"I suppose it takes a twin to understand a twin," he said. That had always seemed to be the case in his experience, at any rate -- although he also guessed that Kyra and Gareth were not affectionate in the same way that other twins were. "I fear whether they were kidnapped or left of their own accord, they are long gone and we won't hear from them again. Not that I'd ever say so in earshot of the queen, she's liable to have my skull cracked for thinking it and my tongue cut out for saying it."