place where he had passed all those days. Andhe would do so very soon.CommanderHenaz had sent word that there would be no need for furtherreinforcements. Faced with well-armed, professional soldiers, theoutlaw bands began to retreat whence they came. Whether Cattaniawould permit them to cross into the principality once again wasunlikely and these bandits would be caught between the border guardsand pursuing Ylandrin troops.Lassensighed dolefully. He wondered how he would fare in his new home andthe role thrust on him.Whenhe learned that he was the lynchpin upon which the success of TalEreqs petition hinged, he blanched so alarmingly that Dael haddosed him with a fortifying cup of blackgrape cordial. Afterward, hehad wept profusely, prompting Mithre to enter his room and join Daelin consoling him. But when he became aware of Daels anguish atplaying so vital a role in his plight, he set aside his misery tocomfort his sire instead. Apprised of the situation, Yuilan and Filegalternated between sympathy for their youngest brother and awe at hisunexpected entrance into the royal household.Thatwas ten days ago. All the while, preparations for his relocation tothe capital proceeded without cease. And Mithre sat him down oneevening and discussed what would be expected of him and what Lassenshould anticipate in the course of serving the king. Lassen flushedwhen he recalled the particulars of that conversation.Hewas not some uneducated rustic. He knew what sexual communionentailed. But it was one thing to know about the act in a generalway, quite another to be informed of the specifics of it and ingraphic detail. He closed his eyes and suppressed a whimper when hisbelly fluttered with unfamiliar sensations.Hehad spoken with Rohyr just thrice and always in the presence ofothers. He knew next to nothing that was not already public knowledgeabout the Deir who would claim his innocence and order his life fromhereon.Lassenalmost yelped when a hand gently clasped his shoulder. He opened hiseyes and stared disbelievingly at Rohyr, astounded that he haddeigned to join him on so unregal a perch as a tree limb. The kingwas as simply clad as he in a plain shirt, longbreechesand soft boots.Ididnt mean to startle you, Rohyr said, But you didntrespond when I hailed you. So I thought it best to join you instead.Lassenpaled, anxious that he had given offense. Forgive me, my liege, Idid not hear you, he tremulously replied.Asmall smile hovered on Rohyrs lips. Unsurprising. You were deepin thought. He nodded toward the happy scene below. You willmiss this.Theyouth sighed. I know no other life.Rohyrregarded him silently for a spell. Rikara is no bucolic haven,he said at length. But I dare say youll find much to interestyou.Theydo say tis beautiful, Lassen ventured. It is. And theCitadel more so.Thatintrigued Lassen. The Citadel was both a royal residence and a greatfortress. He could not quite imagine the two purposes consolidated ina structure as wondrous as folk described it.Doesit feel like a home? he impulsively asked.Rohyrsmiled. It does. I wouldnt live there otherwise.Encouragedby Rohyrs easy manner, Lassen assayed another question. Wherewould you live then?Thekings smile widened. The estate in Vireshe perhaps. It was mydomain when I was