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not listen to their lies； my prince。 All is being done that may； to secure your release。〃
〃Which will occur in due time； my lord；〃 Kelson replied； before the boy could speak； 〃but not today and not in the very near future。 For the present； it is my intention that Liam of Torenth shall remain the guest of Gwynedd until he attains his fourteenth year…to which end； I have this day squired him to Prince Nigel Haldane； Duke of Carthmoor…〃
〃Squired him…〃
〃Hear me； my lord！ Your king is yet offender years。 Nor was it anticipated that he would one day rule Torenth。 It was not I who enpassed his elder brother's death；〃 he added； letting Rasoul read the truth of that。 〃But it is my responsibility to see that he is properly trained to rule his land when he es into his legal majority。〃
〃And whence derives this alleged responsibility； my lord？〃 Rasoul challenged。
〃Because last year； King Liam did me homage for his kingdom；〃 Kelson replied； 〃as was agreed between myself and his uncle； the late King Wencit。 That places him under my protection。〃
〃Say； rather； your servitude；〃 Rasoul muttered。
Kelson sighed。 〃Hardly servitude； my lord； saving such servitude as any child owes his elders while he learns the lessons of maturity。 That is a servitude which I myself have borne； and gladly； and under direction of the same goodly knight。 Your king must learn his statecraft somewhere； after all。〃
〃Then let him learn it at his uncle's knee！〃 Rasoul responded。 〃Your ways are not our ways。 To keep him hostage； apart from kin and countrymen…〃
〃…is no different from the fosterage that most highborn youths endure； sir；〃 Kelson replied。 〃He studies with my own royal cousins；〃 he swept an arm in the direction of Payne and Rory； 〃and he spars with the flower of Gwynedd's chivalry…which is precisely how he would spend his next four years； were he nobly born in Gwynedd and not in Torenth。 Surely you cannot think that ill。〃
Rasoul let out a perplexed sigh。 〃It is not I whose approval you must gain； my lord。 My Lord Mahael will not like this。〃
〃I do not require that he like it；〃 Kelson said。 〃I do require that he accept it； as regent of my vassal； the King of Torenth。 Missives have been prepared by my chancery； detailing my intentions in this matter； and you will deliver these to your Lord Mahael upon your return to his court。 I shall expect his presence in Cardosa in June。〃
Rasoul's dark face went very still。
〃You expect…〃
Kelson leaned back a little in his chair； never taking his eyes from Rasoul's。 He could feel the tension rising among the Moors； but their master suddenly had bee a tightly shielded blank。
〃If you prefer； I shall mand it； my lord；〃 he said carefully。 〃And once I have met your master face…to…face and assured myself of his peaceful intentions…and Prince Ronal's well…being…I have no doubt that terms for the lady's release can be arranged。〃
〃Ah。〃 The one word seemed to dissipate all the pent…up tension that had been building in both Rasoul and his men； further reinforcing Kelson's belief that he was wise to tread softly； that something was afoot in Torenth。 〃Then； you do intend to set the Lady Morag free。〃
With but the faintest flare of his own shields； apparent only to another Deryni； Kelson smiled conspiratorially and gave the Deryni lord a shrug。
〃Our kind are few at the Court of Gwynedd； my lord。 She will be far less trouble to Duke Mahael than she has been to me。 Do you take my meaning？〃
The observation contained just enough wry irony to restore the Moor's good humor。 Chuckling aloud…to the mystification of most of the court…Rasoul nodded； giving Kelson another bow。
〃I do； indeed； my lord。 I…don't suppose I might have brief audience with Her Highness？〃
〃Alas； no； my lord；〃 Kelson replied。 〃I trust you will understand why。〃
Of course； he did not volunteer the more practical reason for his refusal…that Morag was no longer in Rhemuth…and Rasoul had no reason to suspect it。 As the Moor shrugged and bowed again； Kelson stood； cradling his sword in the crook of his arm。
〃Good； then。 I believe we understand one another。 May I invite you and your men to join the feast that will shortly be served in honor of today's knightings？ Or； if you prefer； may I offer you less formal refreshment while the missives for your lord are brought？ Archbishop Cardiel； would you see to that immediately； please？〃
Rasoul； gracious once more； inclined his head； and the great cat stirred at his feet； stretching languidly。
〃I thank you； my lord； but our ship waits at Desse； and we must be on our way as soon as possible； if we wish to catch the tide。 Might I present my pliments to my Lord Liam； however； since I am not to see his mother？〃
〃In our pany and here before the court； you may speak with him； yes；〃 Kelson said。
With silent signal for Dhugal to acpany him； the king came slowly down several steps； keeping a wary eye on the great cat； but Dhugal went ahead of him； several steps closer； and crouched to hold out his hand to the beast…to Rasoul's obvious surprise。
〃Young lord…〃
〃It's all right；〃 Dhugal murmured。
Kelson cleared his throat nervously and glanced at Rasoul； himself a little taken aback at Dhugal's boldness。
〃Permit me to make known to you my foster brother； the Earl of Transha； my lord；〃 Kelson said。 〃I confess； sir； he is more daring than I； to offer his hand to your most magnificent panion； not knowing whether she would prefer to make a meal of him。〃
Rasoul chuckled； but honest amazement showed in his face as the cat stretched its head closer to sniff at Dhugal's hand； then wrapped an enormous tongue around his fingers； and Dhugal only laughed。
〃Ah； I thought as much；〃 Dhugal murmured。 〃You're a great； huge； hearthside cat； aren't you； girl？〃 As he shifted his hand to scratch behind one tawny ear； the animal crawled up a few more steps and butted its head against him； sinking down on the Kheldish carpet with a contented sigh。
〃Ah； I was right about that； too； wasn't I？〃 Dhugal crooned。 〃You didn't like the cold floor； did you； my pretty？ May I ask how she is called； my lord？〃
Rasoul raised one eyebrow as the great cat's purr rumbled and it closed its eyes； rubbing its head harder against Dhugal's knee。
〃If you mean her name； young sir； she is called Kisah； which means Light；〃 the Moor said。 〃If you refer to her breed； she is a cheetah。 They alone of all the great cats can be tamed with any reliability。 My people use them for hunting as well as for bodyguards。 But…you are not afraid of her？〃
Dhugal shrugged； grinning as the cheetah butted him hard enough to knock him back on his haunches and continued to purr as Dhugal's hand kept up its caress。
〃She knows I will not harm her； my lord；〃 he said。 〃We border folk seem to have a way with animals…don't we； Kisah？〃
The cheetah only closed its eyes and leaned more heavily against Dhugal's hand； purring even louder。 After a few more seconds of this display； Rasoul shook his head and glanced up at Kelson； a smile twitching at his beard。
〃It seems there are wonders at the court of Gwynedd that I had not anticipated； my Lord King；〃 he said respectfully。 〃But I truly have not the time to tarry。 Perhaps the young tamer of cheetahs will conduct me t