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cts。
Not like Iome。 While some Runelords drew glamour heavily from their subjects； appropriating great resplendence to mask an imperfect countenance； Iome had been blessed with some natural beauty。 When she was but a mere infant； two fair maids had stepped forward； offering to endow the princess with their own glamour； and her parents had accepted in Iome's behalf。 But once Iome was old enough to understand what the endowments cost her subjects； she had refused further gifts。
〃I would not stand so close to the wall；〃 Iome said to Gaborn。 〃You don't want to be seen。〃
〃By Raj Ahten？〃 Gaborn asked。 〃What would he see from here？ A young man talking to a maid on the tower wall？〃
〃Raj Ahten has dozens of far…seers in his band。 Surely they will know a princess when they see herand a prince。〃
〃Such a fair princess would not be hard to spot；〃 Gaborn agreed； 〃but I doubt that any of Raj Ahten's men would give me a second glance。〃
〃You wear the device of Orden； do you not？〃 Iome asked。 If Gaborn believed that Raj Ahten's' men would not recognize a prince by his countenance alone； she would not gainsay him。 Still； she imagined the green knight embroidered on his cloak。 〃Better not to have it spotted within these walls。〃
Gaborn chuckled mirthlessly。 〃I'm wearing one of your soldiers' cloaks。 I won't give my presence away。 Not before my father arrives。 If history is any guide； this could be a long siege。 Castle Sylvarresta has not fallen in eight hundred years。 But you need only hold out three daysat the most。 Only three days！〃
Prince Orden sounded confident。 She wanted to believe him； to believe that the bined forces of her father's men with King Orden's soldiers could turn back the giants and sorcerers of Raj Ahten。 Orden would raise a cry； call for help from Heredon's lords as he came。
Despite the eighty…foot height of the castle's outer walls； despite the depth of Castle Sylvarresta's moat； despite the archers and ballisteers on the walls and the caltrops hidden in the grassy fields； beating Raj Ahten seemed too much to hope。 His reputation was that terrifying。 〃King Orden is a pragmatic man。 Will he even e？ Surely he would not throw his life away to protect Castle Sylvarresta？〃
Gaborn took offense at her tone。 〃He may be pragmatic about some things； but not where friendship is concerned。 Besides； fighting here is the right thing to do。〃
Iome considered。 〃I see。。。Of course； why should your father fight at home； watch his own people bleed and die； watch his own castle walls crumble； when he could make as good a defense here？〃
Gaborn nearly growled in answer； 〃For twenty years my father has traveled here for Hostenfest。 Do you know how much envy that has aroused elsewhere？ He could have celebrated at homeor elsewherebut he es here！ My father may visit other kings for political reasons； but only one does he name 'friend。' 〃
Iome had only a vague idea what other kings thought of her father。 None of it seemed good。 〃A softhearted fool；〃 they called him。 As an Oath…Bound Lord； he'd sworn never to take endowments from his own people unless they were freely given。 Her father could have bought endowmentsmany a man might sell the use of his eyes or voice。 But Sylvarresta would not lower himself to purchasing another's attributes。 Of course； her father would never consider strong…arming or blackmailing men for endowments。 He was not a Wolf Lord； not Raj Ahten。
But Gaborn's father was another matter。 Orden was a self…proclaimed 〃pragmatist〃 when it came to taking endowmentsa man who took endowments freely offered but who； as a younger man； had also engaged in the dubious act of purchasing endowments。 He seemed to Iome to verge on being more than pragmatic。 He seemed morally suspect。 He was too successful at winning the trust of lesser men； he purchased endowments far too cheaply and too often； both for himself and his troops。 Indeed； Gaborn's father was said to personally hold over a hundred endowments。
Yet； even then； Iome knew that Gaborn's father； King Orden； was no Raj Ahten。 He'd never 〃forced a peasant's gift；〃 collecting some poor farmer's brawn in lieu of back taxes。 He'd never won a maiden's love and then asked her to give him an endowment as well as her heart。
〃Forgive me；〃 Iome said； 〃I spoke Orden an injustice。 I'm overwrought。 He has been a good friend； and a decent king to his people。 Yet I have a nagging fear that your father will use Heredon as a shield。 And when we buckle under Raj Ahten's blow； he will toss us aside and flee the battlefield。 That would be the wise thing to do。〃
〃Then you don't know my father；〃 Gaborn said。 〃He is a true friend。〃 He was still hurt； yet his tone carried such liquid notes of sincerity that Iome wondered briefly how many endowments of Voice Gaborn owned。 How many mutes do you have in your service？ she almost asked； sure it must be a dozen。
〃Your father won't throw his life away in our defense。 Surely you know better。〃
Gaborn said coldly； 〃He'll do what he must。〃
〃I wish it were not so；〃 Iome whispered。 Almost unwillingly she glanced down into the Dedicates' Keep。 Against the far wall stood one of her father's smelly idiots； a woman whose mind was so drained of wit that she could no longer control her own bowels； she was being led to the dining hall by a blind man。 Together； they weaved around an old fellow whose metabolism was so slowed that he could only shuffle from one room to another in the course of a dayand he was lucky to move at all； for many who were drained of metabolism would simply fall into an enchanted sleep； waking only when the lord who held their endowment died。 The sight repulsed her。
As Runelords； Iome and her family were heirs to great boons from their subjects； but at a horrifying cost。
〃Your passion does you credit； Princess Sylvarresta； but my father has not earned your disrespect。 Little more than his pragmatism has shielded our kingdoms from Raj Ahten this past dozen years。〃
〃That's not entirely true；〃 Iome objected。 〃My father has sent assassins south over the years。 Many of our most cunning warriors have given their lives。 Others are held captive。 Whatever time we've bought； we bought it in part with the lifeblood of our best men。〃
〃Of course；〃 Gaborn said in a flippant tone that hinted that he dismissed her father's efforts。 She knew that Gaborn's father had been preparing for this war for decades； had struggled harder than any other to bring down Raj Ahten。 She also realized she'd been trying to goad Gaborn into arguing； but he didn't have his father's temper。 Iome wanted to dislike Gaborn； to tell herself that under no circumstances would she have been able to love him。
She felt tempted to look at him； but dared not。 What if his face shone like the sun？ What if he was handsome beyond all telling？ Would her heart flutter within her ribs like a moth beating its wings against a glass？
Beyond the castle walls； it was growing dark。 The blush of firelight under the deep woods reminded Iome of glowing embersred flame flickering under leaves of gold and scarlet。 Frowth giants moved at the edge of the trees。 In the gloaming； one could almost mistake them for haycockstheir golden heads and backs were that sha