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quarters."
    Kaelen choked on the demonlord's revelation for a second before organizing his thoughts. Apparently the spell hadn't hidden more than his image. High Lord Je'Dron had chosen to ignore him. "After reports of your deception of Lord Je'Rekun, I must."
    A huff of mild amusement accompanied Je'Kaoron's momentary smile. "Rumor travels fast. You must not believe all you hear. An open mind is far more powerful than blind loyalty."
    Kaelen let out a soft snort. "Is that how you justify it?"
    "I'm certain your compatriots have formed their own opinions which have influenced you. What good would it be to share my view if you will not believe it?" Je'Kaoron clasped his hands before him, an act of confidence; but demonlords could afford to relax. He was right that Kaelen would not believe him. The man was far too perceptive to be trusted. "Would you prefer to be hunted or to serve to protect humanity?"
    "This isn't about me."
    "But it is, Hunter. You've only a small view of a much larger world, and yet, as with your gathering of Adepts, many drops can fill a bucket with poison."
    "The poison stands before me," Kaelen growled.
    Je'Kaoron breathed deeply. "You hear but do not listen. If I tell you of events from my view, you will only see what you wish to see in my words to support your argument, because your mind is closed."
    Kaelen clamped his teeth on the arguments burning his tongue. His fingers curled into fists at his side. Damn the demonlord and his twisted words. Kaelen had no patience for it. "What happened to Nadia? What did you do?"
    One white eyebrow lifted. "It was not I or any demonlord, but the magic of your sorcerers that haunts her. It was her choice to seek refuge."
    "Impossible." What did he mean by refuge? From whom or what?
    "Is it? You asked about the dagger? You know of its dark properties? A weapon, certainly, to be used to kill demonlords."
    Kaelen swallowed at the revelation of that knowledge. Nadia never would have shared its purpose. Would she?
    "It was not difficult to ascertain. The weapon exudes the darkness of the souls it has captured. It enhances the darkness of the minds of those in close proximity. Once realized, she has been strengthening her mind from its influence. But it is a weapon that could take control over its bearer in the rage of those it possesses, effectively sending a human into something like the blood rage of the many half-blood souls captured."
    A chill ran through him, but not from the cool autumn breeze. He believed Je'Kaoron, yet the demonlord could be lying to frighten him from completing his mission.
    Worse was the demonlord's knowledge of the dagger's purpose and his casual way of speaking of it.
    "The Adepts walk a fine line," Je'Kaoron said in a low voice that cut through the night. "For some time, we have been aware of the machinations of the sects and their plans to overthrow us. You do well to remember that it was a demonlord who trained the first Adepts and a demonlord who organized the first protectors. Even in the beginning, the demonlords were split. That rift has grown since Te'Mea proposed her plan. Some, like High Lord Je'Dron, believe humans deserve to govern themselves. Others say humans have gained too much freedom and use that to amass too much power. Like you, they close their minds without considerations of the merits of all concerned."
    "And what of you?"
    Je'Kaoron stepped forward to halt at arm's reach from him, putting Kaelen on alert for an attack.
    It didn't come. Instead, the tall, beautiful man so deceptive in his grace and poise to be mistaken as weak had he been human looked down on him with a smile like that of a parent to a child. "I was the one who convinced High Lord Je'Dron of the merits of humans as potential equals and to open Tikeros to other clans. Until Je'Rekun's subversion, Tikeros thrived. Whatever you think of me, I am not who you believe me to be."
    Kaelen glared at the man before him, a man who was part of the threat to humans