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here. Sometimes, I cannot see it at all, and I fear that it will not return.”
    â€œThis ain’t the sun’s land, Inva,” said Laela. “This place belongs to the moon.”
    â€œI know. This is the Night God’s realm.”
    â€œYeah.” Laela scowled. “Far as I’m concerned, it’s
my
realm.”
    â€œForgive me, I did not—”
    â€œNever mind about it; I’m just in a bad mood. So, got anythin’ to report?”
    â€œNothing, my Queen.”
    â€œNothin’ is nothin’,” said Laela. “I know you. What’s up?”
    â€œIt is not news, my Queen,” said Inva.
    â€œDon’t care. Tell me anyway.”
    â€œVery well. One of my fellows wishes to meet you.”
    â€œIs that all?” said Laela. “Who is it?”
    â€œHis name is Ravana.” Inva looked uncomfortable. “He is a dangerous man.”
    â€œTo me?” Laela said at once.
    â€œNo. You are his master now.”
    â€œI told yeh, I ain’t nobody’s mas—”
    â€œThat does not matter,” Inva interrupted. “Not to him.”
    â€œWhy does he want t’see me?”
    â€œTo swear loyalty in person,” said Inva. “He claims to have skills that could be useful to you.”
    â€œSounds good to me,” said Laela.
    Oeka gulped down the last of her meat and deigned to join the conversation. “We shall see him,” she said. “Any new ally is worthy to meet us.”
    â€œSure thing,” said Laela. “Show us t— I mean, we’ll be up in our audience chamber. Show him up in a little while, will yeh? I just need some time to clean up an’ get ready.”
    Inva bowed. “As you command, my Queen.”
    S o far, Laela hadn’t felt ready to move into her father’s old quarters, but she had been making use of the audience chamber attached to them. It was at the very top of the largest of the Eyrie’s towers and round to match the exterior. Lined with beautiful white marble, it featured a platform for Oeka to sit on. A chair placed just in front of it provided a seat for Laela.
    Oeka hopped up onto the platform and settled down among the cushions. “I wonder why this slave wishes to see us?”
    â€œHe ain’t no slave,” Laela said sharply. “There are no slaves in Tara any more.”
    Oeka scratched her flank, unmoved. “This one had better have a reason to disturb us. We have more important matters to think of.”
    â€œWe’ll see, won’t we?” said Laela, who was frankly curious to find out. Of course, most likely Ravana just wanted to see her so he could either thank her for setting him free or complain about wanting to go back “home” to Amoran. There’d been plenty of both from the others.
    â€œA little while” was nowhere near little enough for Laela, and she was thoroughly bored by the time Inva arrived with Ravana. However, when she laid eyes on the man who’d come to see her, she sat up at once.
    Unlike the other former slaves who’d come to see her, Ravana didn’t look the slightest bit nervous or awed. He walked ahead of Inva, moving with long, confident strides, his head held high.
    But when he reached Laela’s throne, all that disappeared in an instant. He knelt at her feet, bowing his head so low it nearly touched the floor. “Master.”
    â€œGet up,” said Laela.
    He did, looking her boldly in the face but saying nothing—waiting for her to speak first.
    Laela examined him. He was tall and lean, like most Northerners, but thick with muscle in the arms and chest. Like all members of his race, he had black hair—still cropped close to his skull—and jet-black eyes that made his expression difficult to read. He wore a woollen tunic with a low-cut neck that showed several raw red scars on his body, and one of his ears had been half–hacked off.
    â€œRavana,