onto thesmall porch where Yuilans spouse Gelen nervously waited.Thesight of a yardful of restless zentyra and stern-countenanced ridersnearly unmanned him. Having his neighbors anxiously watching fromafar did little to steady hisnerves.An instant later, he was confronted with a none too patient Rohyr,the Ardans stance that of a saber-toothed fighting hound ready topounce at the slightest provocation.Whereis he? Rohyr asked without preamble.Daelblanched. I ... That isWelcome to Tal Ereq, Your Majesty, hestammered. This is a pleasant surprise.Ihave no use for pleasantries, Elder, Rohyr curtly said. Irepeat. Where is Lassen?Daelglanced at Yuilan then looked once more at Rohyr. Isnt he-isnthe in Rikara,Dyhar?WouldI be here if he were? Rohyr snapped. Not only did you fail torespond to my inquiry, but for someone whose mate and son haveapparently gone missing, you are unnaturally calm. Verily, playingthe fool isnt your vocation and I suggest you dispense with theact.TheElder gulped. He resisted the urge to flee and drew himself up to hisfull height instead, which was not much higher than Rohyrs chin.Intruth, I dont know, Ardan-tyar,he shakily said. Neither Mithre nor Lassen informed me of theirdestination.Rohyrseyes flashed. Are you suggesting that Lassen has deliberatelyhidden himself from me? he demanded, his voice dangerously soft.Daelpaled even further. He had his reasons. What reasons?Icant tell you, Dyhar,Dael desperately replied. None of us may. Lassen made us swear tothis.Hecried out when Rohyr suddenly grabbed him by the collar and thrusthim hard against the porch wall. Aba!he heard his son exclaim. But Rohyr paid Yuilan no mind and twoguards restrained the jewel smith.Youwill tell me whether you wish it or not, Rohyr snarled, his faceso close to Daels the Elder could make out little more than theslate grey of his eyes.Awave of giddiness overcame Dael and his vision tunnelled until all hecould see was a spherical blur of light and color in front of him.His chest tightened and his knees threatened to buckle as his limbsseemed to lose all sensation. He grasped blindly at the kings arm,gasping frantically as if he were drowning. An expletive escapedRohyrs lips.Assuddenly as it started, the onslaught ended. Dael slumped against thewall, greedily gulping down air. Yuilan hurriedly gathered him intohis arms while Gelen came to stand at his other side, a supportivehand on the small of his back. When his trembling eased somewhat, heblearily looked at Rohyr.Whatdid you do to him? Yuilan demanded, his voice tinged with equalparts outrage and terror.Rohyrglowered at them. When did Tyrde speak with him? he sharplyasked. Dael caught his breath. He stared imploringly at Rohyr but theking gave no sign ofrelenting.Tellhim, Aba,Yuilan urged him. Lassen wouldnt want you to suffer any furtheron his account.TheElder heaved a shuddery breath. Lassen told us the Ardis visitedhim the day of his return from his winter sojourn in Anju.Butthat was more than three months ago. Why didnt he tell me?Daelmanaged to straighten up. Tyrde warned him not to tell anyone,else he would carry out his threat forthwith.Rohyrseyes narrowed. That doesnt make sense. If all that was neededto stave off Tyrdes threat was to part from me, why did Lassendeem it necessary to leave Tal Ereq? He