you say he intends to keepLassen even should he wed another and maybe even beget sons on him.Healso promised to acknowledge any children Lassen may give him,Dael added. How strange that he should be willing to give by-blowshis name.Itbespeaks a deeper regard than would be usual for a kept lover.Daelfrowned. What are you suggesting? Surely you dont believe thathes enamored of Lassen.Imnot suggesting that at all, Mithre demurred. Indeed, I dontunderstand his interest in our son. But if you had seen how he lookedat Lassen earlier and what Lassen felt when he did...Asif he were a book and Rohyr was reading some of his pages, Daelmused. The Ardan is inordinately gifted in the mind arts. Did hesee something of portent?Tisthe only logical explanation, Mithre agreed. Not that itmatters now. He looked inquiringly at Dael. Lassen must be toldsoonest. Will you do it or shall I?Daelsshoulders drooped. Ill do it, he decided. Twas I whoagreed after all. But would you instruct him in what hell need toknow to? He swallowed with some difficulty. To see to theArdans needs. I dont want him to offend Rohyr unwittingly andwe too far away to guide him.Mithrewanly smiled. Twas time to begin instructing him. I just neverimagined I would prepare him for royal service. But, alas, there aresome things Lassen can only learn at the end of Rohyrs sword.Herepentantly rubbed his mates back to ease his sudden fit ofcoughing.** * *Thesun shone brightly on the meadows north of the town. Partially shadedby the golden elms and drooping willows that lined its shallow banks,a small lake provided refreshing play for the town children. It laysome distance from the town proper; far enough that had the banditryspread toward Tal Ereqs vicinity, it would no longer have beensafe for any of the townsfolk to venture down to it. But since theycame under direct royal protection a fortnight ago, that peril nolonger existed.Theconstabulary troops from Edessa and Qimaras arrived first. A greatcontingent ofsoldiersfrom the capital followed two days later. The townsfolk had watchedthe company ride off toward the border under the command of VaerenHenaz of the Royal Army.Allhad expected Rohyr to return to the capital once the promisedmilitary aid had been dispatched. But the Ardan stayed on until hereceived word that the deployed troops were enough. Hardly surprisingthough since he often led his forces into battle during criticalconflicts, the first being when he quelled an insurgency by Varadaniseparatists in the northwestern province of Tenerith barely threeyears after he came to the throne.Inthe meantime, representatives from Tal Ereqs neighbors arrived inquick succession. Rohyr met with them and granted his provisionalhelp while extracting major concessions in return. The townsfolkcounted themselves very fortunate that he had not demanded as steep aprice of them. Or at least, a price that would beggar the communityin terms of political autonomy.Thatprice now watched the frolicking children unseen. Hidden by lushfoliage, Lassen sat on a low-hanging willow branch and wistfullygazed at the merry youngsters. Not too many years ago he had been oneof their number. Now, not only had he left those halcyon days behind,he would also leave the