And when the duties of state and rule became too much for him, Oron strove to put those pressures aside by practicing games; he hurled stone and javelin, boxed and wrestled, dueled. He and Tion on evenings would visit the soldiers’ barracks or enter the taverns on the lakeside, where ruffians and carousing fellows were always glad to see them and speak frankly with Oron about political matters. Each man had his own ideas; Oron and Tion would listen solemnly, thank the thinker for his concern, and buy him a brew. Then, riding back to the palace, Oron would often comment with a smile, “Hell, any one of those brutes would make as good a king as I. They have better ideas than the old men on the council.”
During these days, no mention was made of Metok or the late rebellion; no word was spoken
