Certainly Imcael thinks so.Lassencurled his lips in mild exasperation. Rohyrs closest cousins hadaccepted Dylen with few reservations and readily conspired tosuppress his true identity until such time they were given leave toreveal it. The kings uncle however had all but gone apoplecticwhen Rohyr brought Dylen to the Citadel and introduced him to therest of the clan.Whatin Aisen was Dyrael thinking when he sired a bastard on a hethar?Imcael Essendri had roared, oblivious of Dylens presence.Addadidnt know he had sired a child, Rohyr tartly pointed out. Norhad he intended to. But that doesnt make Dylen any less my brotherthan if hed been conceived with everyones full consent.Andhow do you know he isyour brother? Imcael quizzed, eyeing Dylen suspiciously. Youshould know better than to take some strangers word for it!Ifelt our kinship at once, Uncle, Rohyr riposted. Even before hespoke of it. Strange but I feel nothing! Imcael huffed.Well,thats hardly Dylens fault, Rohyr curtly replied.Imcaelturned nigh purple with indignation over the subtle jab at his lesssensitive faculties. Apart from what Rohyr had earlier intimated tohim, it was the first inkling Dylen had of the inequality of theEssendri potentials manifestation in the members of the royalfamily. He also noticed that, while there was a marked resemblancebetween Rohyr and his uncle, their coloring in particular, Imcael didnot bear the rimmed irises of a royal scion. No wonder his own eyeshad drawn attention that evening at the Seralye.Rohyrignored Imcaels protestations and installed Dylen and Hirlen inthe Citadel, giving them apartments in separate wings at Dylensrequest. Dylen asked this in the hope of sparing Hirlen any possiblefallout from being his father. Thus Hirlen lived in a spacious andcomfortable apartment on the ground level of the north wing where thesenior household staff had their lodgings. Refurbished especially forhis use, Hirlenssuitenot only provided easy access to the gardens through an adjacentpatio, it also adjoined his caretakers quarters and his bedroomwas large enough to accommodate a cot for Tarqin who kept faithfulwatch over him. No longer required to do household chores, theelderly servant poured all his energy into helping care for hisailing master.Dylenon the other hand was given an apartment in the wing reserved formembers of the Ardans extended family and Deira he counted as goodfriends. He would be moved to a suite just two doors away from hisbrothers when the truth of their kinship was revealed, Rohyrinformed him. Of course, Imcael had not shied from voicing hisobjections once apprised of this plan either.Speakof the... Nay, never mind, Dylen muttered when he spotted afamiliar figure approaching Hirlen.Hetook leave of Lassen and hastened across the wide lawn to hisfathers side. He arrived almost at the same time as Imcael.Goodmorning, Dyhar,Hirlen softly greeted the Herun.Imcaelgrunted a reply. A nod of acknowledgement sufficed for his nephew.Not that he ever treated Dylen or addressed him as such. Indeed, healways showed his discomfort when in Dylens company. Initiallyoffended, Dylen had started to take some pleasure in discomfiting hisreluctant uncle instead.Itrust you had a good nights rest, Dylen said pleasantly, notingthe dark circles under Imcaels eyes.WhenImcael looked at him uncomfortably, Dylen could not help a fleetingsense of