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early every morning and made her way to the wall with her harp. Every morning she played the song that she had written herself, the song that Adam had whistled.

4
    It was an unnaturally hot summer, and Shanek had taken to sitting outside in casual clothes and bare feet as often as possible, much to the dismay of his father.
    Leone, who was charged with his safety, took the additional issues calmly when summoned into First Counsellor Sandor’s presence. ‘He is First Son,’ she said when told of his decision. ‘It is his right to sit wherever he wishes.’
    ‘But the extra security…’ Shanek’s father, the First Counsellor, began. Rather than finish the sentence, he glared at Cadock, Commander of the Army.
    Cadock in turn looked to Leone. ‘Can you guarantee the First Son’s safety even when he chooses to sit outside under a tree, rather than in the Counsellor’s Palace?’
    Leone returned her Commander’s gaze. ‘Yes,’ she said.
    ‘So be it then,’ Cadock replied. He bowed to Sandor. ‘Your son’s safety is secure, First Counsellor.’
    ‘Just like that?’
    ‘Yes, First Counsellor, just like that.’
    Sandor threw up his hands in mock defeat. ‘Very well then. But on your head be it, Coerl Leone,’ he said. ‘You are dismissed, Commander.’
    Commander Cadock saluted sharply, turned on his heel and strode from the First Counsellor’s office. Behind him went the three elite fighters assigned to him as personal bodyguards.
    When the Commander had left, the First Counsellor turned to Coerl Leone. He offered her a seat, which she refused with a shake of her head. Sandor eased himself into a chair carved from a single piece of tadon wood, a rare hardwood tree from the far south of the continent. It had been hand carved to his exact measurements by a Skrin Tia’k slave and modified every six months to accommodate any changes in his shape. Despite being as hard as rock, it was the most comfortable chair he had ever known. ‘How are his studies going?’ he asked.
    ‘They are going well, First Counsellor,’ she said.
    ‘What does that mean?’
    ‘He listens to the Appointed One and asks many questions. He argues frequently and is rarely satisfied with weak or inadequate answers. I feel he exasperates his teacher with his manner, First Counsellor.’
    ‘And you?’
    ‘I do not exasperate the Appointed One, First Counsellor,’ Leone replied.
    Sandor smiled. ‘I did not think you would, Coerl. No, I meant, does he exasperate you?’
    ‘No, First Counsellor.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘He is First Son. He does not exasperate me, First Counsellor.’
    ‘Silly question, really, wasn’t it?’
    Coerl Leone’s face was impassive. ‘No, First Counsellor, it was not a silly question.’
    First Counsellor Sandor nodded. ‘I stand corrected, Coerl. Your loyalty to both me and my son is admirable and a true asset to the Empire. But you do remember that part of your responsibility to me is to keep me honestly and frankly apprised of Shanek’s progress and activities?’ Leone nodded. ‘So,’ continued Sandor, ‘how is he going and what is he doing?’
    Coerl Leone paused before answering. Whilst she believed in the Empire and loyally served its rulers, her feelings about the First Son were mixed.
    His façade of ennui masked a first-rate mind. He was also showing signs of talent in the arts of battle, especially with the bolas. Yet—and this was the problem—there was something not quite right about him. It was more than his show of boredom, more than his arrogance, more even than his carefully cultivated air of thoughtless superiority. There was an air of hopelessness, almost despair, that underpinned his attitude.
    ‘Coerl?’ prompted the First Counsellor.
    ‘I don’t know, First Counsellor,’ she said. ‘I would almost say that he is desperately unhappy.’
    ‘Unhappy?’
    Coerl Leone frowned. ‘I don’t know that unhappy is the right word, First Counsellor, but he is not a happy