As every gaze settled on the thread of conflict now stretching between lord and prince, Kem took his chance. He bolted forward, breaking free from the militiamen, and shoved past the chatelaine. Swiftly, he danced sideways to avoid Lord Duenn’s angry grab for his arm. With a final lunge, the boy flung himself down to his knees before the prince.

“Worthy Interlocutor, pray allow me to speak before His Highness, the Exalted Prince-Warden. I am the Manor-born child of Lord Duenn. According to the law of the empire, I am of age to make my Declaration. As is my right, and as I am qualified to do as one of the Manor-born, I Declare for the service of the wardens.”

21 AN EFFUSION OF UGLY SATISFACTION

Elen gasped at the brilliant effrontery of the Declaration. That was her boy! What a gamble!

“Impossible!” cried Lord Duenn. “I won’t allow it!”

The angry words dropped into a heavy silence. Elen held her breath as Prince Gevulin studied the kneeling Kem, then examined Lord Duenn. Coming to some conclusion, the prince smiled.

Although he was a handsome man, it was not a handsome smile. His expression turned sly, even cruel, as his lips curved with an effusion of ugly satisfaction. His gaze lifted to take in the assembly. He wore the look of a man perfectly willing to whip his way through an inoffensive gathering, as long as it gets him to the other side, where his desired reward awaits. He spoke with the expectation of being heard.

“As Exalted Prince-Warden, as All-Seeing Eye of the Wardens, I accept the Declaration of this young person.”

Yes! Elen could breathe again.

“No!” shouted Duenn. “This is my child, who must obey me, according to the precepts of the High Heavens, which rule us all!”

Elen flinched, an old instinct from the years when outbursts by Lord Duenn ruled their lives.

The prince ignored the words as if they were nothing more than the buzzing of a cicada. He turned his gaze to Kem. “As you accept the obligation, you may arise into your new rank and profession as a novice warden. They who enter the imperial service belong to the emperor forever after, forsaking their Manor and binding their lives to the palace.”

Duenn barged forward as his sentinels dithered, wanting to grab him but afraid to touch him against his will.

“I just got her back, and I won’t let you have her! You can’t take her!”

With rushed steps, Duenn closed the distance between himself and the prince, expecting his greater height, brawn, and age to intimidate the younger, slighter man. Elen braced herself. She’d never seen Duenn lose a fight.

Gevulin did not move or flinch but rather stood straighter and taller. He casually extended an arm, and Simo placed a short sword there with such speed it seemed it had sprouted in his hand by magic.