〃He asked my leave。 Don't make a scene；〃 Kelson warned； as he laid a hand on his cousin's reins。 〃The man has a job to do。〃
〃Yes！ To show proper respect for his overlord！〃
〃No disrespect was intended；〃 Kelson replied； 〃and standing in the rain is no time for formality。 I am not offended。〃
But Conall was； and he continued to fume and mutter to himself all the way up the newel stair behind Dhugal and Kelson； not ceasing his plaints even when the three of them reached a snug little room at the top of the tower。 Kelson's squire came to help them off with their boots； but Conall continued to reiterate his displeasure about border disregard for rank and precedence； ending with a graceless remark about the acmodations。 Kelson sent the squire out of the room before taking Conall to task； afterward apologizing to an unfortable Dhugal。 The air was charged with resentment as the three young men began stripping off rain…sodden harness and tunics to wash for supper。
In the sullen silence of the next little while。 Kelson could not help noticing the contrast between Dhugal's casual dismissal of the incident and Conall's petulant formality。 His cousin's behavior had embarrassed him greatly。 The squire soon returned with their meager baggage and helped Conall dress in a fresh court tunic which was far too ornate for this casual highland setting； but when Kelson tried tactfully to mention that to Conall； his cousin renewed his tirade about stiff…necked bordermen and declared that he would show them all how a proper prince behaved； donning a silver circlet of rank as he stalked out the door。 Kelson sent the squire after him； hoping he could prevent Conall from insulting any other bordermen he encountered； and pulled a clean woolen singlet from his own pack in silence。
〃I really am sorry about Conall's boorishness；〃 he said after a moment； as Dhugal's head emerged from the neck of a saffron…colored shirt。 〃I hope it's only the folly of youth。〃
〃Youth？〃 Dhugal made a rude noise； his courtly veneer vanishing in border frankness。 〃Kelson； he's a year older than I am。 If respect is what he values； he'll never win it with behavior like that。 He's second in line for the throne； too。〃
Kelson crouched to help his foster…brother finish arranging the pleats of a great kilt on the floor； unable to disagree。
〃That's true； in theory；〃 he said； watching Dhugal lie down on the kilt to belt it around his narrow waist。 〃Thank God his father es first … and I've never heard anyone say an unkind word about Nigel。 Perhaps by the end of next year there will be a new heir altogether。 Still； you're right about youth being no excuse for rude behavior。 Conall can be a terrible boor。〃
Dhugal； sitting up to brooch part of the plaid to his shoulder with an amethyst the size of plover's egg； looked up from the gem's clasp with a start to stare at the king。
〃Bugger Conall！ What do you mean； a new heir？ Kelson； you aren't betrothed； are you？〃
〃No； no； not that； yet；〃 Kelson replied with a chuckle。 〃But don't look so shocked。 I'm seventeen and I'm a king。 It's expected。 Nigel and Aunt Meraude have been badgering me for over a year； and Morgan nearly as long。〃
〃Morgan； too？〃
Kelson shrugged wistfully。 〃Well； all of them are right； of course。 The succession has to be secured。 I've lost count of the princesses and countesses and other eligible girls I've had to inspect in the last year。 Every lordling in Gwynedd with a marriageable daughter or sister between the ages of twelve and thirty has been finding some excuse to bring her to court。 Even Morgan is threatening to trot out some R'Kassan princess for Twelfth Night。 She's a relative of his wife。〃
〃His wife？〃 Dhugal stared even harder； though now he； too； was grinning。 〃So that's what it's all about！ Morgan's gotten married； so now he thinks everyone else ought to be。 Who's the lady？〃
Kelson shook his head and grinned。 He kept forgetting how isolated Transha was from the capital and its doings。
〃You are out of touch； aren't you？ You did know I'd made him Lord Protector of the South； didn't you？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did you know that Torenth has a regency again？〃 Kelson ventured。
〃A regency？ What happened to Prince Alroy？〃
Kelson sighed； trying to keep at least some of the old worry out of his voice。
〃A fall from a horse； around Midsummer。 He broke his neck。 From what I've been able to gather； it was clearly an accident； but he'd just e of age。 So some folk are saying I arranged it … the way Charissa arranged my father's death。〃
〃You mean； with magic？〃 Dhugal whispered。
Kelson nodded。 〃They don't know me very well； do they？〃
〃But； what possible motive could you have； even if you were able to … are you able to kill someone with magic； Kelson？〃
〃If you mean； do I have the ability to kill someone with magic； the answer is yes … I have the power and the knowledge to do so；〃 Kelson said quietly； 〃I've … had to do it once already。 I killed Alroy's father and uncle that way … and the Earl of Marley。 I'm not proud of it； but there was no other way at the time。 And I'd do it again to protect my kingdom。〃
He swallowed unfortably。 〃As for motive。 I'm afraid I have that； too。 Keeping a minor on the throne of Torenth lessens the chance that Torenth will move against me in anything but border skirmishes； at least until the new king is of age。 Liam； Alroy's next brother； is only nine。 That gives me nearly five years to get things settled in Meara； before I have to worry seriously about Torenth again … maybe more。 I didn't kill Liam's brother； though。〃
〃I believe you；〃 Dhugal said。
The three words were spoken quietly； with little inflection； but Kelson knew that they were true。 Four years had passed since he and Dhugal last had met； but he could sense that the old closeness had not weakened with the passage of the years and all that had gone on during them。 He glanced down at his hands； the hands which literally held the power of life and death over so many； then shook his head； knowing he would never be able to put aside the knowledge of his power。
〃But； enough of all this；〃 Kelson continued more brightly。 〃You asked about Morgan； and Morgan's wife。 He married Richenda of Marley a year ago last spring。 They have a little daughter who's nearly a year old now。 Briony； she's called。〃
〃For your father；〃 Dhugal murmured； nodding approvingly。 〃I like that。 But Richenda of Marley … wasn't she the Countess of Marley？ Didn't you just say you'd had to kill her husband？〃
〃Yes。 But she wasn't responsible for her husband's treason；〃 he said softly； 〃Nor was their son。 I confirmed young Brendan in the Earldom of Marley when he turned six this past summer。 I've made him Morgan's ward； until he's of age； and Richenda his regent。〃
〃And what will he say when he's older； and he leams who killed his father？〃 Dhugal whispered。 〃Suppose he es to hate you for it？〃
〃I suppose I hope that by then； he'll have learned why I had to do it；〃 Kelson said with a sigh。 〃Bran Coris' was one of the first lives I had to take。 Unfortunately； it won't be the last。 At least I've learned a few things since then … not that they'd make any difference if I had to do over again。〃 He sighed again； a gesture of finality。
〃But that's done。 There's no sense brooding about something I can't change。 One thing I hope I can change is the reception I got when I rode in here an hour ago。〃
Dhugal laughed aloud； the solemnity of the past few minutes dispelled。
〃Now； that will be magic； if you can acplish that。 You saw them。 Kelson。 They're bordermen。 Most of them have never been to court； and never will。 You can't expect to earn their respect overnight。〃
〃Not overnight； no。 But I do have an idea for making a start； perhaps。〃
Half an hour later； two young bordermen emerged from the tower room where only one had entered。 Dhugal's ment about his long hair the day before had given Kelson his inspiration。 He had decided not to hazard a great kilt such as Dhugal himself wore； for he was disinclined to trust a garment which depended on only a belt to discipline so many pleats； so he had chosen a set of Dhugal's rust…colored border leathers instead … close…fitting trews and sleeveless doublet over a saffron wool shirt like Dhugal's。 A length of grey； b