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〃Their trouble； not ours。 Your Highness … unless； of course； we insist upon charging into things without knowing what we're about。 Hush ye； now； so I can listen。〃
Still the silence was broken only by the continuing sounds of the distant fighting and the closer noises of the Haldane greathorses held in check； bits and chains jingling； leather creaking； mail clinking softly as the knights strained to hear。 Kelson surveyed the two dozen mounted knights settling helmets on heads and taking up shields behind him； then shifted his attention back to Ewan。
〃What do you think？〃 he whispered。
Ewan slowly shook his head。 〃I dinnae know yet； Sire。 We're on the edge of Trurill holdings； eh； Jodrell？ That means that Trurill levies are likely on one side of whatever's dusting up。〃
The border baron nodded。 〃Aye； Your Grace … though it's God's good guess who's on the other side。 I'd wait for Macaire and Robard； if I were you。 Sire。〃
〃I fully intend to。〃
〃But； can't we … 〃 Conall began。
〃No； we can't；〃 Kelson murmured； giving Conall a warning look as he twisted to take the shield that his squire had brought forward。 〃Jodrell； check the men； please。〃
Conall started to object again as Jodrell reined his horse out of line and headed quietly back along the column； but another sharp look from Kelson silenced him。 The prince； only a few months younger than Kelson； had been along on the Cardosa campaign two summers before； but he still had much to learn about strategy and the art of mand。 It was a mon failing； and not entirely Conall's fault； for though Gwynedd mon law declared fourteen to be the legal age of manhood； in fact few boys were actually called upon to function as adults for several more years。
Chivalric custom recognized this； even if the law did not； denying the knightly accolade to those under eighteen except on rare occasions。 Even Kelson； who could have made himself such an exception as king； had declined to be knighted until his eighteenth birthday。 If Conall gained sufficient experience in the ing year； his knighting might be moved forward a few months to coincide with Kelson's； but meanwhile； he remained in the subordinate rank of squire； royal though he was。
That was little fort to Kelson just now； weighing Conall's inexperience against the possible dangers of the ing skirmish。 He could not help remembering Morgan's warning about the difference of fighting styles and wondered whether the Deryni lord could have known he was foretelling the future。 Border fighting favored quick； lightly mounted and armed raiding bands； not the heavier horses and armor to which Conall was accustomed and with which the warband was equipped。 Should the terrain ahead boast closer maneuvering room than what lay immediately around them； the inexperienced among Kelson's pany might find themselves at the disadvantage despite their numbers and superior armor。
Still； Kelson supposed he could let his untried cousin at least think he was performing an important function； while still keeping him relatively safe and under watchful eyes。 As he adjusted the angle of his helm and secured the chin strap； he cast a stem glance at the impatient Conall； then relented and nodded to Traheme。 Immediately； Conall was kneeing his charger between the two of them and reaching out for the royal standard； tight…jawed but triumphant as his gloved hand locked around the polished staff。
〃No heroics； now；〃 Kelson warned。
〃Don't worry。〃
The crimson of the banner's field seemed almost subdued against the deep green of the surrounding forest； but the golden Haldane lion shimmered like a living thing as Conall gave the silk a shake and set the butt of the staff in his stirrup rest。 The prince's grin was infectious； and Ewan and Traheme as well as Kelson found themselves smiling in response as muffled hoofbeats approached。 Kelson cast about for hidden dangers as a returning scout burst through the trees and reined his horse to a sliding halt； but he sensed nothing other than the body of men ahead。
〃Liveried men…at…arms。 Sire … lightly mounted； against what appears to be a band of brigands；〃 the man reported。 〃Maybe twenty on a side； but none of them are particularly well armored。〃
〃Whose livery？〃 Kelson demanded。
〃Trurill； Sire。 Two swords in saltire over a third in pale； all on a blue field。〃
Kelson glanced at Ewan； who nodded confirmation。 〃Those'll be Brice's lads； right enough。 Do we have maneuvering room； son？〃
〃At least as good as here。 Your Grace。 Part of the area is an open glade。 Robard has stayed to watch they don't shift while we're planning。〃
〃Well done。〃 Kelson drew his sword and glanced back at his waiting men。 〃Very well； gentlemen； I think it's time to show ourselves。 If we can manage without bloodshed； so much the better。 Traheme； I want you on Conall's other side。 Jodrell； you ride on my right。 Ewan； deploy the men。〃
With an economy of silent hand signals； Ewan gave the necessary orders。 As ever。 Kelson was impressed with the efficiency and polish which came with more than thirty years' experience as a field mander。 The jingle of harness and the wet； sucking sound of the horses' hooves on the moss…covered forest floor temporarily covered the battle sounds as the knights peeled off to either side and fanned out in perfect parade ground formation； Ewan and one of the senior knights each taking a wing。 Kelson urged his bay forward at the trot； sword at the ready； he and his escort marking the center of a deepening crescent intended to engulf attackers and defenders alike。 Ahead； through the trees； he began to see the signs of battle。
〃Yield； in the king's name！〃 he heard Ewan cry； as the royal knights burst upon the skirmish。 〃Hold； in the name of Kelson of Gwynedd！〃
CHAPTER TWO
They all hold swords； being expert in war： every man hath his sword upon his thigh。
Song of Solomon 3：8
Kelson's first impression； as he and his warband burst into the clearing； was one of brawl rather than battle。 Though most of the Trurill men were armed with swords or the short horse…spears favored by bordermen； their opponents seemed limited to cudgels； quarterstaffs； and the occasional dirk。 Nor did the Trurill men appear inclined to overpress their advantage。 Even as the Haldane ring tightened。 Kelson saw a Trurill retainer grab his opponent's plaid and yank him off his pony； cracking him across the back of the head with the pommel of his sword when he just as easily could have killed him。 Several of both sides lay unmoving or groaning feebly on the ground； but few seemed seriously injured。
Trurill livery and leathers swirled and surged chaotically around Border tartans strange and familiar； loose ponies and an occasional terrified highland sheep creating additional hazards for the few men who continued to fight from the ground。 The ponies' whinnying and the frantic bleating of the sheep made vocal counterpart to the grunts and exclamations of the struggling men。
The confrontation was quickly over。 With shouts of 〃A Haldane！〃 the royal knights closed； shouldering their greathorses deftly between the smaller； lighter border mounts to break up individual skirmishes； flat…blading recalcitrants who tried to keep on fighting； and sometimes bow