A tall, dark-haired young squire in the royal crimson livery turned at the sound of his name and smiled as he identified the caller. Then the smile faded abruptly to concern as he made his way nervously to Morgan’s side.

“Lord Alaric,” he murmured, sketching a hurried bow, his eyes dark with apprehension. “Ah, ye shouldn’t be here, Your Grace. ’Tis said the Council’s out to get ye, body and soul, and that’s the literal truth!”

His eyes darted nervously from Morgan to Derry and back again. Derry froze in the act of hooking his helmet over the pommel of his saddle, then resumed fiddling with his gear at a sharp glance from Morgan. Morgan returned his attention to Richard.

“The Council’s planning to act against me, Richard?” he asked, feigning innocence. “Whatever for?”

Richard squirmed uncomfortably and tried to avoid Morgan’s eyes. He had trained with the young general and admired him tremendously, in spite of what was being said about him, but he wasn’t eager to be the one to tell him.

“I—I’m not certain, Your Grace,” he stammered. “They—well, ye’ve heard some o’ the rumors, haven’t ye?” He eyed Morgan fearfully, as though hoping the general hadn’t heard, but Morgan raised a knowing eyebrow.

“Yes, I’ve heard the rumors, Richard.” He sighed. “You don’t believe them, do you?”

Richard shook his head timidly.

Morgan slapped his horse’s neck in exasperation, and the animal jumped. “Damnation take the lot of them!” Morgan said. “That’s what I was afraid of! Derry, do you remember what I told you about the Regency Council?”

Derry grinned and nodded.

“Good,” Morgan replied. “Then how would you like to go placate the lords of the Council while I get to work?”

“Don’t you mean delay, sir?”

Morgan laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “Derry, I like your kind of thinking! Remind me to think of a suitable reward.”

“Yes, sir.”

Morgan turned to Richard and handed him his helmet and the two sets of reins. “Richard, will you see to our horses and gear?”

“Aye, m’lord,” the squire replied, eyeing the two smiling men with a look of wonder. “But do be careful, sir—both of ye.”

Morgan nodded gravely and clasped Richard’s shoulder briefly, then began to make his way resolutely toward the stairs, Derry at his heels.

The staircase and entryway were still crowded with richly garbed lords and ladies, and Morgan was suddenly aware again how he must stand out among them in his dusty black leathers. But there was more to it than that, he realized. As he made his way up the staircase, he noticed that conversation stopped as he passed, especially among the ladies. And when he returned their glances with his usual half smile and bow, the ladies shrank away from him as though afraid, and the men moved their hands a little closer to their weapons.