Nor will anyone else, if he remembers that I am his friend, Vars said. He and Lyril continued through the crowd, slowly drifting in their separate directions. He could see her eyeing up the women, trying to decide all the ways that they were less pretty than her, or weaker, or just not of her level. Probably trying to decide all of the advantages she could gain with them, too. There was a hardness to that assessment that Vars liked. Maybe that was a part of why hed been with her so long.

Of course, thats another reason not to join the hunt tomorrow, he said. With all the idiots away, I can do what I want, maybe set things up to my advantage.

Did I hear some mention of the hunt?

His brothers voice was as booming and as bluff as ever. Vars turned to Rodry, forcing the smile hed learned to force through so much of his childhood.

Rodry, brother, he said. I hadnt realized that you were back from… where was it you and Father went again?

Rodry shrugged. You could have gone and found out.

Ah, but you went running, Vars said, and youre the one who matters to him.

If Rodry caught the sharpness of it, he didnt show it.

Come on, Rodry said, clapping him on the back. Join me and my friends.

He made joining the bunch of young fools who all but worshipped him as a hero sound like some great gift, rather than a horror Vars would have paid solid gold to avoid. They played at being like his fathers Knights of the Spur, but not one of them had made a name for himself yet. His smile became more strained as he walked into the heart of them, and he grabbed a goblet of wine as a welcome distraction. In just a brief space, it was gone, so he grabbed another.

Were talking about all the hunts weve been on, Rodry said. Berwick says that he once took down a boar with a dagger.

One of the young men there gave a bow that made Vars want to kick him in the face. I was gored twice.

Then perhaps you should have used a spear, Vars said.

I broke my spear on the training grounds of the House of Weapons, Berwick said.

When were you last on the training grounds, brother? Rodry asked, obviously knowing the answer. When will you be joining the knights, as I have?

I train with the sword, Vars said, probably a little more defensively than he should have. I just think that there are more useful things to do than spending every waking moment doing so.

Or maybe you just dont like the thought of facing up to an enemy ready to cut you down, eh, brother? Rodry said, clapping Vars on the shoulder. The same way you dont like going on the hunt, in case something happens to you.