"De Braose!" Slowly he lowered his sword. Suspicions were coming too fast for him to take them all in. "I thought you were at Chalus with my brother Richard."

"I was." De Braose was fumbling at his belt. "Your mother the Queen bade me give you this, so you'd not doubt I came at her behest."

John stared down at the ring de Braose had pressed into his hand; it was indeed his mother's. Sheathing his sword, he followed de Braose off the path.

"My lord, you do not know how very lucky you are. Word has not gotten out yet.

If it had, you'd not live to see the morrow."

John caught his breath. "Do you mean what I think you do?"

William de Braose nodded. "I do ... my liege."

"Richard . . . he's dead?"

De Braose nodded again. "He was near death when your lady mother commanded me to get to you, to warn you away from Rennes ere Arthur learns the crown is up for the taking. Too many of his men know my face, hence this monk's cowl. I've men and horses waiting; they are at your disposal, my lord."

"I still cannot believe it. That it would happen like this, so sudden . . ."

"You're not alone in your disbelief, my lord. Your brother was so sure of victory that he had not even bothered to arm himself. He'd ridden out to inspect the siege's progress with only a shield, took an arrow m his left shoulder. It was full dusk, and his men did not see him hit. He made no sound, turned and rode back to his tent, had his surgeon cut it out. He took the castle, ordered every living soul in it hangedservants, women, children, allsparing only the man who shot him, for ^od knows what fate. But the wound festered. When he realized it was200 like to be mortal, he pardoned his killer and sent for your mother tta Queen."

" 'Near death/ you said. Are you sure he could not recover?"

De Braose's mouth twitched in a grim smile. "My lord, I coul