He never discounted Dylens opinions about anyone; hisbrother was a good judge of character. But he had also always trustedImcael implicitly no matter how much the Herun irked him.Ishall keep your counsel in mind.Dylenregarded him sympathetically. I know you believe him incapable oftreachery and likely you are correct. But its a weakness that canbe exploited and you must guard against that. Its not as if ourfamily has not known betrayal by its own flesh and blood.Thatis ancient history, Rohyr said a little sharplyAndhistory can repeat itself, Dylen quietly reminded him. He walkedback to Rohyr and gripped his shoulder, his terre verte eyes somber.I may hold no love for Imcael but I would never be unjust abouthim. Surely you know this, Ardan-tyar.Rohyrsbudding anger swiftly dissipated. When he first came to court, Dylenhad addressed him with strictest propriety. Only after a year hadDylen finally felt at ease enough to call him by name. It took twomore years to convince him to drop the titles and honorificsaltogether. A reversion to formality was indicative of Dylens notquite vanquished uncertainty of the permanence of his place in HouseEssendri or in Rohyrs affections.Ido know it, Dy, Rohyr replied. He clapped his hand over hisbrothers and squeezed it. Rest assured, I will proceed withcaution.Madeuneasy by Dylens concern, Rohyr checked who of his coterie werecurrently in town and asked them to attend his meeting with Imcael.The Herun was taken aback to find him accompanied by Yovan, Gilmaeland Riodan Leyhar. Nonetheless, he did not demand that they leave butstated the reason for his visit in his typical blunt manner.Theothers were patently nonplussed. Even Rohyr stared at him in opendisbelief. It was Yovan however who responded first.Howcan you even consider binding Tyrde to Lyam of Cattania? he saidwith scathing acerbity. Would you have him beget heirs for theDimaris? That is tantamount to handing Anju over to them on a goldplatter.Lyamis not the heir presumptive, Imcael objected.Buthis sire is, Your Grace, Riodan pointed out. Moreover, HanonDimari stands as Regent and governs in his nephews name. There isno surety that young Aranel will survive to his majority and take onCattanias rule. Regicide isnt unheard of in their history afterall. And in any case, a union with a Cattanian prince would ensurethat a Dimari will one day rule Anju.Soit would, Imcael readily agreed. But he would still be beholdento the Ylandrin Crown.Forhow long? Yovan challenged. Anju shares her easternmost boundswithCattaniaand has direct control of the main thoroughfares of eastern Velarus.What if a Dimari Herun should decide to ally himself with hisCattanian kin? He could easily permit the inflow of enemy forces intoYlandre before we could learn of it soon enough to effectively repelsuch an incursion.Rohyrlooked askance at Imcael. I trust that isnt what Tyrde had inmind when he blockaded eastern Velarus last month.Imcaelscoffed. Tyrde is no fool. He knows he would be charged withtreason. But a Dimari lord may not feel so constrained,Gilmael reasoned. He would haveCattaniato retreat to.Yourealready assuming what Tyrdes heirs might do! Imcael growled.Itsour duty to assume the worst, Uncle, Gilmael reminded him. Andeven if the worst does not happen, kinship with