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t dawn。 Jehana and her chaplain； Father Ambros； stood apart from the others； and Kelson and Dhugal both paused to make the queen a dutiful salute； but their attention was soon caught by Conall； as they continued on toward their horses。
Kelson elbowed Dhugal in the side and tried to keep from laughing again； for a grouchy and bleary…eyed Conall was railing at his squire for some unknown offense。 Prince Rory； who would captain a band of younger squires and pages as an escort for the first few miles； sharing the excitement； looked totally disenchanted with his elder brother； and young Prince Payne appeared to be on the verge of tears。
〃My； my； touchy this morning； isn't he？〃 Kelson whispered。 〃What did I tell you？ Look at the circles under his eyes。〃
〃Aye； no virgin knight； he；〃 Dhugal murmured in return； as they mounted up。 〃That's lack of sleep； an' for sure。 He probably sneaked out last night for one last assignation with his lady…love。〃
〃I don't doubt that you're right；〃 Kelson replied； as he gathered up his red leather reins。 〃While I check on our baggage train and see what mischief the squires have managed to work； do you want to see if you can cheer up poor Payne and Rory？ Other than my grumpy cousin； this is beginning to take on the appearance of a circus； rather than the dignified departure of a holy quest。〃
Dhugal laughed aloud at that； and Kelson was still chuckling as he moved off to exchange morning greetings with Ciard 0 Ruane； who was supervising the servants and squires making last…minute adjustments to the loads on the sumpter animals。 Most of the servants were of mature years； but the young squires were laughing and joking among themselves as they worked and barely subsided at the king's approach。
〃Morning； Ciard；〃 Kelson said indulgently。 〃Are these lads going to prove too unruly a lot for you to handle？〃
The squires quickly bent to their work again as the old gillie grinned and touched two fingers to his border bonnet in salutation。
〃Nae problem a'tall； Sair；〃 he said in his broad border accent。 〃Tis only th' excitement o' leaving on th' journey。 An' if their high spirits dinnae settle doon by th' time we ride out；〃 he warned； eyeing the squires sternly； 〃I've nae doubt that extra work can be found tae occupy idle fingers when we stop each night。〃
The mild threat had the desired effect； quickly subduing youthful exuberance to an acceptable level in the squires' ranks。 Other than the dour and irritable Conall； however； those riding out with the king and his foster brother that morning were still in high spirits： six of the other young men knighted the previous week； including Sir Jatham and Dhugal's Sir Jass MacArdry； Saer de Traheme and Roger； Earl of Jenas； to provide a balance of greater experience and maturity for the fledgling knights； should it be required； and Archbishop Cardiel's battle…surgeon。 Father Lael； to see to the party's spiritual needs as well as any physical mishap along the way； though Dhugal was almost equally qualified to deal with the latter。 Eight Haldane lancers and three more MacArdry men also acpanied them； with a modest baggage train and sufficient squires and other servants to care for the lot…nearly thirty in all。
Duncan gave them his blessing as they passed in exuberant if ragged review； and many of the servants and attending nobles； both men and women； hurried up to the battlement walks to continue watching and waving farewell when the pany had clattered out through the gatehouse arch to make their way northward through the city and on to the river road toward Valoret。 Meraude and Janniver went； Meraude with a nurse carrying the infant Eirian and Janniver waving excitedly to Sir Jatham； acpanied by young Brendan and an excited Squire Liam。 The Sisters of Saint Brigid were also there to see them off； singing a short hymn of thanksgiving as the royal party rode off。
As the few other observers still milling on the steps began to disperse； Nigel let out a heavy sigh and turned to glance at Morgan and Duncan。
〃God； I feel old；〃 Nigel murmured。 〃All our fledglings are flying the nest。 It's going to be awfully quiet around here。〃
Morgan grinned and clapped the prince regent on the shoulder。 〃You'll get used to it；〃 he murmured。 〃They say that fathers find it easier to let go than mothers do。〃
〃Not being a mother； I suppose I'll never know；〃 Duncan quipped。 〃It isn't easy for a father； though。〃
Morgan only nodded。 〃I'll let you know when Brendan's a little older。 At least they aren't riding off to war； this time。〃
〃No； but the Torenthi negotiations could get tricky later in the year…especially when they find out Morag isn't even in Rhemuth any more；〃 Nigel replied。 〃But I suppose that's another matter entirely。 Besides； what can happen on a quest？〃
〃With luck…nothing；〃 Morgan said。 〃Right now； I'm far more concerned about the bishops。 Kelson seems to have his arguments well in hand； however。〃
Nigel snorted。 〃Yes。 Well； let's just hope everything goes as planned。 Incidentally； Alaric； when do you have to leave？〃
〃Oh； mid…afternoon or so。 Rhafallia is tied up at Desse； so I thought Brendan and I would sleep aboard tonight and catch the morning tide。 As long as the weather holds； we'll get home much faster that way than overland。 It will still be very wet in the Lendours。〃
〃Hmm； just hope that young Brendan is a good sailor； then；〃 Nigel said。 〃In any case； you've time for a meal and a last cup before you head out。 Meraude will make certain Brendan eats。 Duncan； why don't you join us as well…if this morning's public exertions haven't overtaxed your strength； that is？ How long must you keep up this charade of illness； now that the other bishops are safely on their way to Valoret？〃
Duncan managed a wry smile as they went inside。
〃I don't know that I'd call anything about them 'safe；'〃 he quipped。 〃But now that Kelson's gone and the rest of court focus will be shifting from Rhemuth to Valoret； I think I'm feeling stronger by the minute。 With any luck； Cardiel will summon me within a week or two； and my recovery can be plete。〃
〃Just pray that he summons you for the right reasons；〃 Morgan murmured。
〃Oh； I do…several times a day。〃
Not quite a week later； in Valoret； Kelson reiterated a version of that same prayer as he prepared to address the bishops gathered there。 It was a bleak； dreary Sunday morning； the Second of Lent。 The day was wet and cold； and Kelson was nearly certain he was ing down with a cold。
The rain had begun the second day out of Rhemuth and had hardly let up since。 They had tried holing up en route with one of the local lords to wait it out； but they dared not delay too long； else Kelson would miss the opening of the synod and the opportunity to address the bishops before they began their deliberations。
He and his party had arrived early the previous evening； several days later than expected and drenched to the bone； tired and irritable from having to cope with the torrential rains； some of their number already falling victim to colds and coughs…conditions only partially improved by dry clothes； roaring fires； and the hot； hearty meal the archbishop's servants quickly served up in the refectory。 Rain had continued to pelt down