...AfterRohyr wiped their stomachs clean with his discarded shirt, Lassenkissed him with lavish tenderness, his sorrow at parting from himmuted for the moment by their sweet intimacy. With Rohyrs armsaround him, he laid his head on one broad shoulder, knowing utter andunblemished happiness for this brief moment in time.Rohyrdropped a kiss on his crown then murmured, Had I known how wellyou could play the cleaver, I would have yielded long before this.Ah, why must you leave me now?Foran instant, Lassen was alarmed. He forced himself to relax. Not sincetheir first meeting had Rohyr purposely read his mind again and eventhat first time he had not delved deeply but only did a swift probe.Rohyr did pick up stray thoughts, particularly when strong emotionsunderlined them. But unless he deemed the circumstances dire enoughto warrant the full invasion of anothers mind, Rohyr resisted thetemptation.Therewas no reason for him to suspect Lassen of planning to separate fromhim. If Rohyr sensed Lassens grief, he would ascribe it toLassens unwillingness to part from him for a long period of time.After all, that had been the case in Lassens past visits to hishometown. And his reluctance was real in any case, as was his sorrow.Ifit were possible, I wouldnt go, he whispered. I wish I couldstay with you always.Rohyrgently ran his fingers through Lassens hair. What need is thereto wish for something that has already been granted? You belong here.With me.Tothis, Lassen dared make no reply even if he could speak past the lumpin his throat. He curled his arms around Rohyr, relishing hisnearness one last time.** * *Rohyrdid not accompany him when he left the Citadel nor did they maketheir farewells in public. Some conventions had to be observed andeven the king acknowledged the imprudence of flouting them. Butneither did he permit Lassen to make the short trip out of the citywithout company. Tenryon Hadrana and young Shino Essendri rode withhim to the Great Field.SensingLassens desolation, Shino steered the conversation toward Rohyrsdecision to have him trained by Tenryon. Rohyrs orphaned cousinhad started to show signs of possessing far more than the Essendripotential, which could put him in the same stratum of ability as theArdan. Hence Rohyrs desire that Tenryon teach Shino how to wieldhis power not only proficiently but wisely as well.Theyrode out a fair distance from the city. The creation of a corridoralmost always took place in wide open spaces to reduce the chances ofa portal blossoming in the middle of a solid structure or object suchas a wall or tree or, Veres forbid, in the same space as anunsuspecting passerby. The energy generated was strong enough toshatter glass and stone, rip wood apart and bend steel. Anyone caughtin the midst of a blossoming would be instantly obliterated.Itwas not a problem with adepts like Rohyr or Tenryon or a giftedphysician like Eiren who could plot a route through space moreaccurately than a navigator could guide a ship on the high seas. Butthe greater number of enyracould not be as precise. Thus, opening corridors within populatedlocations was generally forbidden and only condonedinthe direst of situations.Forhis previous trips, Lassen