He remembered Kai mentioning that Sir Jehan gave him his first drink, and that the man had encour- aged his consumption the evening before. Bu Jehan was in no way responsible for Kai's overall con- dition; that was Kai's doing, and no one else's.
Why do some people drink more than others? How can one person have one drink and put it down, while the man next to him orders another, and again another? He never had really thought about it.
Try the obvious. "Well, for one thing, it will destroy your body, and your mind. Not necessarily in that order."
Kai offered a feeble shrug. "Does that really mat- ter? I'm a drunk. Everybody says so. Nothing I can do about that." He glared at Alaire, again with that hint of defiance. "I could stop whenever I wanted to. But I just don't want to, is all!" He paused to take another swig. "And it doesn't matter if I'm a falling down drunk. My father hates me and would rather see me dead than on the throne!"
Ah. Here we go. The opening I was looking for.
He cleared his throat delicately. "Have you ever really wondered why I'm here, and how I was able to meet you, the Crown Prince, so many years ago?
Granted, it was a 'peasant's holiday,' but you know, not just anyone could get close to the King's son."
Kai was looking at him strangely, and sat down cross-legged, in a sort of nest of clothing on the floor.
"You know, you're right. You couldn't have got that close to us, unless there was another reason behind that so-called 'holiday.' Huh. You're here now on some sort of diplomatic mission from Althea, right?"
Alaire nodded. "Exactly. The Dark Elf i Ambassador sent by King Reynard"
Kai seemed to find this amusing. "Right, the elf.
Caused quite a stir, in our little court. Heard a little bit about it before supper began last night. Is your father a diplomat, perhaps?"
Alaire took a deep breath, and told the truth. "I am the son of King Reynard, ruler of Althea."
Prince Kainemonen sucked in his breath suddenly, a short exclamation that conveyed the proper surprise.
"Good gods, are you the Prince?"
That got his attention. But now that I have his ear.. .
He grinned, shyly. "A prince, actually. One of a horde. Father sent me here to have a look at diplo- macy firsthand. How do you really know what your father is thinking? I doubt he really hates you at all. I used to think the same thing about my father. I was so far down the line of succession, I didn't think I was really worth much to him. But I found out differently, a while back."
Kai stared. "Down the line? You aren't the Prince of Althea?"
Alaire laughed. "Oh, no. That would be Derek, my oldest brother, the firstborn. I get to choose what I'm going to do with the rest of my life!"
"I see," Kai nodded. "In a way, I'm glad. You cer- tainly didn't act like a prince."
Alaire opened his mouth to comment, something like, and you do? but thought better of it. Instead, he continued with the family tree.
"I'll take that as a compliment. My identity is a secret, so I guess my acting must be pretty good!" He grinned, and Kai managed a feeble smile in return.
"I'm the youngest of eight brothers. The others had their destinies planned for them. Grant, the next born, is a natural fighter and is in training to become Lord. Trevor, number three, will become Ki Seneschal, given his high intelligence and wit.
Contemplative Phyllip was our family's 'gift' to the priesthood and Church. When Father sugg Roland start studying to become the Court Researcher and Librarian he nearly had a fit, he was so pleased -- "
Kai stared at him, apparently fascinated that Reynard had taken such pains to suit his sons' desti- nies to their talents.