Just that day they had been sparring in the courtyard with blunt swords and Edmund had disarmed him with a clever turn of his wrist. The younger king’s expression of joy and proud triumph had taken the elder’s breath away. Indeed, Peter had been so awestruck by the beauty of his brother’s face that he was amazed that none other remarked upon it. And afterwards, sharing a stoup of water mixed with some wine to quench their thirst, he had observed his dark-haired sibling languidly leaning against the marble railing of the inner porch, his arms outstretched on either side as he rested his back against a column.