what goes abouthim. Not much escapes that one, I wager.AsMithre finished speaking, the unknown Deir dropped his hood. TheElders gaped then hastily genuflected, heads bowed low in obeisance.All the adults present did likewise, compelling the young ones tofollow their example.Adda?Lassen asked, looking sideways at Mithre in confusion.Veresalmighty! Mithre whispered. Why is he here? He glanced athis anxious sons. Dont be afraid, I was only so surprised,he assured them as he straightened up. We didnt think the Ardanhimself would deign to visit our humble town.Thatis the Ardan? Fileg blurted excitedly.Lassenstared at Rohyr Essendri. Saints,but hes handsome!Nay, beautiful was closer to the mark. His patrician features andrich sable hair bespoke his pure Essendri descent. But whatdistinctly marked him as the ranking member of Ylandres rulingfamily were his eyes. Lassen had never seen such eyes beforeslategrey irises rimmed with smoky blue. As he continued to stare atRohyr, his heart began to race and his cheeks flushed. In thatmoment, Lassen knew the befuddling throes of first infatuation.Hewatched Rohyr graciously respond to the effusive welcomes andrequisite introductions to each Elder and his mate. The Ardan did notraise his voice but what Lassen heard of it affected him nonetheless.Low, deep and spoken in the slightly clipped manner of thenortherners, it rang with compelling authority yet was surprisinglymelodious. A frisson of excitement singed Lassens suddenlyunsteady limbs.Daelinvited Rohyr and his party to enter the town hall, gesturingdeferentially to Rohyr to precede him. Before he passed through thedoorway into the building, the king turned his gaze to where theElders families were gathered. His eyes swiftly skimmed over them.Still awe-struck, Lassen continued to stare at him.Henearly stopped breathing when Rohyr looked straight at him. Theirgazes met and locked. The earlier frisson of emotion turned into averitable quake of sensation as those grey eyes studied his featuresthen swept over him in appraisal. Spellbound, Lassen could not moveor speak or even think clearly. His head felt light, his chest seemedconstricted and his knees threatened to give way. If Rohyr did notrelease him soon from his regard, he would swoon.Justwhen Lassen thought he would disgrace himself before everyone, Rohyrturned away and entered the hall. Lassen breathed in deeply to easehis starved lungs. He glanced about him. No one was looking at him,not even his brothers. Had nobody noticed? How long had it lastedanyway?Thecrowd began to disperse and Yuilan and Fileg hurried to join theirfriends. Everyone was talking about the kings unexpected visit andLassens brothers were no exception. He stared after them feeling awee bit disoriented.Mithrestudied him with concern. Are you well? he murmured.Lassenswallowed then softly replied in the affirmative. Mithresexpression turned a shade more worried.Theway he looked at you... Did the Ardandid he impart anything toyou? Lassen frowned. How could he when he didnt speakhe started to say, thenstoppedand shook his head. I heard nothing in my mind, Adda.He shivered when he remembered the oppressive weight of that silverygaze. But I felt...Felt...?Twasas if I were a book and he was turning my pages and reading a littleof what I contained.Mithresucked in his breath. He would speak with Dael after the meeting wasover, he decided. Absurd