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prize young Dhugal has brought us； too。 There's no point in struggling； my lady。 You'd best save your strength for the ride back to Rhemuth。〃
〃My father will avenge me！〃 Sidana cried。 〃You took him by surprise。〃
〃But； that's the whole point； isn't it； my lady？〃 Kelson asked with a grin。 〃To take the enemy by surprise？ I would be a poor mander if I sent my men into battle in rebel territory without the best possible advantage。 Your father would have done the same。〃
〃My father is not a rebel！〃 Sidana said。 〃He seeks to restore my mother to the throne which is rightfully hers； and to give Meara back its freedom。 We shall not be ruled by … by a Deryni heretic！〃
The taunt was only an accustomed annoyance to Morgan； inured from childhood to ignore such affronts； but Kelson reacted as if he had been stung； apparently not expecting it from a beautiful young girl。 Dhugal； sitting behind the king； could not see how the grey eyes flashed warning； but he obviously sensed the sudden tension before Kelson brought his anger under control。 Even Sidana gasped as she realized what she had said； and to whom； and in whose arms。 Morgan forced himself not to react； waiting to see how Kelson would handle this。
〃In future； my lady； I should take better care for my choice of words；〃 the king finally said； after permitting himself a careful sigh。 〃If the fact that we are Deryni is abhorrent to you； then you should be aware that at least some of what is said about Deryni is true … and we are not made of stone。 Do not press our forbearance too far。〃
He glanced purposefully out at his returning knights for a few seconds； temporarily releasing Sidana from the intensity of his gaze； but the brief respite did nothing to reassure the girl； trembling in Morgan's arms like a sparrow in the clutches of a bird of prey。 Dhugal's stiff carriage proclaimed him still stunned as well by the tight…leashed power he sensed in the man suddenly stranger sitting in front of him … even if Morgan had not been able to sense the fear behind the shields Dhugal should not have had。 Kelson's expression was far more mild when he at last looked back at them； but Sidana still recoiled。
〃You will not be harmed； my lady；〃 Kelson murmured。 〃By my honor and my crown； I swear it。 If my earlier words seemed harsh； I apologize； but we have ridden long and hard and I had not thought to have so gentle a captive in our pany。 My quarrel is not with you； but neither can I let you go。 Now you must pardon me while I see to my men。〃
He turned his stallion down the slope toward the skirmish site without waiting for reply； white horse stark against the trampled snow； Dhugal shifting his grip from Kelson's belt to the horse's crupper behind him as the animal lurched down the slope。 Morgan followed more slowly with the subdued Sidana； still pondering Kelson's reaction。
Dhugal's Mearan pursuers had not wholly abandoned the situation； Morgan saw； as he scanned the darkening plain before them。 They milled in a tight knot a few hundred yards out； obviously trying to decide what to do next。 Between them and the skirmish site； most of Kelson's knights sat their horses in a long single line； ready to repel any renewed attack。 Behind the line； the remaining Haldane riders kept watch over the prisoners： six in all … four now standing bunched before Traheme and Conall； hands bound behind them； two more having minor injuries tended。 None of the captives were heavily armored； and several wore only court attire … no armor at all。
〃Did you interrupt some festive occasion； Dhugal？〃 Kelson asked over his shoulder； as they approached Traheme and Conall。
Dhugal grimaced； leaning around the king to inspect the captives as they drew rein。
〃They would call it so。 Sire。 Archbishop Loris consecrated Judhael of Meara Bishop of Ratharkin this morning。 And I suppose you've guessed they have Bishop Istelyn to prisoner。〃 His face lit with surprise and then pleasure as he got a good look at the sullen young man standing closest to Conall's horse； hands bound behind and a rope halter running from his neck to Conall's hands。
〃Well； fancy that！〃
〃Someone you know？〃 Morgan asked； feeling Sidana's silent gasp of horror。
Dhugal laughed and clapped Kelson on the shoulder； his earlier uneasiness apparently past。
〃Know him？ Aye； indeed。 Your Grace。 Oh； this is rare luck。 Sire； may I be the first to mend to your acquaintance Prince Llewell of Meara； the younger of this lady's brothers。〃 He gestured grandly in her direction。 〃Well done； Conall。 Did you capture him？〃
Conall drew himself up importantly； uncertain whether to be more pleased at the status of his prize or annoyed at Dhugal's omission of his proper title。
〃Of course I did。 Llewell of Meara； you say？〃 he repeated； prodding disdainfully at Llewell's back with a booted toe。
Llewell bore the affront without physical resistance； but his brown eyes blazed as he twisted to glare up at Conall。
〃You never would have taken me if my girth hadn't slipped；〃 he said hotly。 〃My father will return for us！〃
〃Yes； under a parley flag；〃 Kelson retorted； directing their attention to the party heading toward his line。 〃Hardly a dashing rescue mission； I think； but we'll hear what they have to say。〃
Sick at heart； Llewell whirled to crane his head in that direction。
〃My sister and I have done nothing wrong；〃 he said desperately。 〃You have no right to hold us！〃
〃Have I not？〃 Kelson leaned his forearms casually on the high pommel of his saddle。 〃And what should I do with subjects who defy my laws and usurp my authority in my own lands？〃
〃But ours is the better claim；〃 Llewell began。 〃Our line es from … 〃
〃I know all about the line from which you spring；〃 Kelson interrupted。 〃The matter was settled nearly a hundred years ago。〃 He glanced up at the squire riding back from the defending Haldane line； the knot of Mearan riders slowly approaching under a white flag； then stood in his stirrups and shaded his eyes to peer farther out on the darkening plain。
〃I see them；〃 Morgan said； noting the numbers of the torches another approaching body bore； perhaps half an hour's hard ride away。 〃Sicard's reinforcements。 We'd best make this brief。 Sire。〃
〃My thought； precisely。〃 Kelson kneed his horse over to the new mount another squire was bringing up for Dhugal and helped him shift across。 〃Llewell； I'll oblige your father for a few minutes； but I think you can see why I don't intend to stay around。 Jodrell； prepare the men to ride out as soon as we've parleyed。 Conall； we'll need a horse for your prisoner as well。 And Morgan … bring the girl partway。 They may be more inclined to reason if they see she's safe。〃
Torches hastily lit sputtered in the falling snow as they rode out。 Kelson and Dhugal led； Sidana still sitting stiff and frightened before the silent Morgan； half a length behind。 Conall and Traheme flanked the mounted Llewell； with an escort of four knights behind。 Among the dozen riders who approached from the Mearan side； Dhugal identified Sicard MacArdry and his son Ithel in the lead。 All but the four principals drew rein within hearing distance of a central point between them。 Kelson and Dhugal riding on to meet Sicard and Ithel。 They stopped a horse…