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The King’s gaze lingered on the Aspect for aa smile beneath his beard “Note the tone, my boy No respect but no defiance either You’d do well to learn it I suspect your Aspect is angry with me Why can that be I wonder?”

Vaelin looked at the Aspect who stood expressionless, offering no reply

“Well?” the King pressed “Tell er of your Aspect?”

“I cannot speak forsnorted a laugh and smacked his palm on the desk “You hear it, Arlyn? Hisat tihness”

“No” The King shook his head, chuckling slightly and reaching for a wine decanter on his desk “No, I don’t suppose you do” He poured hilass of wine and settled back into his chair “Your Aspect,” he told Vaelin, “is angry because he believes I have set the Realm on the road to war He believes, with soht add, that the Fief Lord of Cumbrael will happily let me hack his drunken son’s head fro foot outside his own borders This in turn will force me to send the Realm Guard into his fief to root him out Battles and bloodshed will result, towns and cities will burn, many will die Despite his vocation as a warrior, and therefore a practitioner of death in all its rettable action And yet he will not tell ned as the two men matched stares and Vaelin experienced a sudden revelation: They hate each other The King and the Aspect of the Sixth Order detest the sight of one another

“Tellhis eyes on the Aspect “What do you think the Fief Lord will do when he hears I have taken his son and commanded his presence?”

“I do not know the hness…”

“He’s not a complicated fellow, Vaelin Reckon it out I daresay you’ve enough of yourthe way the King’s tongue twisted around the ry He will see your action as a threat He will be put on guard, gathering his forces and watching his borders”

“Good What else will he do?”

“It seenore it and face war”

“Wrong, he has a third choice He can attack With all his ht Do you think he will do that?”

“I doubt Cuhness”