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〃Just…water； my lord？〃
〃That's right。 Just water。 God knows I've had enough wine。 Or would you prefer wine； Dhugal？〃
〃Water is fine for me； Sire；〃 Dhugal replied； carefully format in front of the new squire； as the two of them sat before the fireplace。
〃Water it is； then； Ivo。〃
Ivo brought the water dutifully enough and set pitcher and cups on the hearth as directed before crouching to remove his new master's spurs and boots； but Kelson could see at once that the boy was all set to be too attentive； once his duties were pleted。 Nor would he be dismissed as easily as the more experienced Dolfin； who had already been in Kelson's service as junior squire for a year or more and knew his master's preferences。
I suppose I'd better get this over with； once and for all； the king whispered in Dhugal's mind； flicking him a resigned glance when Ivo had ducked his head to wrestle with a balky buckle on the right spur。 Pay attention。 You may need to do something like this for yourself some day。
And as he casually dropped his right hand to the boy's bent head； he reached out with his mind for control。
〃Relax； Ivo；〃 he manded； intensifying his mental touch as the young mind unexpectedly sensed the intrusion and the body started to tense。 〃No； close your eyes and don't fight me。 I promise I won't hurt you…on the oaths we exchanged。〃
Kelson sensed that the boy had been half…expecting something of this sort…one could hardly spend much time around court and not have heard at least rumors of what the king could do with his mysterious powers…but he was pleased when the resistance immediately ceased and the young mind tried to still； though he could feel a faint trembling beneath his hand。
Continuing to croon words of encouragement and reassurance； the king drew the boy's dark head gently against his knee and deepened control； then sat forward slightly so he could ease both hands to either side； thumbs resting against the boy's temples and fingers sliding among the crisp curls for closer contact yet。 Immediately the trembling stopped。 He let his gaze shift to focus through the fire as he set his instructions。
〃That's much better。 No need to be frightened。 Listen carefully now。 When you've finished with the boots； you're to lie down on your pallet and go to sleep。 You'll not stir unless someone from the outside should knock。 If you should overhear anything spoken between myself and Earl Dhugal tonight； you'll forget it。 In fact； if at any time in the future you should overhear conversation between myself and any other person； you're to forget it unless I； personally； ask you to remember。 This is something I require of all my squires and pages； do you understand？〃
〃Yes； my lord；〃 the boy whispered。
〃Good。〃 Kelson sat back quietly； keeping contact only with a light touch of one hand on the side of the boy's neck。 〃You can stop being anxious； then。 I doubt we'll ever need to have this conversation again。 In fact； this is the most I'll ever do to you without your consent； unless it's a life and death situation。 If you pay attention to your duties； you'll find I'm extremely easy to work for。 All right？ You can look at me now； if you want…really。〃
The boy lifted his head and blinked a little tentatively； just slightly glassy…eyed； but the former tension was gone。
〃I'll do my best； my lord。〃
〃Fine。 That's all I'll ever ask of any man： his best。 Now； you'll follow the instructions I've just given you； but you'll forget I gave them。〃 He clasped his hand once on the boy's shoulder with a smile and released control。 〃You can finish with the boots now。〃
As he sat back with a deliberately vocal yawn； stretching his arms to either side； the boy returned immediately to the recalcitrant spur strap； leaving Dhugal the opportunity to cast an impressed glance at his blood brother as he poured himself another cup of water； yawning。
〃I must learn how you do that；〃 Dhugal said； saluting Kelson with the cup。
〃What； yawn？ You're doing very well without instruction； I should think。 And we've certainly earned the right。〃 As Ivo pulled off the offending spur； followed quickly by its boot； and scrambled to his feet； boots and spurs in his arms； Kelson yawned again and gave the boy a reassuring wink。
〃Well done； Ivo。 You see； the king's feet stink just like anyone else's； after two nights and a day inside boots。 I put those on before the vigil last night and haven't had them off since。〃
He grinned as the boy tried to stifle a surprised gasp； and deliberately shifted his gaze as he gestured toward the spur strap dangling from the boy's hand。
〃Incidentally； I think Duke Alaric must have gotten that strap one hole too tight； when he was putting it on me this morning。 That's why it gave you trouble。 Perhaps you can work on it in the morning。〃
〃I'll…be happy to。 Sire；〃 the boy managed to reply； eyes shining as he clutched the boots and spurs to his breast。 〃Will there be anything else tonight； sir？〃
〃No； Ivo。 Nothing else。 You may go to bed。 Incidentally； you'd best wake me in time for Mass at Terce。 If I don't show up。 Bishop Duncan will have me saying Pater Nosters until I'm fifty。 It's Ash Wednesday； you know。〃
〃Aye； my lord；〃 the boy agreed。 〃Ah…how long will you need？〃
Kelson smiled。 〃You'd better allow an hour。 With as much wine as I drank tonight； I may find it a little difficult to get going。 Oh； and Ivo…〃
〃Yes； my lord？〃
〃It's a prerogative of royal squires to attend Mass with the king； if they like。 You're most wele to e along。〃
〃Oh； yes； my lord！〃 the boy breathed； his face wreathed in smiles as he gave the king a parting bow。
When he had left the room and closed the door； Kelson sighed and stretched his legs closer to the fire； luxuriating in the warmth and the feel of the bearskin rug against his stockinged feet。
〃Ah； that Ivo's going to be a good one； Dhugal；〃 he murmured。
〃You're not so bad yourself；〃 Dhugal said admiringly。 〃God； how I love to watch you work with your men。 I hope I'm half as good someday。〃
Kelson snorted and picked up his cup of water。 〃I wish I could work as well with women。 That's what I wanted to talk to you about。〃
〃Women？ Or one woman in particular？〃 Dhugal asked； raising an eyebrow in speculation。
〃Does it show？〃
〃Well； since the only woman you spent any time with at all this evening was Rothana…assuming we can discount your Aunt Meraude…I gather that you must mean her。 But no； it doesn't show。 Besides； she's a nun； isn't she…or going to be？〃
〃That was the assumption； up until tonight。 I didn't expect you to have noticed； though。 You were too busy trying to figure out how to get the Earl of Carthane's daughter off in a dark corner。 You're no help at all。〃
〃I did get Carthane's daughter off in a er…and got a kiss for my trouble； too？〃 Dhugal said with a wicked grin。 〃But； what do you mean； 'that was the assumption'？ Isn't Rothana going to be a nun？〃 He cocked his head。 〃Good God； e to think of it； she wasn't wearing her religious habit； was she？ Something sort of…purplish； and foreign looking。〃
〃She said it was because of the formality of the court； to do honor to the knightings； as a prince's daughter。〃 He sipped at his cup。 〃Two breaths later； though； she said that she