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n the gloaming； one could almost mistake them for haycockstheir golden heads and backs were that shaggy。
〃Forgive me for arguing；〃 Iome said。 〃I'm in a foul mood。 You don't deserve harsh treatment。 I suppose that if we want to fight； we could always go down to the battlefield and carve up a few of Raj Ahten's troops。〃
〃Surely you would not go into battle？〃 Gaborn asked。 〃Promise me that！ Raj Ahten's swordsmen are not moners。〃
Iome felt tempted to laugh at the idea of going into battle。 She kept a small poniard strapped to her leg； under her skirt； as many a proper lady did； and she knew how to use it。 But she was no swordswoman。 She decided to bait the Prince one more time。
〃Why not？〃 she demanded； only half in jest。 〃Farmers and merchants man the castle walls！ Their lives mean as much to them as ours do to us！ They are endowed with only the gifts their mothers gave them at birth。 Meanwhile； I have endowments of wit and glamour and stamina to defend me。 I may not have a strong sword arm； but why should I not fight？〃
She expected Gaborn to warn her how dangerous the battle would be。 The Frowth giants would have muscles of iron。 Raj Ahten's men each had endowments of brawn； grace； metabolism； and stamina。 Moreover； they were trained to war。
Yet now Iome realized she would not concede to mon sense； for her argument was just。 Her vassals valued their lives as much as she valued her own。 She might be able to save one of them； or two or three。 She would help defend the castle walls。 Just as her father would。
Yet Gaborn's answer surprised her： 〃I don't want you to fight； because it would be a shame to mar such beauty。〃
Iome laughed； clear and sweet； like the call of a whippoorwill in a glade。 〃I have refused to look at you；〃 she said； 〃for fear my heart would overwhelm my mon sense。 Perhaps you should have done the same。〃
〃Truly； you are beautiful；〃 Gaborn said； 〃but I'm no boy to be made dizzy by a pretty face。〃 That use of Voice again； so sensible。 〃No； it is your decency that I find beautiful。〃
Then； perhaps sensing the darkness about to descend； Gaborn said； 〃I must be honest； Princess Sylvarresta。 There are other princesses I could ally with； in other kingdoms。 Haversind…by…the…Sea； or Internook。〃 He gave her a moment to think。 Both kingdoms were as large as Heredon； as wealthy； and perhaps even more defensibleunless； of course； you feared invasion from the sea。 And the beauty of Princess Arrooley of Internook was legendary； even here； twelve hundred miles away。 〃But you intrigued me。〃
〃I？ How so？〃
Gaborn said honestly； 〃A few years ago； I had an argument with my father。 He'd arranged to purchase grace for me from a young fisherman。 I objected。 You've seen how those who give up grace often cling to life tenuously。 The muscles of their guts cannot stretch； and so they cannot digest food。 They can seldom walk。 Even to attempt speech or to close their eyes can cause pain。 I've seen how they waste away； until they die after a year or so。 To me it seems that of all the traits one might endow to another； grace would be hardest to lose。
〃So I refused the endowment； and my father grew angry。 I said it was wrong to persist in this 'shameful economy；' accepting endowments from those vassals poor enough in intellect and worldly goods to count themselves fortunate to give up the best parts of themselves for our benefit。
〃My father laughed and said； 'You sound like Iome Sylvarresta。 She called me a glutton when last I ate at her tablenot a glutton for food； but a glutton who fed on the misery of others！ Hah！ Imagine！' 〃 When Gaborn quoted his father； he sounded exactly like the King。 He was using his Voice again。
Iome remembered that ment well。 For her impertinence； her father had administered a firm spanking in the presence of King Orden； then locked her in her room for a day without food or water。 Iome had never regretted the remark。
Her face burned with embarrassment。 She'd often felt torn between admiration and loathing for King Orden。 In ways； he cut a heroic figure。 Mendellas Draken Orden was powerful； a stubborn king； and it was rumored that he fought well in battle。 For two decades he'd kept the Northern kingdoms united。 A glance from him would cow many a would…be tyrant； and with a curt word he could insure that a prince would fall out of favor with his own father。
Some called him the Kingmaker。 Others called him the Puppet Master。 The truth was； Orden had been making himself into a man of heroic proportions for a reason。 Like the Runelords of old； he had to bee more than human because his enemies were more than human。
〃Forgive me those words；〃 Iome said。 〃Your father did not deserve such chastisement from a self…righteous nine…year…old girl。〃
〃Forgive it？〃 Prince Gaborn answered。 〃What is to forgive？ I agreed with you。 Perhaps a thousand years ago； there was reason for our ancestors to put one another to the indignity of the forcibles。 But the reaver invasions are long past。 The only reason you and I are Runelords is because we were born into this 'shameful economy'！ I was so intrigued by your ment that I asked my father to repeat every word you had ever uttered in his presence； and the conditions under which they were spoken。
〃So he began recalling things you'd said since the time you were three； and recited anything he found pertinent。〃
He gave Iome only a split second to consider the implications。 King Orden； like any who had such heavy endowments of wit； would naturally recall everything he'd ever seen； every word he'd ever heard； every innocent phrase。 With his endowments of hearing； Orden could listen to a whisper three rooms away through the thick stone walls of the castle。 As a child； Iome hadn't quite understood the breadth of powers a mature Runelord held。 No doubt； she'd spoken many things that she'd never have wanted King Orden to hear。 And he remembered it all faultlessly。
〃I see。。。〃 Iome said。
〃Don't be offended；〃 Gaborn said。 〃You didn't embarrass yourself。 My father reported every jest you made to Lady Chemoise。〃 He nodded toward the maid。 Iome felt the gesture more than saw it。 〃Even as a child； my father found you to be amusing； generous。 I wanted to meet you； but I had to wait for the proper time。 Last year I came to Hostenfest in my father's retinue so I could look on you。。。〃
〃I sat in the Great Hall and watched you through dinner； and elsewhere。 I dare say； I feared my stare would bore a hole through you。
〃You impressed me； Iome。 You laid siege to my heart。 I watched those who sat around you； the serving children and guards and Maids of Honor； and saw how they craved your affection。 I watched the next morning as we left； how a flock of children gathered round you as our caravan made to depart； and you kept the young ones out from under the horses' hooves。 You are well loved by your people； and you give love freely in return。 In all the Kingdoms of Rofehavan； you have no equal。 That is why I've e。 I'd hoped that like all those around you； I too might have the hope of someday sharing your affection。〃
Fair words。 Iome wondered furiously。 King Orden always brought a dozen or two retainers to the Great Hall for dinner。 It was only right that t