as it seemed, he could not shake the feelingthat there had been more to Rohyrs perusal of Lassen than merecuriosity.Wasit wrong of him to do that? Lassen asked.Mithrehesitated. It could be perilous to speak ill of the Ardan. Not thatRohyr had done anything that was not within his rights as monarch ofthe land. And in any case, it was said that he never employed hisconsiderable mind-talents on a mere whim. Mithre hoped the wholeincident was no more than a mares nest and that he was just seeingphantoms in his protectiveness of his children.Twasnot wrong, he said at length. He had his reasons and tis notfor us to question them. Mithre forced the frown from his face andsmiled at his son. Ive been tasked with preparing our guestsevening meal. Would you like to help?Lasseneagerly nodded. Will you serve them your roehart stew? I think fora bite of that alone, the Ardan would readily grant our petition!Theelder Idana laughed, his forebodings stilled for the moment. Fondlypatting his sons shoulder, he made his way out of the courtyard.Lassen fell in step with him.Neithersensed the gaze that followed them as they wended their way throughthe thinning crowd.ChapterTwoProvisoLocatedon the upper floor of the town hall, the main audience chamber was anairy room with polished wooden floors and tapestry-adorned walls. Itsmany windows overlooked the courtyard and the surrounding residences.RohyrEssendri stood at one of those windows, surveying the tableau below.The others quietly waited for him. To do otherwise would be deemed abreach of protocol.Despitethe simplicity of his raiment, the Ardan cut a striking figure. Hewas clad in a chestnut-hued tunic styled in the enyranmanner with the sword arm sleeve cut above the elbow. High-collaredand knee-length, the tunic hugged the body and opened up front and atthe sides from hem to mid-thigh for ease of movement. Underneath werea close-fitting shirt and hardy long breeches. Completing theensemble were rugged boots and a sturdy belt from which hung aplain-hilted sword sheathed in a leather scabbard.Thoughborn to wealth and privilege, Rohyr displayed little of the trappingsof his position. Were it not for the white-silver almond shapedearring that gleamed at his left ear, the single blue-tinged gem ofadamant at its center emblematic of his sovereignty, he could havepassed for any Deir of aristocratic birth. But not unmarked. He couldnever be overlooked even were he less than inordinately comely or didnot tower over everyone save for his kinsfolk.Heradiated an aura of barely leashed power despite his ageRohyr wasmuch younger than most of his contemporaries in other lands. Indeed,he was the youngest Essendri ever to rule, having come to the throneunexpectedly a decade and a half ago when he was little more than acallow lad of twenty-eight summersa full seven years before hismajority.Atlast, he turned from the window and the Third Elder Owyn led him tohis seat. In the center of the room were nine high-backed chairs.They were arranged in asemioval so that eight faced each other across a wide burgundy runner,its center emblazoned with Tal Ereqs crest. Between the chairswere small tables bearing pewter plates and drinking cups. Owynconducted Rohyr to the chair at the