I'll be sure to tell the lady that her former first circle is closer to becoming whole again."

Revenar looked at Lucivar who had a twinkle in his eye. A twinkle of mischief. Neither spoke another word till the High lord was well out of ear shot. "Will you tell me what just happen?"

"You gave the Stewart something else to think about. For that I'm thankful. However unless Witch can be convinced that she had a full circle – which by the way won't be too hard to do after I get her husband involved anyways- don't think she won't threaten to dent your head."

With a sigh Revenar whispered, " he'll be ok, prince. They both will."

"I hope your right." A brief pause and he added, "Come will find you somewhere to be tucked into for a few hours."