“I don’t think so,” Nikides mused later, trudging along beside them as they set off on the morning run. He’d gotten a bit more growth over the summer and lost most of his boyish fat, but he was still the slowest.
“What do you mean?” asked Ki, always eager for gossip.
Nikides looked ahead to make sure none of the older boys were in earshot. “I shouldn’t say anything—”
“You already have, blabbermouth. Tell!” Lutha urged.
“Well, when I was dining at Grandfather’s the other night, I overheard him saying something to my cousin the Exchequer about the prince and—” He looked ahead again, making certain Korin was still well ahead of them. “That he was—dallying with Lady Aliya.”
Even Ki was shocked. Servant girls were one thing, or other boys, even, but the noble girls were strictly kept.
Worse yet, none of them liked Aliya. She was pretty enough, but she had a mean, teasing way with everyone except Korin. Even Caliel avoided her when he could.
“Haven’t you noticed?” said Nikides. “She’s always with him, and from the way the maids have been sulking and moping, I’d say she’d pushed the rest of them out of his bed.”
“And Tanil,” Ruan reminded them.
Lutha let out a whistle. “Do you suppose he’s in love with her?”
Barieus laughed. “Korin in love? With his horses and hawks, maybe, but her? Bilairy’s balls, I hope not. Picture her as queen!”
Nikides shrugged. “You don’t have to love ’em to bed ’em.”
Lutha pretended to be shocked. “Is that any way for the Lord Chancellor’s grandson to talk? For shame!” He gave his friend a playful cuff on the ear.
The other boy yelped and swung at Lutha, who easily veered out of reach without breaking stride.
“You six, double time!” Porion shouted, falling out of the line to glare at them. “Or would you rather do a second round to build up your strength?”
“No, Master Porion!” Tobin called, and lengthened his stride, leaving Nikides to fend for himself.
“Nik’s right, you know. Just look at him,” said Ki. Korin was loping at the head of the pack, dark eyes sparkling as he shared some joke with Zusthra and Caliel. “He’s too wild to give his heart away. All the same, though, if Aliya is his favorite now, she’ll be worse than ever!”
23
By late summer the city was unbearable. Many Palatine nobles fled to their country estates, and those who stayed built bathing pools. In the lower parts of the city, the weak and the elderly died by the dozens.
The king and Porion relented a bit with the boys. Released from court duties, the Companions rode in the wooded hills and bathed in the sea. The men of the princes’ guard were as grateful for this light duty as the Companions. At the pools and sea coves, everyone stripped off and swam. Soon they were all as brown as farmers, and Ki was the brownest of them all. He was starting to fill out like the older boys, too, Tobin couldn’t help but notice. He, on the other hand, was not.
Riding back through the city after an excursion in mid-Lenthin, Tobin was suddenly struck by the near silence. The streets were always quiet on these blistering days; most people stayed indoors to escape the heat and the stench. Even so, those who were about always cheered the prince’s banner as the Companions rode past. This morning had been no different, but now many looked away, or stared darkly after them. One man even spat on the ground as Korin passed.
“Has something happened?” Korin called out to a harness maker fanning himself on a crate in front of his shop. The man shook his head and went inside.
“What rudeness,” Zusthra exclaimed indignantly. “I’ll thrash the fellow!”
To Tobin’s relief, Korin shook his head and kicked his horse into a gallop.
They were within sight of the Palatine gate when someone threw a cabbage from the upper window of a house. It missed Korin’s head by inches and struck Tanil on the shoulder, knocking the squire from his horse.
Korin reined in furiously as the Companions closed ranks around him. “Search that house. Bring me the man who dares attack the king’s son!”
His captain, Melnoth, kicked the door down and stormed in with a dozen men. The rest formed a circle around the Companions, weapons drawn. Screams and the sound of breaking crockery soon came from inside.
A crowd gathered as Korin helped Tanil back into the saddle.
“I’m all right,” Tanil insisted, rubbing his elbow.
“You’re lucky it isn’t broken,” said Ki. “Why the hell is someone shying cabbages at us all of a sudden?”
The soldiers dragged three people from the house: an old man and woman, and a young fellow in the blue-and-white robes of an Illioran temple initiate.
“Which of you attacked me?” Korin demanded.
“I threw the cabbage!” the priest shot back, staring arrogantly up at Korin.
The prince was visibly taken aback by the man’s brazen vehemence. For a moment he looked more like a hurt child than an angry noble. “But why?”
The man spat on the ground. “Ask your father.”
“What’s this to do with him?”
Instead of answering, the young priest spat again, and began yelling, “Abomination! Abomination! Murders! You are killing the land—”
Captain Melnoth struck him on the head with his sword hilt and the man fell senseless to the ground.
“Is this your kin?” Korin demanded of the cowering elderly couple.
The toothless old man could only whimper. His wife wrapped her arms around him and looked imploringly up at Korin. “Our nephew, my prince, just in from the country to serve at the Dog Street temple. I had no idea he’d do such a thing! Forgive him, I beg you. He’s young …”
“Forgive?” Korin let out a startled laugh. “No, old mother, I don’t forgive such an act. Captain, take him to the Harriers and see that he’s questioned.”
The old woman’s wailing followed them as they rode on.
Erius made light of the incident that night as the boys feasted with him in his private courtyard. The squires served at table, assisted by a few of the king’s young men. Moriel was among them, and Tobin was amused to see how he was careful to stay out of Korin’s reach.
Niryn, Hylus, and a handful of other nobles dined with them. Everyone had heard of the incident with the young Illioran, of course, but had to have it again from Korin.
When he was done, Erius sat back and nodded. “Well, Korin, perhaps it’s time you see that it’s not all cheers and roses, ruling a great kingdom. There are traitors everywhere.”
“He called me an abomination, Father,” said Korin. The accusation had been eating at him all day.
“What else would you expect from an Illioran?” Niryn sneered. “I wonder sometimes that you let their temples remain open in the city, Majesty. Priests are the worst traitors of all, corrupting the simpleminded populace with their wives’ tales.”
“But what did he mean, telling me to ask you about it?” Korin persisted.
“If I may, my king?” asked Lord Hylus, looking grave. “The man’s remarks were most certainly in reference to the executions announced today.”
“Executions?” Korin turned expectantly to his father.
“Yes, that’s why I invited you here tonight, before this other unpleasantness occurred,” his father replied. “I’ve something special planned, my boys. Tomorrow night there’s to be a burning!”
Tobin felt cold despite the lingering heat of the day.
“A wizard burning?” Korin exclaimed, delighted. “We’ve been wanting to see one of those!”
Lynx leaned over Tobin’s shoulder to fill his cup. “Some of us have,” he muttered without much enthusiasm.
“Your father understands that you are no longer a child, my prince,” Niryn said with an obsequious smile. “It’s time you and your Companions witness the full power of Skalan justice. Thanks to your quick thinking this afternoon, we’ll have one more rope on the gibbet pole.”