lness radiating from the king。 Like Kelson； his breathing soon slowed to a shallow； even cadence； nimble surgeon's fingers intertwined passively in the lap of his kilt； thumbs brushing tip to tip。
Reassured； Kelson shifted attention from his own slow breathing to that of Caulay； gently spreading his right hand across the old man's forehead and letting his thumb and little finger rest lightly on the closed eyelids for a few seconds。 He could sense the blur of the alcohol as he sent his consciousness cautiously into Caulay's； but he quickly bypassed that to make the necessary connections for what must be done； closing his eyes as he felt his way through wine…drugged dreams。
〃Listen only to me； Caulay；〃 he whispered。
Dhugal's tiny start of surprise caused Kelson to glance up momentarily； and instinctively he sent a tendril of reassurance in the other's direction。 He did not think Dhugal sensed it on any conscious level； but the young border lord seemed to relax again almost immediately； releasing a guarded sigh as he leaned forward to gaze at his father's placid face。
〃Stay deep asleep and hear only my voice；〃 Kelson went on； returning his attention to the old man。 〃You can hear every word I say； even though you're asleep； and you'll want to answer my questions as fully as you can。 Do you understand？〃
〃Aye；〃 came the blurred highland voice。
As Dhugal glanced up at him in wonder。 Kelson sat back and gave him a faint smile； crossing his arms casually on his chest。
〃He's going to do just fine；〃 he murmured to Dhugal in an aside。 〃That's very good； Caulay。 Let's talk about your brother； first of all。 Do you know where Sicard is right now？〃
Caulay grimaced in his sleep。 〃Aye。〃
A precise answer to the question asked； but nothing volunteered。 Loosening control a little。 Kelson reframed his question。
〃Good。 And where is that？〃
〃Ach； I suppose he's in that keep o' his in Laas … he an' his schemin' wife；〃 Caulay said。 〃I didnae like her from the day I first set eyes on her； but he would marry her。〃
His voice was more animated now； the tone so casual and glib that he might have been back at table； confiding opinions over a cup of good ale； except that his eyes were closed。
〃The Lady Caitrin？〃 Kelson asked。
〃Aye。 Cate Quinnell … an' she callin' herself a princess！〃 Caulay went on contemptuously。 〃They've bee a brazen lot； an' that's for sure … high an' mighty； where they think ye cannae see them。 'Tis said they keep court as if she were a queen； and not upstart pretender。〃
Kelson nodded and relaxed control just a little more。 He did not like the implications of what the old man was conveying； but the delivery was just about perfect。
〃As if she were a queen； eh？〃 he repeated softly。
〃Weel； surely ye knew； lad … an' ye must n？？ allow it tae go on。 They say she takes liberties due only a sovereign。 She that steals yer homage also steals yer honor。〃
Kelson could sense Dhugal bristling indignantly； but he stayed him with a gesture。 This was not the time for righteous outrage。 If Caulay was using homage in its legal sense； the situation in Meara was even more serious than he had been led to believe。 Homage implied the granting of land in return for service … the military service of knights。 If Caitrin of Meara was receiving homage as suzeraine of Meara …
〃Caulay； what liberties has she taken？〃 Kelson asked； glancing at Dhugal's stunned face。
〃She swears knights tae her service； wi' the promise o' land when Meara is free again；〃 Caulay replied promptly。 〃An' new knights hae been made。 Even the two boys hae been knighted； an' they younger than yerself！〃
Kelson felt his own anger rising to match Dhugal's； and he had to push it down with a conscious effort。
〃Who knighted them？〃
〃My brother；〃 came Caulay's response； though not quite so promptly； this time。 〃I wouldna' hae thought it possible … my own kin； that swore faith tae yer father； God bless 'im。 I couldnae believe it mysel'； when I heard the news。 Young Ithel brags that he is a knight now； and will one day be Prince of Meara of his own account。 Would he hae died at birth！ He is n？？ true MacArdry； an' that's for sure！〃
〃I see。〃 Kelson probed gently for a physical image of the upstart Ithel。 〃Tell me about this Ithel； then。 I want to know everything you can remember。〃
And in Culdi； Alaric Morgan prepared to enter his own kind of grim； dark concentration； opening a red leather case half the size of his fist and dumping out a handful of polished cubes carved of ivory and ebony。 They clicked against each other and the table top with solid； satisfying snicks as he set them down； reflecting dark and light as Morgan brought a single candle closer on the table before him。
Quickly he arranged the cubes in the traditional pattern： four white in the center； forming a single larger square； the four black set one to each corner； not quite touching。 The champion's signet on his right hand gleamed as well； as he poised his fingertips above the center of the white square； but he ignored it for the moment as he set his thoughts in order。
The odd black and white dice were called Wards in the parlance of those who knew about such things； named； like the most secure perimeter fortifications of a castle； for their function of defense。 To set wards was to create a magical sphere of protection enpassing the area defined by the four points at which the individual wards were placed； containing the energy within and restraining the entry of disruptive forces。 Such protection was all but essential when one intended a magical operation such as Morgan planned … for to reach Kelson at such distance； and without prior preparation； would require that Morgan place his body in deep trance； oblivious to physical sensation or danger； while his mind ranged forth in search of the king。
〃Prime。〃
As he spoke the nomen of the cube in the upper left er of the white square； he touched it with his fingertip and sent power into its matrix。 Instantly the cube began to glow from deep within … milky； opalescent white。
〃Seconde。〃
The process was repeated with the cube at the upper right； with similar results。
〃Tierce。 Quarte。〃
He was halfway through his preparation； the four white cubes forming a square of ghostly white light。 He could feel the power drain。 Slowly and deliberately he drew deep breath： tangible cue to trigger the reversal of polarities from white to black； positive to negative； male to female； the other side of the balance。 The pull this time would be subtly different； slightly more difficult to channel； but well within his abilities。 Breathing out softly； he brought his fingertip toward the black cube resting near the upper left of the white square。
〃Quinte〃
A tiny spark jumped between his fingertip and the cube just before they touched； green…black fire kindling from within。 Quickly； before his momentum was lost； Morgan shifted his attention to the upper right black cube； bringing his forefinger nearer。
〃Sixte。〃
Again； the eerie glow。
When the process had been repeated for Septime and Octave； all eight of the cubes shimmered with internal light； four white and four black。 Now for the mating of opposites； the balancing of energies to build the watch…towers。
Rubbing a hand across his eyes； Morgan sighed and picked up Prime； shifting his balance points again and readjusting control as he brought the cube near its black counterpart； Quinte。 He could feel the tug of the opposites attracting as he closed the distance； the black cube almost seeming to rise that last fraction of space to meet the white as he spoke the word of power。
〃Primus。〃
The two cubes fused in a single； silvery grey oblong。 One down。 Breathing deeply； Morgan pushed the pleted first ward a little to one side and plucked Seconde from its fellows； mating it to Sixte。
〃Secundus。〃
Again； the silver…glowing rectoid。
When he had pleted Tertius and Quartus； he set the four wards on the floor around his chair like tiny； glowing towers and sat down again； feeling for the balance points in his mind a final time before he set things into motion。 manding now； he pointed to each of the wards in turn and spoke the words； sensing the surge as the elements meshed and flared。
〃Primus； Secundus； T