Free By Chance Met by Eresse Page B

Essendri, Ylandre’s youngest military tribune, Ranael Mesare, and the Calanthe twins, Gilmael and Zykriel, confusing in their astounding likeness were it not for the slight difference in the styling of their hair. Rohyr’s two closest uncles arrived as well—Chief Counsellor Yovan Seydon and dour-faced Imcael Essendri, the Herun of Qimaras.
    The sight of so many handsome notables together in one place and splendidly attired to boot should have divided Naeth’s attention. But it did not, and it was his nigh unwavering regard that drew Rohyr’s notice and piqued his curiosity about his cousin’s ward.
    “The mystery is solved,” he murmured as he nocked an arrow.
    Doing likewise at his right, Reijir glanced at him. “What mystery?”
    “The reason for your easy smile this past year.”
    Reijir glanced suspiciously at him then shook his head and, facing the target once more, positioned himself, his footing as precisely placed as his form was perfectly balanced. Rohyr smiled and followed suit.
    Oohs and aahs resounded in the yard throughout the course of the morning. But to the majority of the audience’s surprise, though Reijir was clearly the most proficient among them, Rohyr and Zykriel somehow kept apace with him, conceding the field to him only at the very end and by an unusually small margin.
    “What’s amiss, Rei?” Zykriel asked when Reijir failed to hit his target dead center a third time. “Besides your aim that is.”
    “A lack of focus,” Rohyr replied as he released his arrow. He smiled with
    satisfaction when his shot put him even with Reijir. “That pretty lad yonder presents a formidable distraction,” he explained with a nod in Naeth’s direction.
    Zykriel regarded Naeth with interest. “Is he the youth Keiran’s been telling us about?” When Reijir curtly dipped his chin, Zykriel grinned and said, “Formidable distraction indeed. Especially when he has eyes only for you, cousin. It’s a rare day when our esteemed Ardan isn’t the center of everyone’s attention. It must be terribly flattering.”
    “And stimulating,” Rohyr added. “Subtle temptation can be as potent as blatant seduction.”
    “How true.” Zykriel mischievously said to Reijir, “It will be interesting to see how long you hold out before the lad persuades you to have your way with him.”
    Reijir scowled. “It will get him nowhere, I assure you. I’m of no mind to teach him his bed manners. Heyas , we shouldn’t even be talking about that! Naeth is still three summers short of his thirtieth year.”
    “So?”
    “So it isn’t meet to discuss the matter. He’s under my care. I won’t stand accused of debauching my own ward.”
    Zykriel snorted. “No one is suggesting you tup him just yet. But once he reaches the age of consent and comes to you willing, no one will condemn you if you take him to bed.”
    “Zyk!” Reijir rolled his eyes. “You’re no help,” he muttered as he fit another arrow to his bow.
    “Because we’ve given voice to your ambivalence?” Rohyr said. When Reijir glared at him, he commented, “Your less than perfect showing this morn is testament to the effects of his adoration on you. All the more since he’s so guileless about it. You’ve never known unconditional affection outside of the family, have you?”
    Reijir paused in the act of raising his bow. “You know I haven’t,” he softly replied.
    “It unnerves you.”
    “Yes.” Reijir’s admission was blatantly grudging.
    Zykriel chuckled. “Our jaded, worldly-wise Reijir—felled by a child’s attentions.
    Who could have imagined it?”
    Before Reijir could retort, Rohyr said, “I for one.”
    He shifted his gaze to Lassen who instructed young Shino a short distance away, pride and desire and so much more gleaming in the depths of his slate grey eyes. Reijir and Zykriel glanced at each other. All it took to achieve that soft look in their otherwise stern-countenanced cousin was the presence of his golden-haired