the chamber and returned to his room. Histrunk was by the door, ready to be carried down to the wain comeearly morning. Before the family retainer arrived and wondered whythey were taking so much clothing and other necessities with them.Beforehe changed into a nightshirt, he caught sight of his reflection inthe mirror. His eyes drifted down to his abdomen. There was no signas yet that he was breeding. That would not be obvious until the endof the fourth month of the half-year gestation period. Only thenwould his belly begin to swell enough to require looser clothing.Hetraced the faint horizontal line that ran under his navel, almost ashade darker than his skin. The birthing seam began to show afortnight ago. It would continue to darken in color, its thicknessgradually diminishing as the time of birthing drew near beforefinally and naturally splitting open to permit the babe to emerge.Therewould be pain, Mithre had warned. But swift recovery from birthingwas necessary to a warrior race. The wound would close within a daysspan and the scar remain tender only for a sennight or so after.Meanwhile, his body would produce sustenance for the newborn. Infantswere suckled for about five months before being weaned, thenutrient-rich fluid called estraspeeding their physical growth and mental development considerably.Lassensmoothed a hand over his belly, hoping his child would resemble Rohyrenough to be a reminder of his royal sire. A sound interrupted hismusings. A soft groan came through the wall from his parentsbedchamber next door. Lassen pensively drew on the nightshirt,clambered into bed and extinguished the oil lamp on his bedsidetable. Lying in the dark, he listened to the muted sounds oflovemaking.Hewould do his best to ensure that his parents would be reunited nottoo distantly in the future. It saddened him that they had to sufferthrough a lengthy separation for his sake. He only hoped they woulddeem a new grandchild enough recompense for the pains they weretaking to see him safely through the consequences of his lifechoices.** * *Lassenand Mithre left the next morning with a wagonload of baskets andother products from Mithres shop, their personal baggage concealedunderneath. At their behest, the soldiers of their escort accompaniedthem only as far as Sanora, a bustling market town in which the firstmajor crossroad leading north was located. Lying little more than aleague from Anjus borders, it was in this town that Tyrde hadimplemented the blockade of eastern Velarus the previous year.Fromhereon, traffic was heavy and journeying was safe so long as oneremained in company with fellow travellers. Besides, Mithre knew howto hold his own in a fight and Lassen had learned the bulk of hismartial skills from the Ardan himself. Thus, their escort could partfrom them with confidence that they would reach Rikara safe and soundon their own.Fatherand son stayed the night at one of the inns for it was late afternoonwhen they arrived and there was no hope of reaching the next town orvillage before daylight failed. But they left at dawn the followingday, Mithre turning their wain down the west road that would takethem to Camara.Thetraffic was lighter for the region between the