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〃I am the heir of Transha；〃 Dhugal replied。 〃My father is King Kelson's liegeman。〃
〃Your father is his liegeman。 You have sworn no oaths。〃
〃Have I not？〃
〃Well； you are free to give your allegiance where you will；〃 she said； staring up at him with great； accusing eyes。 〃But how could you； with your family's blood joined to Meara's？ Your uncle is my father； and the father of future kings。 My brother will someday rule a reunited Meara。 You could have been a part of it … would have been a part of it。 Father had promised you a dukedom！〃
Sadly Dhugal shook his head。 〃Only my king may give me that； Lady；〃 he said； standing to rest his hand on the bridle of the bay。 〃And it is not your brother who shall rule a reunited Meara； but mine。〃
〃But … I thought you had no brothers。〃
He shrugged and smiled。 〃None yet live who were born of my mother … but I have a brother； fair cousin： a brother of blood； to whom I owe total allegiance； one worth forfeiting my very soul to protect and serve … which I may have done； by breaking my oath in escape； and taking you with me。〃 He sighed。
〃But having risked that； I don't intent to waste it all by being taken now；〃 he said； offering his hand to help her rise。 〃Your hand； please； my lady；〃 he added； when she drew back in protest。 〃Don't force me to add another offense to the litany of my crimes。 Despite what you may think； I was taught to honor and revere women。〃
Rebellion and indignation flared again in her dark eyes but Sidana was too much the daughter of nobility not to recognize an untenable position。 Spurning his offer of assistance； she gathered the shreds of her pride around her with the fur…lined cloak she wore and wobbled to her feet； though she did allow him to lift her onto the sorrel's saddle。 She sat woodenly as he scrambled up behind her and reached around her to gather up the reins。
A moment to retrieve the sword set upright in the snow； and then he set heels to their mount and urged it forward； glancing back over his shoulder at the dark specks of their pursuers。 The bay followed them for a while； but gradually fell behind and was lost as the sorrel settled into a modest but steady pace。
They managed to keep moving for another hour； until the shadows were long and weak on the virgin snow of the Cuilteine Road； but their horse was nearly spent as Dhugal drew rein at the top of a rise and turned to look back。 Their pursuers could be discerned as three or four score horsemen now； drawing inexorably nearer。 Sidana stirred in his arms and gazed after him； the wind whipping a tendril of her dark hair against his face。
〃My father will kill you；〃 she said softly； not turning her head 〃After my brothers finish with you。〃
A tightness spreading beneath his aching ribs； Dhugal swallowed and shifted his gaze in the direction they had been fleeing … toward Gwynedd； and safety。 They would never reach it now。 Their horse would be lucky to make it down the hill； much less carry them beyond。 And whether or not Dhugal were calloused enough to threaten harm to Sidana when they caught up to him … and even if he followed through … they would kill him for what he had done。 Whether quickly or painfully hardly mattered； under the circumstances。 Dead was dead。
But as his eyes darted longingly back toward the east and safety； he caught a trace of unexpected movement： more horsemen approaching； perhaps even more than pursued him。 He drew in breath sharply as he strained his eyes in that direction； for they could not be Sicard's men； and have ridden fast enough to circle round this way。 But if not Sicard's； then it mattered little whose they were。 Anyone was preferable to being taken by the Mearans。
He did not pause to analyze it further。 Setting his heels to their trembling mount； he forced it down the hill； holding Sidana close against him as the animal stumbled and lurched； near to foundering。
He might still die。 He might break his neck falling from this fool horse； if it didn't watch where it was putting its feet。 Or the men ahead might be no more merciful than the ones behind。
But he was not going to wait for the Mearans to take him。
CHAPTER TWELVE
All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border： the men that were at
peace with thee have deceived thee； and prevailed against thee
Obadiah 1：7
〃Uh…oh； we have pany；〃 Kelson murmured。
He reined back to a walk and stood in his stirrups for a better look； pointing at a snowy ridge far ahead where a mounted horse had just appeared； silhouetted against the twilight sky。
〃D'you see him？〃
Morgan； with a curt signal to halt the column of knights riding four abreast behind them； also drew rein and peered into the distance； casting about with other senses than sight； lest the rider not be alone。
〃Aye； and he's undoubtedly seen us by now as well；〃 he replied。 〃So much for approaching Ratharkin unob … what the … ？〃
He broke off in astonishment as the horse suddenly broke from the top of the hill and began plunging down the snow…covered slope； each ponderous lurch threatening to send both rider and steed tumbling。
〃Is he trying to break his neck？〃 Kelson gasped。
The horse stumbled and nearly went down even as Kelson spoke； then suddenly both he and Morgan saw the reason for at least a part of the animal's labor。
〃He's carrying double！〃 Kelson exclaimed in amazement。
〃Aye； and to be riding double at that speed and on a horse that spent； the Devil himself must be chasing them；〃 Morgan agreed。 〃Care to give the Devil some sport。 Sire？〃
Kelson raised an eyebrow at the borderline blasphemy； but he needed no second invitation。 He had been spoiling for just such a skirmish all day。 With a grin which had nothing to do with mirth； he unsheathed his sword and raised it over his head； glancing back to where Conall was already shaking out the folds of the Haldane battle standard。
〃Forward at the canter and fan out！〃 he ordered； standing in his stirrups and pointing with his sword。 〃Whoever's chasing that fellow is going to have a surprise； I think！〃
Immediately Conall and Saer de Traheme spurred forward and to Kelson's left； folds of scarlet silk billowing on the wind as the battle standard unfurled。 Jodrell led another detachment to the right。 The deadly hiss of steel slithering from scabbards joined the jingle of bits and spurs and the creak of leather as the knights broadened their line； outriders spurring ahead on the flanks。 They were nearing the start of the hillrise now； the fleeing horse nearly upon them … close enough for Morgan to see that the front rider on the horse was a girl； dark hair whipping in the wind。 And the other …
〃It's Dhugal！〃 Kelson cried； even as the other rider's arm flailed in a frenzied wave of recognition。
Dhugal was in their midst then； laughing aloud despite his exhaustion。 Kelson and Morgan reining in to bracket his faltering mount as the rest of the warband swept on up the hill。 Morgan caught the horse's near rein and drew its head close to his stirrup； his own mount scrambling for footing as the sorrel staggered and nearly fell。
〃Steady！〃
〃Here； take her！〃 Dhugal gasped； helping lift his protesting panion to a new perch in front of Morgan's saddle。 〃She's Sidana； the pretender's daughter。 Her father's men are right behind me。〃
〃How many？〃 Kelson demanded； as he gave Dhugal a hand up behind him。
Dhugal hooked a hand in the back of Kelson's belt to steady himself and shook his head happily。
〃Not enough to give your men any trouble。 Sire。 Am I ever glad to see you！〃
〃And I。〃 Kelson wheeled his stallion on its haunches and glanced after his knights nearing the crest of the hill。 〃But let's make sure you counted correctly。 Morgan； stay out of the fighting unless we're needed； but e along with me。 Oh； and wele to Gwynedd； my lady！〃
Morgan felt the girl stiffen in his arms as she heard his name； but he only shifted her closer into the curve of his shield arm as he urged his horse up the hill after the king； naked sword still ready in his gloved right hand。 Ahead of them； the warband spilled over the crest of the hill with shouts of glee。 He could hear the answering cries of consternation as DhugaTs pursuers saw the Haldane standard in the midst of their attackers。
The sortie was all but over by the time Morgan drew rein at the top of the hill with Kelson。 Down on the plain； a handful of Haldane knights were in pursuit of a few stragglers； but the rest of the opposition were on the run far ahead。 Several men unhorsed in the encounter were scattered down the other side of the hill； picking themselves up shakily； but none of them wore Kelson's livery。 Haldane knights stood guard over each one； Traheme and Conall marching another one back to join his fellows while the squires rounded up all the loose horses。 A cheer went up from Kelson's knights as he started down the hillside； and at his signal the battle hom sounded to call back their knights still in pursuit。 Grinning； Morgan urged his horse after the king's。
〃A happy circumstance。 Sire；〃 he said as they drew abreast at the bottom of the hill and halted； glancing down in amusement at the girl now beginning to wriggle in his arms as he reached around her to sheathe his sword。 〃And a rich 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 t