emitted a collective gasp of indignation and whirled around torebuke whoever had addressed them so insultingly. Only to pale whenthey came face to face with Dylen Essendri ilTeris. The words theyd thought to flay him with died on their lipsand they scrabbled to appease Rohyrs half-brother. Dylen ignoredtheir fawning apologies.Youdare seek an audience with His Majesty yet demean one of whom he isvery fond, he scornfully said. Obviously you have not beeninformed that the surest way to gain the Ardans sympathy isthrough his lemans good graces. I suggest you leave before word ofyour shameful behavior reaches my brother. Unless you relish beingthrown into a cell for a sennight to reflect on your rudeness towardIdana-dyhar.Thecombination of contempt and threat plus Dylens use of the highhonorific with Lassens surname thoroughly impressed the error oftheir thinking on the three. They hastily exited the yard, sidlingaround Lassen with their heads bowed. Lassen flashed Dylen a gratefulsmile. Dylen winked at him before he returned to the company of thebrethren Gilmael and Zykriel.Lassenliked Dylen. He always treated Lassen with utmost respect though hewas brother to the king. This was probably due in part to Dylenshumble beginnings. But Lassen believed that even had Dylen been borninto Rohyrs circle from the start, he would still possess thatcore of kindness and regard for others. He was also very sharp-wittedand observant and could be ruthless in the discharging of his dutiesas Gilmaels adjutant. Dylen was a valuable addition to Rohyrsgroup of trusted intimates.Hewas not the only one. Lassen spotted Riodan Leyhar as he came over tohave a word with Gilmael, his light bronze hair a bright contrast tothe twins and Dylens dark tresses. The young diplomat was beinggroomed to succeed his ambassador sire.Riodandid not return Dylens cool greeting in kind but addressed him witha deference that was puzzlingly humble. Lassen knew that Riodan andDylen had been acquainted with each other prior to becoming part ofRohyrs inner circle. But what drove Dylen to behave with suchaloof politeness toward Riodan he did not know nor had he attemptedto find out. All in good time, his AbaDael oft said. If the details of their common past were meant to beshared with the others, it would happen. No one had any businessprying into theirs.Las!Am I very late?Lassengrinned as young Shino Essendri barrelled down the stone path thatlinked the lower rear gallery and back gate to the barracks compound.Black curls in charming disarray and hastily donned shirt all askew,Shino was the picture of a youth long past the threshold of unrulypuberty but not quite on the verge of orderly adulthood. Orphanedwiththe death of his sire, one of Rohyrs untitled Essendri uncles, hebecame his royal cousins ward three years ago.Rather,Lassen dryly replied. Didnt you set your alarm, Shin?Thelad sighed and attempted to comb his tousled locks into somesemblance of order. The confounded thing fell off the bedsidetable and got smashed.Youmean you knocked it off when it disturbed your sleep, Lassencorrected him with a smirk. When Shino sheepishly shuffled his feet,Lassen relented and said, Go. The others are still about.AndRohyr?Hellbe done soon but Tenryon wont mind taking you on.