Morgan crossed to the remaining intruder still on his feet and pulled off his helmet and coif. The face behind it glared out with a sullen scowl.

“Why, it’s Edgar of Mathelwaite!” Kelson exclaimed.

“Isn’t he one of your vassals, General Morgan?” the captain asked, his sword again directed at Morgan’s heart.

Morgan could not mistake the hostility in the man’s voice, and he was careful to keep his hands in full view as he turned to answer.

“Yes, he’s my man, Captain.” He turned to gaze patiently at Edgar. “Do you mind telling us what this is all about, Edgar? I trust you have good reason for treason against your king.”

Edgar looked confused for a moment, then glanced guiltily at Kelson. “We were only following orders, Sire.”

“Whose orders?” Morgan demanded.

Edgar squirmed uncomfortably. “Y-yer orders, Yer Grace.”

“My orders—?”

“Morgan ordered you to assassinate the king?” the captain blurted indignantly, his sword lifting toward Morgan’s throat.

“That’s enough!” Kelson ordered, pushing aside the captain’s blade and glaring at all of them. “Lord Edgar, suppose you be a little more specific.”

Edgar shifted his weight nervously, then dropped to his knees and bowed his head, spreading his arms in supplication.

“Please, Sire, forgive me!” he begged. “I did nae mean to do it. None o’ us did. Lord Alaric—he made us do it. He—he has this power over men. He can make ’em do anything he wants. He—”

“Stop it!” Kelson snapped, his eyes flashing fire.

“Sire,” the captain implored, trying to get closer to Morgan, “let me arrest him, please! You know now that it’s true, what everyone’s been saying about him—that he’s a murderer, a traitor, a—”

“The man is lying,” Kelson said, turning cold Haldane eyes on the captain. “And Morgan is no traitor!”

“Sire, I swear to ye—” Edgar began, his eyes wild, beseeching.

“Silence!”

The room grew hushed except for the harsh breathing of Edgar, the deeper, controlled breathing of Kelson. The king looked slowly aside at Morgan, seeking some guidance, but Morgan gave only an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Kelson must extricate them from this situation on his own. Anything Morgan might say or do at this point would only increase the difficulty.

Kelson looked down at Edgar.

“Get up.”

As the man did, Kelson scanned the faces around him, addressed all of them.

“You all think it’s Morgan who’s lying, don’t you? And you think that I’m protecting Morgan, that he’s deceived me just as you believe he’s deceived you.” He glanced at Edgar. “But I say that it’s this man who lies. I say that Morgan would never have asked any man to take my life. He made a solemn vow to my father, and he is a man of his word.”