“So … as I’m trying to organize and prepare for the first royal progress to be made in the kingdom since you were born, you chose to lark about up on the roof and nearly get yourself and your friend—who just happens to be my best friend’s little brother—killed?” The temper Mikeli rarely let himself show was an almost visible flame on that side of the table.

“I thought … you said we had no lessons…”

“That doesn’t mean you had no duties! Cam, if I weren’t determined to take you along, I’d have you locked in a closet for the duration. Where was your thinking?”

Camwyn looked up and saw both the anger and the fear behind the anger. Tears stung his eyes; he fought them. He was too old to cry. “I know it’s my fault, sir king. I know I was wrong. I just can’t—one day I can think like you and my tutors—or some of it—and another day I think I’m thinking, but at the end of the day—I wasn’t.” His voice broke in the middle of that, a jagged switch of high to low that made it sound as if he were crying. “I try,” Camwyn said, in the harsh new voice.

Mikeli leaned across the table, the angry flame dying down, the concern returning. “Camwyn … sometimes trying isn’t enough. I’m sorry; I wish it were not so; I wish I could protect you forever, but Cam—dear brother—you must try harder to think first, not once you’re in a pickle.”

“Did you ever get in trouble?”

That brought a snort of amusement. “Yes, Brother, I did, but I was the heir, and I had more watchers. And possibly—likely—you are bolder than I ever was or would have been even if I’d not been in leading strings so long. So my troubles were different ones. I was not overfond of protocol.” He shook his head. “But you’re the heir now, and I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist you restrain your adventurous nature. Whatever possessed you to climb onto the north roof, anyway?”

Camwyn felt the heat rising in his face. “We hadn’t been there yet,” he said.

“Well, sate your desire for new experiences by making yourself useful to the officer organizing the order of march and the precautions to be taken for the safety of the king’s majesty. One of the staff will escort you to him. After you bathe and dress, of course. I will expect you to report to me at luncheon. I have a different errand for Aris Marrakai, but he may have the same duties in the afternoon as you do. There’ll be no more escapades on the roof before we leave; there’s too much to do.”