<i>You'll do.</i><br/><br/>Ryland bit his lip against the curl of chagrin, then curled his fingers at the obvious slight. The king would rather put his hand on his sword than on Ryland's arm.<br/><br/>Mentally, Ryland shrugged. He withdrew his arm and made room for the king to rise on his own.<br/><br/><i>Unless you have to get back to the man who you were meeting with just now.</i><br/><br/>Glares of varying intensity were turned on him. Ryland bit his lip harder, this time against a real grin.<br/><br/>Nothing for it except to make some small amends. They would forgive him later, as they always did, but probably not if he took the king's offer and ran.<br/><br/>"Long gone, I'm afraid," he said cheerfully. "Right this way."<br/><br/>As they exited the room, Ryland signed behind his back,<i>Behead me now please.</i><br/><br/>He liked to imagine that Syssiny snickered at him, but she probably didn't.<br/><br/>The halls had been swept clean and carpet laid down to protect against the slick mess that condensation could make of the stones. Though it was the end of summer and plenty cool in mountainous Banque, the castle still tended to be colder still and drafty and collected dew wherever the windows were open--which was most everywhere at the moment, to take advantage of the nice weather.<br/><br/>Stolling alongside Kethaias, Ryland got a look at him from the corner of his eye. His appraisal was quick.<br/><br/>"No doubt," he began deliberately (and his feet were no more hurried, taking the hall in a smooth and stately walk), "my family will make their apologies of me next time you meet them. I'd like to offer my own, for how absolutely boring they are in comparison." He turned his head just slightly, so that Kethaias could see his eyes on him as he gave another smile. "Either you're exhausted from the road or you found them just as tedious."<br/><br/>A lift of an eyebrow--an invitation to confide.<br/><br/>They mounted a short series of stairs, and then were into the hall of suites proper. Theirs was not a large castle, but it did have its rambles. Most of this hall was taken up with the royal family's rooms, but the Crown Prince had given up his suite in order to give the visiting king the pride of place while he was there.<br/><br/>Ryland stopped outside the carved doors. "Before you go in, perhaps you<i>would </i>like a little entertainment? If it's boredom you suffer from--or perhaps melancholy--then allow me to offer my own hospitality." A small pause. "Would you care to make a wager with me? By the end of your visit, I will make you smile. Am I wrong to think such a thing might be a challenge? I don't think I am. But name your prize, if I don't. If nothing else, it will be an amusing little diversion for us both."