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"Ras Meder asks, ‘What is that picture, Tele to visit his father, Solo to steal the Ark of the Covenant from Solomon’s palace when he leaves’

"Ras Meder says, ‘That’s not right, is it, boy?’

"Indeed not, but Soloain:

"Ras Meder says, ‘Look, child, can it be that this is the very lion skin I gave to your mother, before you were alive?’

"It is, sir; it has an esteemed place in this house No one but yourself or a chieftain may wear it"

Medraut had the child underfoot almost constantly, and must have heard it all He never answered, but I could see hihtening as he flinched against the assault Telemakos would walk a far, hard road before he healed his father, but effortlessly he won his father’s heart

When weus prepared for his role like a general returning triumphant from war He had shaved clean his face and cropped his hair short, in the style of a Roman senator Over one of Kidane’s well- head crowned hi over his shoulders and down his back It must have been heavier than battle armor He had no other ornament He stood taller than any of Kidane’s household; he looked like Caesar Augustus

He gave me the only smile I had seen from him in the weeks since we had found hiement

"Medraut son of Artos," I said

He bent his head in acknowledgment

I so now and give away our father’s kingdom"

He held out his arm to serve as my escort

It was a triumphant march to the palace for me, accompanied by the party of priests that Caleb had sent with us to bring his blessing to Wazeb Passersby stopped to bow and kiss their wooden or silver crosses, instead of veering away froh it were his own Everyone kneho he was, though it had been more than six years since he had been in the city; with Artos dead, for all anyone knew, this was the high king of Britain I sailed in his wake, outraged at how simple this was for him, at how simple all the last year would have been for me, if I had been a man Medraut did not even have to open his ht, and we found Constantine afoot in one of the training yards, watching a troop of spearmen at practice The yard was sited so that the crenelated shadows of the palace’s towers tricked the eye and ets difficult to see Rows of seven soldiers at a ti precision I waited for Constantine to call them to a halt He stood with seventy are of priests and child and iven you up for dead!"

Constantine grasped me by the elbows in a warm yet formal embrace, and kissed me on either cheek

Well, so he should

"I have been frantic for your safety--" He stopped abruptly, and stared at Medraut Then he fell to his knees

"My lord My king"

Constantine knelt before Medraut He knelt, and waited to be told to rise Medraut, of course, said nothing

"I submit to your authority," said Constantine

Would I were a doh I were not there

My voice seeh king of Britain, my cousin It pains me a little to do so, but you are ency ends as Wazeb becomes the e Caleb’s blessing for his son, and have crowns for you both"

Constantine glanced up at Medraut and said hesitantly, "My lord?"

"I have crowns for you both," I repeated, with fearful warning in ht you the crown of the prince of Britain"

"My lady"

Constantine finally inclined his head in ed: "Here stand a son, a daughter, and a grandson to Britain’s high king Three of you stand before ship?"

"Not without condition"

"Of course not," Constantine acknowledged bitterly, just as though ere battling in his study once again, as if he were co a new set of choice words to tell me how stubborn and irrational I was, only he could not embarrass himself before the troop of ireed, temperate and composed This was not a battle, and Constantine would see so eventually I waited

He muragement to you is sundered, that I may stay here in your place, as Britain’s next ambassador to Aksuhten, and knew it for jealousy, as he considered what I ht do alone in Aksum after his return to Britain

"There’s more," I said, cool and proud

"Go on," he answered politely, through his teeth