to the mountains for a few days … I think he dislikes being cooped up at court even more than you do … and I thought I'd take Conall along； as well。 Maybe a little patrol work will teach him patience。 It's a courtesy call； Alaric … that's all。 I want to see how Brice operates when he isn't expecting me to see。〃
〃Do as you wish； then；〃 Morgan muttered。 〃You will； anyway。 I don't know why I bother worrying。〃
Kelson grinned； a boyish quirk of a smile which was quite at odds with his regal attire and bearing。
〃I think you do。 I do； if you don't。 And the day you stop worrying is the day I'll start。〃 He touched Morgan lightly on the shoulder。
〃Just keep our wayward bishops in line for me； Alaric。 I'll be back in a few days。〃
By the following afternoon。 Kelson was beginning to wonder whether he had truly gotten the better end of the bargain。 He had expected the weather to hold for at least another week； but as he and his warband rode west along the river toward Trurill … a full two dozen knights and men…at…arms； in addition to squires and servants … the air grew increasingly still and oppressive。 An annoying drizzle set in just before noon； dampening dispositions as well as armor and equipment。 Conall； riding beside his royal cousin； spent nearly all of their brief meal…break plaining about the weather； but at least the more important grumbling of the men was mostly good…natured。 The road was still good； the rain only settling the dust as they resumed travel。 At midafternoon they entered an area of sparse forest； where the drizzle subsided to a less irritating drip as it filtered through the trees。
They heard the sound of fighting long before they came upon it。 The shrill whinnies of horses in distress warned them first； setting their own blooded warhorses to prancing and snorting with anticipation。 As shouts and the clash of steel began to reach them。 Duke Ewan signalled a halt and sent two advance riders spurring on ahead to investigate。 Kelson； who had been chatting with several of'his younger knights halfway back along the column； eased his mount forward at once； tugging distractedlyat a gauntlet cuff。
〃Jodrell； were you expecting any activity along here？〃 the king called softly； as he drew rein beside their guide。
The young Kierney baron only shook his head； still poised in a listening attitude。 When the outriders did not return within a few minutes。 Kelson silently signalled Saer de Traheme to begin stripping the waterproof cover off the Haldane battle standard。
〃What are we waiting for； Ewan？〃 Conall fretted； standing in his stirrups to peer ahead into the forest gloom。 〃If there's trouble； we should try to stop it！〃
Old Ewan； sitting his horse ahead of the two Haldanes and at right angles to them； squeezed his eyes to calculating slits as he glanced in their direction； armored hand already fingering his sword hilt。 His bushy red beard protruded beneath his helmet quite without discipline of razor or scissors。
〃Their trouble； not ours。 Your Highness … unless； of course； we insist upon charging into things without knowing what we're about。 Hush ye； now； so I can listen。〃
Still the silence was broken only by the continuing sounds of the distant fighting and the closer noises of the Haldane greathorses held in check； bits and chains jingling； leather creaking； mail clinking softly as the knights strained to hear。 Kelson surveyed the two dozen mounted knights settling helmets on heads and taking up shields behind him； then shifted his attention back to Ewan。
〃What do you think？〃 he whispered。
Ewan slowly shook his head。 〃I dinnae know yet； Sire。 We're on the edge of Trurill holdings； eh； Jodrell？ That means that Trurill levies are likely on one side of whatever's dusting up。〃
The border baron nodded。 〃Aye； Your Grace … though it's God's good guess who's on the other side。 I'd wait for Macaire and Robard； if I were you。 Sire。〃
〃I fully intend to。〃
〃But； can't we … 〃 Conall began。
〃No； we can't；〃 Kelson murmured； giving Conall a warning look as he twisted to take the shield that his squire had brought forward。 〃Jodrell； check the men； please。〃
Conall started to object again as Jodrell reined his horse out of line and headed quietly back along the column； but another sharp look from Kelson silenced him。 The prince； only a few months younger than Kelson； had been along on the Cardosa campaign two summers before； but he still had much to learn about strategy and the art of mand。 It was a mon failing； and not entirely Conall's fault； for though Gwynedd mon law declared fourteen to be the legal age of manhood； in fact few boys were actually called upon to function as adults for several more years。
Chivalric custom recognized this； even if the law did not； denying the knightly accolade to those under eighteen except on rare occasions。 Even Kelson； who could have made himself such an exception as king； had declined to be knighted until his eighteenth birthday。 If Conall gained sufficient experience in the ing year； his knighting might be moved forward a few months to coincide with Kelson's； but meanwhile； he remained in the subordinate rank of squire； royal though he was。
That was little fort to Kelson just now； weighing Conall's inexperience against the possible dangers of the ing skirmish。 He could not help remembering Morgan's warning about the difference of fighting styles and wondered whether the Deryni lord could have known he was foretelling the future。 Border fighting favored quick； lightly mounted and armed raiding bands； not the heavier horses and armor to which Conall was accustomed and with which the warband was equipped。 Should the terrain ahead boast closer maneuvering room than what lay immediately around them； the inexperienced among Kelson's pany might find themselves at the disadvantage despite their numbers and superior armor。
Still； Kelson supposed he could let his untried cousin at least think he was performing an important function； while still keeping him relatively safe and under watchful eyes。 As he adjusted the angle of his helm and secured the chin strap； he cast a stem glance at the impatient Conall； then relented and nodded to Traheme。 Immediately； Conall was kneeing his charger between the two of them and reaching out for the royal standard； tight…jawed but triumphant as his gloved hand locked around the polished staff。
〃No heroics； now；〃 Kelson warned。
〃Don't worry。〃
The crimson of the banner's field seemed almost subdued against the deep green of the surrounding forest； but the golden Haldane lion shimmered like a living thing as Conall gave the silk a shake and set the butt of the staff in his stirrup rest。 The prince's grin was infectious； and Ewan and Traheme as well as Kelson found themselves smiling in response as muffled hoofbeats approached。 Kelson cast about for hidden dangers as a returning scout burst through the trees and reined his horse to a sliding halt； but he sensed nothing other than the body of men ahead。
〃Liveried men…at…arms。 Sire … lightly mounted； against what appears to be a band of brigands；〃 the man reported。 〃Maybe twenty on a side； but none of them are particularly well armored。〃
〃Whose livery？〃 Kelson demanded。
〃Trurill； Sire。 Two swords in saltire over a third in pale； all on a blue field。〃
Kelson glanced at Ewan； who nodded confirmation。 〃Those'll be Brice's lads； right enough。 Do we have maneuvering room； son？〃
〃At least as good as here。 Your Grace。 Part of the area is an open glade。 Robard has stayed to watch they don't shift while we're planning。〃
〃Well done。〃 Kelson drew his sword and glanced back at his waiting men。 〃Very well； gentlemen； I think it's time to show ourselves。 If we can manage without bloodshed； so much the better。 Traheme； I want you on Conall's other side。 Jodrell； you ride on my right。 Ewan； deploy the men。〃
With an economy of silent hand signals； Ewan gave the necessary orders。 As ever。 Kelson was impressed with the efficiency and polish which came with more than thirty years' experience as a field mander。 The jingle of harness and the wet； sucking sound of the horses' hooves on the moss…covered forest floor temporarily covered the battle sounds as the knights peeled off to either side and fanned o