h embarrassment under the stares of the curious； but he kept his eyes pointedly ahead； disdaining assistance as he climbed down from his horse。 The most intriguing addition of all sat limply in the circle of Morgan's arms； apparently asleep … a heavily cloaked female form with tangled chestnut hair escaping from beneath her hood。
〃They're the pretender's younger children；〃 Kelson told Nigel； as he dismounted in the snowy courtyard and helped Morgan hand the sleeping girl into Duncan's arms。 〃Now all we need are Caitrin； Sicard； and the remaining son。 And Loris； of course。 The girl's name is Sidana。 Dhugal stole her out from under their noses。〃
〃She isn't hurt； is she？〃 Nigel asked。
Morgan； relieved of his burden； swung one leg over his horse's neck and vaulted to the ground； shaking his head。
〃She'll be fine by morning。 I … ah … had to put her to sleep。 She started to get hysterical when she realized she wasn't going to be rescued。 I doubt she'll even remember most of the trip。〃
Nigel nodded slowly； accepting Morgan's use of his powers without batting an eye。
〃Aye； that was probably kindest。 Duncan； why don't you take her to my wife？ Unless you wish otherwise； of course。 Kelson。 She'll want the fort of another woman's pany when she wakes … and a lady's bower seems a more fitting setting for this Mearan rose than a cell。〃
〃A briar rose； I think；〃 Kelson said； smiling； 〃with proper thorns； I'll warrant。 But no matter。 Aunt Meraude will be a suitable panion； I'm sure。 Father Duncan； would you take her； please？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃And as for our other unexpected guest；〃 Kelson went on； with a glance back at the sullen Llewell as Duncan withdrew； 〃you'll be proud to learn that it was your son Conall； who captured him。 Uncle。 His name is Llewell。 He's been a little belligerent from the start； so I think he'll want closer guard。 No cell； though。 He's a noble hostage； not a criminal。〃
Kelson took a few more minutes seeing to the disposition of his other prisoners and to the provisioning of his men and horses； then went with Dhugal and Morgan into the hall。 While all three of them washed down mouthfuls of venison pasties with mulled ale； he gave a hastily gathered privy council his impromptu account of the venture。 Dhugal was beginning to nod over his food by the time they finished； and even Morgan was beginning to slow down as food filled empty stomachs and ale lulled aching muscles。 Within the hour； after scheduling a formal meeting of the full council for the following afternoon。 Kelson dismissed the court and retired for the night。 The torches in Rhemuth hall burned late that night as Nigel and the others tried to digest what the king had told them。
Kelson woke with the dawn； however … not yet fully refreshed； but unable to sleep longer。 He felt the need to do something； but there was nothing he could do until Caitrin replied to his demands。 He sat in a window and watched the snow fall for a while； hoping he might ease himself back into drowsiness； but he only grew more restless。 After a while he gave up the notion of sleep and got dressed； pulling on plain grey breeches； boots； tunic； and fur…lined overrobe。
Like a silent ghost he prowled the precincts of his castle； inquiring after the men and horses that had returned with him from Ratharkin； checking on his prisoners and hostages； and breaking his fast with Morgan； who was also unable to sleep into the day。 When he returned to his own apartments a few hours later； still on edge； he found Dhugal also awake and dressed； wondering where he had gone。
〃I couldn't sleep；〃 Kelson told him。 〃I talked to Morgan； but that didn't seem to help much。 I thought I might pay a visit to my father's tomb before the council meeting。 Sometimes doing so helps me clear my head … almost as if I could still ask him for advice。 Would you e with me？〃
They chose the most mon…looking horses they could find in the royal stables； for Kelson did not want his going to be noticed。 Cloaked and closely capped； as much for anonymity as for warmth； they rode the half mile to the cathedral along silent； nearly deserted streets and alleys。 The weather held cold and clear； the snow was still mostly white from the previous night when they dismounted in the cathedral yard。 Their breath fogged on the air before them as they made their way through a slype to skirt the northern side of the cloister garth。 Kelson bounding up steps to a side door； Dhugal hobbling a little stiffly from the still…painful bruise on his thigh。
〃I used to hate this place；〃 Kelson said as he led the way down the south aisle。 〃The royal crypt； I mean。 Archbishop Cardiel has done a lot to make it more bearable in the two years he's had the cathedral； but it's still a little creepy。 Did I ever bring you here before？〃
〃If you did； I don't remember。〃
〃You'd remember。〃 Kelson paused to open a high； gilded brass gate far enough for himself and Dhugal to slip through； then pulled it to behind them。 〃I suppose the best part about it is that it's one place where I can almost always be sure I'll not be disturbed；〃 he continued。 〃Such places are rare when one is king。〃
Dhugal allowed himself a nonmittal grunt as they followed the corridor around a left…hand turn and started down a flight of marble steps； hanging back to ease his aching leg。 By the time he reached the bottom； he found Kelson already kneeling beside an ornately carved sepulcher； head bowed in prayer； so he eased himself to a sitting position on the lowest step and breathed a prayer for his own father's soul。 When he finished； he glanced around the dimly lit chamber； noting the rows of stone sarcophagi and the smooth marble of the walls。 The stylized stone effigy atop the tomb where Kelson knelt was snowy…new and stiff； very little like the King Brion whom Dhugal remembered。
〃I suppose this is the way most people will remember him；〃 Kelson remarked； when he had crossed himself and stood to glance back at Dhugal； one hand lingering on the stone king's hand。 〃The stem Lord of Justice； who kept the peace for nearly fifteen years。〃 He sighed and glanced at his feet。 〃It isn't the way I like to think of him； though。 My father laughed a lot； but King Brion … well； he did what he had to do； as king。 Kings don't get to laugh as much as ordinary folk。 That's but one of the things I've learned in these three years I've worn the crown。〃
Dhugal nodded and glanced around the subterranean chapel again with idle interest； remembering the old king's kindness to a confused young page of eight； still fresh from the less sophisticated ways of his father's highland hall。 Like many eight year olds； Dhugal's mand of his rapidly growing body had been intermittent； with disastrous results the first time he was required to serve the high table。 Only the king had refrained from laughing when Dhugal tripped and sent a tray of steaming pheasants and gravy skittering and； sloshing down the steps of the royal dais。
The memory merged with recollections of old Caulay seated in the hall at Transha； training his own fosterlings with the same sort of firm but loving discipline that Dhugal had enjoyed at Brion's court； and Dhugal started to smile。 The smile faded as he glanced again at Brion's effigy； however； for the man at Transha was only newly dead； and the shock of his passing was unnumbed by the passage of years。 Dhugal could feel the tears threatening to well up in his eyes； despite the fact that； in some ways； old Caulay's death still seemed quite unreal。
〃It's all right to miss him； you know；〃 Kelson said softly； reading his mood； if not his thought。 〃I still miss my father； after all this time。 I cried when it happened； too。 And sometimes late at night； when I'm feeling especially alone and burdened； I still cry。〃
Dhugal had all he could do to swallow； not daring to look at Kelson lest he loose a whole floodgate of ill…timed grief。 He focused on one of the torches burning in a brass cresset instead； forcing himself to raise his eyes to the chapel's vaulting。
〃This isn't such a creepy place；〃 he managed to say； in an awkward attempt to change the subject。 〃It's rather nice； actually。〃
Kelson gave him a sympathetic smile； well aware what his foster brother was trying to do and hardly bl