I should have guessed as much.
"I still think Alaire is safe," Naitachal said. "He has enough good sense not to become involved with women who may ultimately seek to cause him trouble. Unless there are other factors you haven't mentioned yet"
If Sir Jehan took offense at this, he didn't show it. "I do hope that having a friend his own age will settle Kai down a bit, but I'm afraid that Alaire does not have a strong enough personality to resist Kai's depravity. If I may speak frankly, Alaire seems to be rather young for a diplomatic mission -- even as a mere assistant"
"He is here to polish his skills under my tutelage,"
Naitachal informed him simply. "But he is very close, very close, to the King's heart."
Sir Jehan gave him a knowing look, as if he under- stood all too well that yes, Alaire was indeed a favorite bastard. Good. His disguise seems to be holding.
Naitachal smiled faintly. "I agreed to take him as my assistant largely to please King Reynard. I admit he is a little raw, and I had hoped that some of your fine cul- ture would rub off on him during this visit. He's never been outside of Althea. Please forgive any uncouth behavior you may observe in him. But I do assure you, his personality is strong and fundamentally good, his morals secure."
Sir Jehan sighed, and shook his head woefully.
"Kai's debauchery is the root of the troubles between him and his father. The boy simply refuses to behave like a civilized adult, or even a civilized child; and he certainly refuses to behave like a prince."
Naitachal shrugged. Then why is it critical that Kai be the Crown Prince? Certainly, if he had a younger brother . . ." He raised an eyebrow. "The solution seems a simple one to me."
Sir Jehan shook his head sadly. "Kainemonen's birth was a most difficult one. The Queen is unable to be a mother again. Disgraced, she seldom appears in pub- lic. Unlike other kingdoms, it is not acceptable fo King to rid himself of her, or select a -- favored by-blow. It is the way of our land."
"So, it is Kai who will inherit the throne, or nobody."
Naitachal pursed his lips in an imitation of thoughtful- ness. "I think I'm beginning to see the problem."
Jehan waved that off as not important. "All that is immaterial to this discussion, however. My concern is with your assistant. His close association with Kai could very well discredit your mission here."
This took Naitachal by surprise. Still, there was no hint they knew Alaire's true identity.
"And why is that?" he asked, making no secret of his surprise.
"The motives of someone who befriends a potential problem in our kingdom are somewhat in question,"
Sir Jehan replied. "And he is your assistant. What he does will by necessity reflect on you. I expect no trouble, either for you or for your young man. But it looks ... suspicious, for you, for your assistant, and for your kingdom in general."
This, too, Naitachal was beginning to get the gist of.
Is this Sir Jehan a part of the opposing force in Suino- men politics that Captain Lyam warned us both about? He was not going to let this man intimidate him. The direction their discussion was taking was starting to sound like an attempt to threaten the mis- sion, despite the gentle tone Sir Jehan was using.
An old family proverb came to the Dark Elf's mind.
Never try to frighten a Necromancer. Granted, he wasn't a Necromancer any more, but still...
"Am I to understand," Naitachal returned, in an irritated tone, "that a friend of the Prince is not an ally of the King?"
Sir Jehan shrugged, palms upturned, a gesture which conveyed very little to Naitachal.
Time to show some of my cards. And to prove Alaire confides more in me than this Sir Jehan thinks.