Lassen threw himself in front of Rohyr. But moments before thespear struck, it splintered into pieces in mid-air, forcing Lassen tofling an arm up in front of his face to protect his eyes from woodenshrapnel. While he was still recovering from his surprise, the kingsnatched the sword from his hand even as he thrust him aside.Rohyrturned in time to deflect Tyrdes cleaving blow. Parrying anothervicious jab, he shoved Tyrde back. Tyrde lunged at him again, swordraised with deadly intent. Rohyrs battle-honed reflexes took overand he swung his sword upward and across. The blade sliced throughTyrdes lower body.Tyrdestaggered back then crumpled to the ground. Imcael and Eiren were athis side in a flash. Eiren struggled to prevent his entrails fromspilling through the terrible wound while trying to stem the massiveoutpouring of blood at the same time. Rohyr dropped tohisknees and placed his hands on Eirens to lend him strength. Gilmaeland Keiran swiftly joined them. While they fought to keep Tyrdealive, Imcael anxiously cupped his sons face.Why?he demanded in anguish. He spared you. Gave you your life. Why,Tyrde? Tyrde coughed and a pink froth flecked his lips. Foryou, Aba,he stuttered.Imcaelstared at him, appalled. Forme?Youshould have been Ardan. You were robbed of the crown... Hewas born. Tyrde wheezed painfully. But your heirs through me...Your blood in them... They would have ruled... He took even thataway... Sired a bastard...Butwhy did you attack him?Iwouldnt had I won... Easy to dispose of his brat... But I failedand... Tyrde hissed with the effort to keep on talking. So Ithought it best if he died... The throne would be yours... Theydnever let a bastard...Hiseyes suddenly widened in terror. Dark! Getting dark! he gasped,spitting up more blood-tinged saliva. Aba!His eyes rolled upwards until only the whites were visible.Savehim! Imcael bellowed at Eiren.Thephysician shook his head. His arms were smeared scarlet to theelbows. Hes lost too much blood.Tyrdewent completely slack. Imcael stared at him in disbelief for severalmoments. He let out a heartrending wail and, pulling his son againsthis breast, sobbed into his disheveled hair. His nephews quietly roseto their feet and stepped back.Asquire hastened to Rohyr with a basin of water that he could wash offthe blood. More did the same for the others. But none of them caredmuch. Not when close kin wept brokenly over the lifeless body of oneof their own.ChapterTwenty-FiveAftermathRohyrstudied his uncle as the latter entered the royal apartment. Imcaelsface looked grey and wizened, as if a score of years had caught upwith him in a fortnights time. And he walked with the heavyshuffling tread of the bone-weary. The loss of his youngest son inthe most ignoble of circumstances had devastated the Herun to thecore.Hedipped his chin in curt acknowledgement of Rohyrs gesture to himto sit down. While Rohyr poured him a cup of wine, he looked aboutthe room.LastI visited here was on the morning of your coronation, he remarked.I see you removed the old bureau in the corner.Ifound it too big and unwieldy, Rohyr said.ThenI suppose you changed the bedchamber furniture as well. I did.Its no longer overly crowded in there.Imcaelnodded. Keldon planned to refurbish this suite.