a dozen riders exiting the city,the lead rider astride a zentyr of magnificent proportions verysimilar to the beasts Rohyr and his kin rode. Guessing that this mustbe Rohyrs cousin, he wondered if all the Essendris bred their warsteeds from the same pool of zentyra to achieve such uniformity ofsize and strength.Asthe group neared, Lassen studied the Herun of Ilmaren withfascination. He was built as his cousins, tall and lean and sleeklymuscled, and rode his steed with a warriors grace and agility. Butit was his striking countenance that piqued Lassens curiosity.Silkyblack hair shot through with strands of midnight blue framed featuresthat may have been deemed delicate were it not for the fief-lordssteely, almond-shaped eyes. They bespoke forebears who hailed fromthe westernmost continent of Khitaira.TheHerun deferentially nodded his head to Rohyr then broke into a grinin response to Rohyrs smile of welcome. They tightly claspedhands, greeting each other affectionately. The fief-lord glanced atLassen.LassenIdana of Tal Ereq, Rohyr answered his unspoken question. Lassen,my cousin Reijir Arthanna, Herun of Ilmaren.Itsa pleasure to meet you, Lassen-tyar,Reijir said, his muted upper midlands accent sounding less foreign toLassens ears than Rohyrs distinct northern inflection.YourGrace, Lassen diffidently murmured as he bowed his head to theHerun. Reijir spotted the earring in his left ear. His eyes glintedwith approval.Youhave exquisite taste, Roh, he said. I envy you. Are there moregems of such rare beauty to be found in Tal Ereq?Gilmaelquipped, If there were, think you Kes and I would have come backempty-handed?Yes,since you both know certain parties would geld you were you to bringhome more than linens to grace your beds, Reijir smartly retorted.Gilmaelsighed in mock resignation while Keosqe chuckled. Both reached out inturn to grip Reijirs outstretched hand and exchanged heartygreetings with him.Andyou, Uncle? Reijir said when he turned to Yovan. You are well,I hope? You and yours?Lassenobserved the Essendris easy affection with each other. Evenstiff-necked Imcael unbent enough to smile and inquire after Reijirswell-being. Small wonder that, after all these millennia, they werestill the ruling House of the land. They were capable of a loyaltythat went beyond oaths of fealty. And it was plain that they nursedgreat love for their king.Heamended that assumption upon spotting the flicker of irritation inImcaels face when Reijir briefly rode abreast with Rohyr to relatenews of the region in the manner of a vassal reporting to hisliege-lord. No, not all the Essendris equally loved the head of theirHouse. It was apparent Imcael resented being beholden to a monarch athird of his age.Lassenrecalled that Rohyrs sire had wed late and fathered his only sonafter it was thought he would not provide an heir of his loins. Hisbrother Imcael had then stood first in line to the throne. Lassencould only imagine the disappointment of an ambitious prince to havesuch power within his grasp only to watch it invested upon a nephewdecades younger than his own firstborn.** * *Whenthey arrived on the vast plain that the locals understatedly calledthe Great Field, Lassen needed more than a few moments to collecthimself. It was hard to believe that just that very morning they hadbeen in Tal Ereq. Now here they