Not for you, not for anyone else.”

Enlai bowed, a plain bow this time.

He returned to Shira’s stall,

tried to calm himself—

that look on the barbarian’s face—

He gave Shira a piece of carrot,

told himself he wasn’t disappointed.

Heard Xau say, “We should have guessed.

He’s a minstrel. He travels.”

He was a minstrel.

He would travel to the burnt towns,

talk to the soldiers,

talk to those who’d served the demon.

And then he would return

and write such a ballad

as men would still sing

a hundred years hence.

And since the king wasn’t paying,

Enlai could embellish Xau’s every deed

to heroic proportions—he looked forward

to the young king’s reaction.

BOYS

“Tell me about him,” said Donal. Xau said nothing. He did not wish to speak of Khyert. What use in words? He finished rubbing Narson down, checked his hooves, left the stall. Donal nudged his shoulder, steering him not toward the stable exit, but toward the tack room, said again, “Tell me about him.” So. Donal set on this, and Xau set on friendship between the two of them, between their kingdoms. For that reason only, Xau said, “We knew him when we were both boys. He worked here in the stables.” Xau paused. “Twice we noticed he was badly bruised, both face and arms, and Khyert already better with horses than men who’d worked here many years. We did not think a horse had kicked him. The second time, we asked. He’d been beaten by his brother. He had two broken ribs, but he was mucking out the stalls.” Xau could not firm up his voice. “We helped him in the stables until our father ordered us to stop. Later, when we were made king, Khyert was kind to us when we most needed it.” The tale not finished, but Donal had been there at its ending. Xau turned away. Donal said, matter-of-factly, “In Innis too, warriors weep when brave men die. Then most often we get drunk.” And Donal waited for Xau to be done.

MEI

“What is it, Princess? What’s wrong?”

No one had asked Mei that in years,

she who was King Xau’s only sister:

prospering, privileged, protected.

“Nothing. Nothing is wrong.”

Mei answered the barbarian prince

in his own language, and gave him

a carefully correct smile.

Prince Connol pushed his plate away,

leaned toward her across the table,

ignoring the other banquet guests.

He laid his hand over her wrist.

“I see bones. When I look at you,

I see bones on a mountain.”

Mei jerked her wrist free.

“My three oldest brothers died

on a mountain. Years ago.

It is well known.”

“Not to me.”

“Indeed?” Mei raised her eyebrows

without offering outright insult.

The barbarian grabbed a wine jar

from a passing server.

“Princess, I know how it is

to be the king’s sister,

or the king’s brother,

to always take second place.”

“I am fine. I am fortunate.”

Mei kept her voice level,

grateful that no one else in earshot