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d sometimes bowling over horses and surprised riders of both sides。 Kelson and the rest of the royal party held back as a reserve； but their help was never necessary。 The closest Kelson came to action was the startled leap his horse made when one of the sheep suddenly bolted between its front legs。
Soon the brigands began dropping their weapons and raising their arms in surrender。 With a shout； the Trurill men rallied to surround them。 As Kelson's warband pulled back to sit their horses quietly at the perimeter of the clearing； still encircling captors as well as prisoners； the Trurill men began ordering the prisoners to dismount and to bind them； a few starting to see to the injured。 Ewan； scanning his own mand for injuries and seeing none； kneed his charger to Kelson's side and saluted with upraised gauntlet。
〃Well； that was a pleasant enough romp。 Sire；〃 he said in a low voice； nodding toward the borderers。 〃You there … Trurill Sergeant'〃 he called in a louder voice。 〃Attend us at once！〃
At his mand； one of the older； better armored Trurill men glanced back at him； then broke away from the rest of his band and rode slowly toward the royal party； eying the Haldane standard with something akin to suspicion。 He gave perfunctory salute with his sword as he reined in before them； glancing first at Kelson and Conall； then at Ewan。
〃You are well e； sir；〃 the man said； sheathing his sword。 〃By your plaid； I make you a highland man。 Would you be The Claibourne； then？〃
But before Ewan could reply； the man glanced less certainly between Kelson and Conall once again。 〃And you； my lords … I thank you for your assistance。 We see few Haldanes this far west。〃
And doubtless wish to see fewer still。 Kelson thought sourly； as he also sheathed his sword and removed his helmet。
He supposed he should not be annoyed that the man did not recognize him。 Other than his own brief foray into Culdi two years before for the ill…fated wedding of Kevin McLain and Morgan's sister Bronwyn； Kelson doubted any other Haldane had penetrated this deep into the western borderlands for several years before his father's death。 His progress of the summer just past had been confined primarily to Meara itself； and the flatlands of Kierney and Cassan。 And even were bordermen not notorious for their indifference to lowland titles of nobility； how could a mere border sergeant be expected to know his king by sight？
〃I am Kelson；〃 he said patiently； pushing back a sweat…stained arming cap from damp black hair and handing off his helmet to a waiting squire。 〃It appears that the presence of this particular Haldane was rather timely。 You are … ？〃
The man dipped his head in dutiful if chilly respect。
〃Gendon； my Lord King； in service to the Baron of Trurill。〃
Kelson favored the man with the same sort of cool； impersonal nod which he himself had received； then scooped damp tendrils of hair from his face with the back of one mailed gauntlet as he glanced over the prisoners being secured by Gendon's men。 How to unbend the man？
〃Gendon； eh？〃 he said neutrally。 〃Tell me； Master Gendon； what brought about this little set to？ Actually； I'm not sure you needed our help at all。 They weren't very well armed。〃
〃They're outlaws； my lord；〃 came the surprised reply； as if that explained everything。 〃They raid across the borders for livestock … sometimes even women and children。〃
〃Oh？〃
〃Well； we try to stop it； of course； my lord；〃 the man went on a little defensively。 〃The baron posts a regular patrol； as is his duty； but a man can slip off into these hills with half a dozen sheep and never be seen again。 The young Laird MacArdry says this particular lot have been plaguing Transha as well。〃
〃The young laird … you mean Dhugal； the chief's son？〃 Kelson asked； his more personal interest suddenly piqued。
Gendon raised one eyebrow in surprise。 〃You know young Dhugal； my lord？〃
〃You might say that；〃 Kelson replied with a grin。 〃I don't suppose you've seen him lately？〃
〃Lately？ Aye； my lord。 Every blessed day。〃
But as Gendon gestured toward his men and twisted in his saddle to look； clearly taken aback at this lowland king's apparent recognition of highland relationships； Kelson had already spotted the object of his inquiry： a slight； ramrod…straight rider wrapped in a grey； black； and yellow plaid which only partially hid the russet leather of a neat Connaiti brigandine。 He was talking to a Trurill man balancing on one leg beside his horse； gesturing for someone else to e and assist the man。 A mail coif partially obscured the hair which would have made a beacon of his presence out of war harness； but the shaggy brown…and…white spotted border horse he rode was well known to Kelson； though its markings were mon enough not to be remarked during the heat of battle … doubtless the reason Kelson had not noticed them earlier。
The MacArdry heir became aware of the royal scrutiny at about the same moment Kelson first saw him。 One look at the riders sitting beneath the royal standard was enough to make him break away and urge his mount into a trot toward the king； grinning hugely。
〃Dhugal MacArdry； what the devil is that？〃 Kelson shouted； pointing a gauntleted finger at the other's steed and grinning almost as widely as he。 〃Surely； 'tis no horse that looks so strange！〃
The young MacArdry drew rein and almost flung him self from the saddle； pushing his coif back from bright copper…bronze hair as he thumped to both knees before the king's horse。
〃Why； 'tis the beast who threw Your Grace the first half…dozen times you tried to ride her！〃 Dhugal replied。 His sword hung from a baldric over his left shoulder； rigged to be drawn from the left； but he half…drew it with his right hand and offered the pommel in salute； face glowing with pride。
〃Wele to the borders … my King！ It's been too many years。〃
〃Aye； and I shall trounce you for a knave if you don't get off your knees at once！〃 Kelson said happily； signalling the other to rise。 〃I was your brother before I was your king。 Conall； look how he's grown！ Ewan； you remember my foster brother； don't you？〃
〃Aye； Sire … and the mischief with which both of you used to terrorize my pages' school！ 'Tis good to see you； Master Dhugal。〃
〃And you。 Your Grace。〃
As Dhugal let his sword slip back into its scabbard and stood； and Kelson jumped down from his tall R'Kassan stallion； Conall also nodded in tight…lipped response to Dhugal's slight bow in his direction； the two had been rivals in those earlier days。 Though nearly as tall as Kelson； the young border lord looked hardly older than when he had left court four years before； a sprinkling of freckles across his nose and cheeks only adding to the childlike first impression。 Large； square front teeth flashed bright white as his face creased in a pleased； open grin； the smudge of reddish mustache across his upper lip hardly more than adolescent down。 But the eyes which met Kelson's were no longer those of a child。
The two young men embraced exuberantly； thumping each other on the back and then drawing apart to study the other more soberly。 Kelson did not resist as Dhugal took his hand and pressed fervent lips to the back of the gauntlet in homage before looking back at