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ith the increasingly fragmented impressions that were all that remained。 He avoided； once he had touched them； those final and most recent memories…the horrified disbelief as Tiercel fell； the pain； and then the final darkness putting an end to all future。 He was sweating as he withdrew from Tiercel's mind for the last time； his whole body shaking with fatigue and sheer after…reaction； but he managed to pull himself together as he stood。
Well； Tiercel； I fear you've taught me far more than you ever intended； he thought； throwing his cloak back on his shoulders to cool off a little as he prepared to go on up the stairs。 But I'll try to put the knowledge to good use。 Fare thee well in the next life； at least…if there is a next life。
By the time Conall reached the hidden entrance to Dhugal's apartments； voices were conversing on the other side… servants packing Dhugal's things for tomorrow； Conall gathered…so Conall retraced his steps to let himself out into the castle yard near the basilica。 As he passed the landing where Tiercel's body lay； he was pleased to note that even he had to look closely to see anything amiss…and he knew what to look for。
The yard before the basilica was dark and deserted as he left the secret passageway and secured the entrance behind him。 En route； he had considered trying to use the Portal in Duncan's study to get back to the library； but only briefly。 Conall was certain he could do it again； properly rested； but aside from the risk that someone else might be in the library； even at this late hour； Tiercel already had been concerned about Conall overextending…and Conall had pushed himself far beyond that to read Tiercel's memories； not to mention the sheer emotional and physical expense of the entire incident。 Best not to risk losing all； when he had gained so much。
No； best simply to walk around through the parade ground and stable yard and let himself into the apartment wing through a side door…or go through the great hall； if too many nosy guards were about。 If stopped； he could always e up with an appropriate excuse…he had gone out for a stroll or to check the horses for the journey tomorrow。 The guard had not seen him leave？ Why； he must have passed before the guard changed。
It would work。 He was confident it would。 Shifting Tiercel's satchel around behind him； so that only the strap could be seen across his chest； Conall made his way back to his rooms as planned； whistling snatches of an old R'Kassan love song under his breath。
〃Dhugal； I feel the plete fool；〃 Kelson said the next morning； as his foster brother helped him finish dressing for their departure。 〃I was holding a beautiful woman in my arms last night and all I did was kiss her。 If I'd pressed the matter； who knows where it might have ended； but she stopped me…and I let her。〃
Dhugal； brightly decked out in MacArdry tartan and border leathers； perched himself casually on one of the trunks in Kelson's dressing room； uncoiling the belt wrapped around Kelson's sword while the king buckled a white belt over crimson riding leathers。
〃Goodness； such self control；〃 he teased； noticing but not mentioning that Kelson no longer wore Sidana's ring。 〃Do I know the lady in question？〃
〃What do you think？〃
Snatching his sword and belt from Dhugal and buckling them on over the white belt。 Kelson let Dhugal lay a hooded； fur…lined riding cloak over his shoulders； thrusting his arms through the front slits and turning so Dhugal could snap the clasp at his throat。
〃I think；〃 said Dhugal； after reflection； 〃that my brother the king is in love…and that the lady will never be a nun。 And seeing that you have given her a ring…〃
〃I didn't exactly give her a ring；〃 Kelson said。
〃No？ Your finger says otherwise。〃
Kelson glanced at his bare finger； at the white stripe left untanned； and immediately began rummaging in a jewel cask。
〃Well； it wasn't what it might appear；〃 he murmured。 〃I didn't give it to her in that sense。 We've made no promises。 She's…keeping the ring for me； as a token that I've put Sidana behind me。 She isn't going to wear it。〃
〃No？〃
〃No。〃
Fishing a small； emerald…set band out of the jewel box； Kelson jammed it onto the finger in question； then snatched up a pair of black leather gloves and a fur…lined riding cap。 The cap had a circlet worked around the crown in metallic stitchery； gold against crimson kidskin； far more fortable for denoting his rank than a coronet would be。 When he had put on the cap； he stood glaring at Dhugal for several seconds； snapping his bunched gloves against his thigh in annoyance。 Then he grinned； shook his head； and began laughing helplessly。
〃Why； was it something I said？〃 Dhugal asked； all the wide…eyed innocent。
Still laughing； Kelson shook his head。
〃This is stupid。 Virgin knights are supposed to have an advantage on quests。 Especially holy quests。 So why am I so upset that I am one？〃
Sheepishly； Dhugal ducked his head to glance at his boots； then back at Kelson。 〃If you are； then that makes two of us；〃 he said quietly。
〃You？〃 Kelson gasped。 〃But； I thought…〃
〃Oh； I talk a good line；〃 Dhugal admitted。 〃And for a while； I thought that the Earl of Carthane's daughter and I； the other night …〃
His sly wink and the eloquence in his shrug spoke far more revealingly than words ever could have； and for several seconds both he and Kelson laughed uproariously。
〃Good God； two virgin knights；〃 Kelson gasped； when either of them could speak again。 〃I thought I surely must be the last。 And old Carthane's daughter。 Lord in heaven； you're playing with fire； man！ He'd kill you if he ever found out！ The way he guards that girl…〃
〃Well； he wasn't guarding her well enough to keep me from claiming a kiss；〃 Dhugal replied； wiping tears of mirth from his eyes。 〃I think Conall managed to steal one； too。 He may have managed even more。〃
Kelson's grin turned to a chortle as he pulled on his gloves。 〃Conall。 Now there's one I'm afraid is fated to fail this quest miserably； if virginity really is a prerequisite。 Tell me； has anyone ever actually seen this leman of his？ Is she pretty？〃
〃I dunno。 One presumes his squire has seen her。 What's his name？ Jowan？ Unfortunately the lad's deadly dull and discreet。〃 A wicked grin came across Dhugal's face。 〃We could ask him； though…I mean； really ask him。。。〃
〃And if I didn't trounce you for that kind of foolishness； your father would…or should；〃 Kelson retorted； with a wry look of disapproval that quickly changed back to mirthful speculation。 〃Seriously； though； we could ask Jowan in more usual ways。 He's got to know something。 And maybe we could Truth…Read him； just a little 。。。 Conall certainly es back tired often…enough。〃
They were still snickering about it as they went out to meet the rather boisterous party forming up in the yard。 They raised gloved hands in greeting to Morgan and Duncan； who were watching indulgently from the great hall steps with Nigel； Meraude； and other senior members of the court； but they had said their good…byes to family the night before； and Duncan had celebrated a special Mass； just for the four of them； right at dawn。 Jehana and her chaplain； Father Ambros； stood apart from the others； and Kelson and Dhugal b