"What is this, an oven?" Alaire asked, sitting on one of the stools. He yelped as his backside touched the hot wood; he leapt up again, and did a little dance around the stools.
" 'S not funny!" Alaire wailed. Kai chuckled. "You could have at least warned me!"
"You are new to this, aren't you?" Kai said. He'd brought the bucket of water in with them, first pour- ing some on Alaire's stool, then sprinkling some on the hot rocks. The temperature rose sharply.
"It's good for you," Kai said firmly. "Do you hurt anywhere, after that match?"
"A few places," Alaire said. In truth he had strained several muscles. Before practice he would normally do several stretching exercises, but today he hadn't enjoyed that little luxury. Also, he had unconsciously tensed when he had realized Lyam was going to run him through the same meat grinder he had Kai, and that had added to his injuries.
"This will take care of that Sit down. Relax."
He did, finally, breathing the steam in through his nose and exhaling through his mouth, as Kai demon- strated. More water went on the coals, hissing an angry protest. Little droplets of sweat ran down his back and face. The heat relaxed him, and the steam cleared his head.
"See what I mean?" Kai said, stretching his arms.
"You should take this idea back with you when you return to Althea."
"I just may do that," Alaire said, feeling a little light- headed.
"I didn't realize how good you really were," Kai said off-handedly. "Lyam wasn't holding back when he had at you. And those two he had sparring with us, those are a couple of his best men. Who trains you, back home?"
"The Ambassador," Alaire replied without thinking.
"The Dark Elf."
Kai offered a low whistle of surprise. "Remind me not to try taking him on! He's a good trainer. Must really know the sword"
Alaire was about to boast about some of Naitachal's previous conquests with the blade, but thought better of it. It would be too easy to mention the magic. I really have to watch how much I tell. He eyed the boy slyly, but Kai was only working a strain out of shoulder muscle. Is he fishing for information? Better be on guard.
"Where I come from, everybody trains for the sword," Alaire said casually. "Even farmers. You never know when someone might declare war on us."
If the last remark made any impact on Kai, the boy didn't show it. "But you must admit that being a prince does grant you certain privileges. Best trainers, best equipment. What you did back there really impressed me. And what's one better, it impressed Lyam. He doesn't impress easily."
Alaire didn't know what else to say. His pride fully swollen, he could easily forget the heat; the muscle strains were melting away in it like butter on a skillet.
"What did you want to do this evening?" Kai asked at last.
"First I'd like to get something to eat," he said. The hunger had returned after that vicious practice session with a vengeance. He can't be suggesting another night on the town, could he? Not again!
"Then after that, what about going out to the tavern district again?" Kai suggested hopefully. "You're good company!"
Alaire hid his dismay. "Well, I don't know. I'd really rather not, if you want to know the truth. And Nai- tachal might need me. I am his assistant." Does he do this every night?
Kai made a face, but relented. "The day is yours, my friend. Whatever you like."
It sounded as if Kai might be willing to do without his wine for onc But Alaire was already suspecting that Kai was going to come up with a way to get drunk anyway, no matter what Alaire said o Chapt Naitachal returned to their room to see if Alaire was up yet, but arrived to find him gone. The Bard found this surprising, since he'd had little sleep, and often slept past noon at home. He must be chumming around with the Prince. Good, Maybe he can find the answers that I, so far, have failed to obtain.
Paavo's and Pikhalas' behavior confirmed, fo Dark Elf, that a dark, sinister conspiracy reached to the highest levels of Suinomen royalty. But this con- spiracy did not seem to include the Crown Princ Odd, that. They still knew little about Kai, but Alaire had managed to observe pointed to a lack of complicity on the child's behalf. If anything, the con- spiracy targeted the Crown Prince as well as himself and Alaire.