Duncan smiled and sat down casually on the arm of another chair. “You would have realized in time,” he said quietly. “An uneventful night after I left, I take it?”

Morgan nodded. “What else could have happened?”

“Earthquakes, floods, more miracles?” Duncan shrugged. “Anyway, I have a little surprise for you this morning.”

“Are you sure I can stand it?” Morgan asked dubiously. “After some of the surprises I’ve had in the past twenty-four hours, I’m not certain I’m ready for any more.”

“Oh, it isn’t really much,” Duncan answered with a droll smile. He reached into his cincture and removed something small wrapped in a scrap of velvet, dropped it into Morgan’s hand. “Kelson asked me to see that you got this. It seems you’re to be his Champion.”

“His Champion?” Morgan retorted, his gaze snapping up to stare at Duncan. “How do you know that?”

“Well, after all, Kelson does tell me a few things he doesn’t tell you,” Duncan said, gazing innocently at the ceiling. “Besides, who did you think it would be, you crazy warhorse? Me?”

Morgan laughed delightedly and shook his head, then eagerly unwrapped the scrap of velvet. Inside was a massive signet ring, an oval cabochon-cut onyx etched with the Golden Lion of Gwynedd on its face.

Morgan stared at it in fascination for a moment, then breathed on it and polished it against his sleeve. The gem gleamed like frozen midnight as Morgan slipped it onto his right index finger, then held out both hands, palms down. The Lion of Gwynedd and the Corwyn Gryphon winked gold and green in the light.

“I really didn’t expect this,” Morgan finally breathed, lowering his hands and standing there sheepishly. “I still don’t understand how he did it, either. The office of King’s Champion has always been a hereditary post.”

He glanced again at the ring, as though still unable to believe, then shook his head lightly.

Duncan smiled and glanced around the room. “Where is Kelson, by the way?”

“In the bath,” Morgan replied, picking up one of his freshly polished boots and dusting it off with a cloth. “He was a bit—shall I say, ‘upset’?—about having to have dressers this morning. He wanted to know why he couldn’t dress himself. I implied that this was just one of the trials of kingship he’d have to put up with, and that seemed to satisfy him for the most part.”

Duncan picked up Morgan’s other boot and chuckled. “When he sees everything he has to wear today, he’ll be very glad he has those dressers. Many is the time I’ve been grateful for even one assistant to help me vest for some important ceremony.” He gave a weary sigh. “There are always so many little laces and ties.”