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two Sergeants, he said, “If you please, continue.”
    Baron James signaled for Locklear to accompany him, as he quickly left the two young Princes readying themselves for a professionally administered beating. As the two nobles quit the court, James motioned to Lieutenant William. “When they’ve had enough, get them to their quarters. Let them rest and see they eat, then ensure that they are up and ready to see His Highness by midafternoon.”
    William saluted and turned to watch as both Princes tumbled to the canvas mat again. He shook his head. This wasn’t going to be a pretty sight.

CHAPTER TWO
ACCUSATION
    T HE BOY CRIED OUT .
    Borric and Erland watched from the window of their parents’ private chamber as Swordmaster Sheldon pressed his attack on young Prince Nicholas. The boy shouted again in excitement as he executed a clever parry and counterthrust. The Swordmaster retreated.
    Borric scratched at his cheek as he observed, “The boy can scamper about, that’s for certain.” The angry bruise from the morning’s boxing practice was darkening.
    Erland agreed. “He’s inherited Father’s skills with a blade. And he manages to do right well despite his bad leg.”
    Borric and Erland both turned as the door opened and their mother entered. Anita waved her ladies-in-waiting to the far corner of the room, where they commenced to discuss quietly whichever current piece of gossip was judged most interesting. The Princess of Krondor moved to stand between her sons and peered through the window as a joyous Nicholas was lured into an overbalanced extension and found himself suddenly disarmed.
    “No, Nicky! You should have seen it coming,” shouted Erland, though the glass window prevented his words from reaching his younger brother.
    Anita laughed. “He tries so hard.”
    Borric shrugged as they turned away. “Still, he does well enough for a boy. Not much worse than when we were his age.”
    Erland agreed. “The monkey—”
    Suddenly his mother turned on him and slapped him hard across the face. Instantly, the women in the other corner of the room ceased their whispers and stared in wide-eyed amazement at their Princess. Borric looked at his brother, whose astonishment matched his own. Not once in their nineteen years had their mother raised a hand to either boy. Erland was more stunned by the act than any pain from the slap. Anita’s green eyes revealed a mixture of anger and regret. “Never talk that way about your brother again.” Her tone left no room for argument. “You have mocked him and caused him more pain than all the unkind whispers among the nobles together. He is a good boy and he loves you, and all you have for him is ridicule and torment. Your first day back in the palace and within five minutes of speaking with you he was in tears again.
    “Arutha was right. I’ve let you go unpunished for your trespasses too long.” She turned as if to leave.
    Borric, seeking to rescue his brother and himself from the embarrassment of the moment, said, “Ah, Mother. You did send for us? Was there something else you wanted to discuss?”
    Anita said, “I didn’t send for you.”
    “I did.”
    The boys turned to see their father standing quietly at the small door that opened between his study and the family room, as Anita called his part of the royal apartment. The brothers glanced at one another and knew their father had been observing long enough to have witnessed the exchange between mother and sons.
    After a long silence, Arutha said, “If you’ll excuse us, I would have a private word with our sons.”
    Anita nodded and indicated to her ladies they should retire with her. Quickly the room emptied, leaving Arutha with his sons. When the door was closed, Arutha said, “Are you all right?”
    Erland made a display of stiff muscles and said, “Well, enough, Father, given the ‘instructions’ we received this morning.” He indicated his tender side was not further injured.
    Arutha frowned and