The bells would be ringing Compline soon, and he and Kelson still had a short journey ahead of them. He didn’t want to have to hurry. Haste led to carelessness, and that was a luxury they could ill afford tonight.

He shrugged out of his borrowed robe and draped it over the chair back, then slung his own heavy cloak around his shoulders once more. The clasp closed with a metallic snick as he crossed to kneel at Kelson’s bedside. The fat yellow candle he had left on the floor there still flickered its pale light over the sleeping form.

Morgan allowed himself a feeling of satisfaction as he glanced over his Ward Major, for it had served him well tonight. He would not be able to use it again until the cubes were recharged, but that was no matter. He had had the use of its protection when he needed it most. And he didn’t intend to leave Kelson alone again for even a minute until after the coronation tomorrow.

Standing up, he spread his hands over the sleeping prince, palms up, and began murmuring a counter-spell, slowly turning his hands palms down as he finished the verse. As he did so, the glow of the wards slowly diminished to nothing. Then there were but eight tiny cubes, four white and four black, cast like strange dice, a pair at each corner of the bed.

As Morgan reached across to retrieve the cubes, Kelson opened his eyes and looked around.

“I must have fallen asleep,” he said, raising to one elbow. “Is it time?”

Morgan smiled and put the remaining cubes into their red leather case.

“Almost.” He picked up the candlestick and returned it to the fireplace. “Did you sleep well?”

Kelson sat up and rubbed his eyes, then rose and padded over to join Morgan by the fire. “I suppose so. I certainly would like to know how you did that, though.”

“Did what, my prince?” Morgan said absently, as he sank back down in his chair by the fire.

“Made me go to sleep, of course,” the boy answered. He plopped down on the fur rug in front of the fire and began pulling on his boots. “I really wanted to come with you. But when you touched my forehead, I just couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.”

Morgan smiled and ran an idle hand through his burnished hair. “You were very tired,” he said enigmatically.

Kelson had finished with his boots, and now he stood and began rummaging through his closet for a warmer cloak. The weather was definitely colder now, and Morgan could hear an icy wind whistling outside the balcony doors.

Kelson found a fur-lined crimson cloak with a hood and pulled it over his head. Then he took the sword Morgan offered and belted it around his slim waist. Morgan stood and slipped his own sword back into its hangers at his belt.