«As you say…» Richard murmured.

When they had given Nidian back into the custody of Sir Kenneth, still waiting outside, the king recalled his officers and spent another half hour advising them of a revised strategy for the coming day before settling down for a few hours' sleep.

«The Lord hath set at nought all my mighty men in the midst of me».[23]

They rose before dawn, to prepare for a battle Donal hoped they would not have to fight. After hearing Mass with his officers in the open air before his tent, the king broke his fast while Kenneth armed him and he gave final instructions to his brother. Morian listened silently, already armed and ready, the roundels and martlet on his green surcoat gleaming in the early morning light. He did not ride with the king when the royal party mounted up to make their way to Ratharkin, departing in another direction with a squadron of Claibourne cavalry and orders of his own. Dukes Andrew and Ursic likewise had their orders.

An hour later, the king was drawing rein before the gates of Ratharkin beneath his royal standard, his brother at his side. Ahern and his Lendouri cavalry rode behind him, and a herald rode well before him under a white flag of truce, to carry his terms to the city.

The Mearan answer was an arrow through the herald's heart, defying all conventions of honorable warfare and unleashing the cold relentlessness of Haldane justice: justice which Donal Haldane had the means to deliver. That the rebels were betrayed from within the city they had thought to hold was fitting judgment of their folly as, an hour later, the king's loyal subjects in Ratharkin infiltrated the rebel-held gatehouse and threw open the city gates to their royal deliverers, as Nidian ap Pedr had promised.

The next two hours saw heavy fighting in the streets of Ratharkin, quickly focusing on the rebel-held fortress of the city's inner citadel. Casualties were heavy on the Mearan side and light among the royalist troops. Judhael of Meara soon abandoned his position, seeing the futility of continued resistance in the face of Ratharkin's betrayal. As the vanquished prince fled deeper into Meara, Duke Andrew and his Cassani cavalry in pursuit, some of the junior Mearan royals made a dash southward toward the mountains of Cloome. Donal sent Richard after them, himself remaining in Ratharkin with Duke Ursic and an occupation force to restore order. It was in the great hall of the recaptured inner citadel that they found the body of Iolo Melandry, the city's royal governor, hoisted to the full height of one of the main hammer-beams.

«Damn them all», Donal said softly, as he gazed up at the bloated body and blackened face of the saintly little man he had called friend, who had upheld Haldane rights in Meara for more than a decade. «Damn them!» Running a trembling hand over his eyes, he turned to the men at his side, trying to put the image of Iolo's face out of his memory.

«Kenneth, get him down from there», he murmured. «Gently. Dear God, that man deserved a better end than this!»

The king lingered in Ratharkin for another week, for a new royal governor must be designated, at least for the interim, and a sharp lesson must be delivered to the Mearans, even though Ratharkin, in the end, had remained mostly loyal to their king. Calling a council of the great lords who had accompanied him on the Mearan campaign, Donal heard their recommendations and assessments of the situation, told them what he would have liked to do to the Mearans, then allowed his righteous anger to be tempered by the practicalities of those who would have to keep the peace once he departed.

«Very sadly, I am now short one royal governor, gentlemen», he told them. «At least for the interim, it will have to be one of you. Do I hear any volunteers?»

The men around him exchanged glances. Such an appointment was an honor and an opportunity for advancement, a chance to prove one's worth to the Crown, but it was also a virtual exile; and all were well aware of the fate of the last royal governor of Meara, lying in his coffin in the nearby chapel.

«I know what I'm asking», Donal said, when no one spoke up. «And I don't expect the post to be permanent. We all know that a Mearan is best suited for the position. But I don't know that I have any Mearans I can trust right now. And none of us can go back to Rhemuth until I have someone in place here».

Ursic Duke of Claibourne glanced around the table, then cleared his throat. «If I might make a recommendation, Sire», he said tentatively.

All eyes turned in his direction, for the advice of a duke always carried heavy weight. Donal merely smiled and gave a wave of his hand.

«All right, out with it, Ursic. Who's to be the lucky man?»

«Well, he is, perhaps, a bit young for such responsibility», Ursic allowed, «but he has been well tutored at his fathers knee. And that father would not be far away, if he needed assistance from time to time. Until a permanent royal governor can be appointed, of course».

By now, all eyes had turned toward the man obviously fitting Ursic's description: Duke Andrew's son, Jared Earl of Kierney. Though but five-and-twenty, Jared McLain was also a battle-seasoned soldier and a man exceedingly well schooled in the duties he would eventually take on when he succeeded his father as Duke of Cassan — which lands did, indeed, border on rebellious Meara. Said Duke of Cassan had raised one eyebrow at this nomination of his son for such an important appointment, nodding faintly. The prospective appointee looked thunderstruck.

«Well, what do you say, Sir Jared?» the king asked. «Are you willing to take it on?»

Jared's astonishment shifted from shock through consternation into pleased satisfaction. «I am, Sire — if you're sure I'm ready for it. I know that I am young».

Donal snorted and gave the younger man a grim smile. «Old enough to be husband, father, and widower as well as warrior. It occurred to me that you might value some worthwhile work to take your mind from your loss».

Jared glanced at his folded hands on the table before him.

«So long as it does not leave my young son fatherless as well as motherless, Sire».

«Well, we shall certainly endeavor to make certain that does not happen», the king said. «And when I have relieved you of this burden by appointment of a permanent governor, we must see about finding you a new bride. Meanwhile, I trust that you will not be aggrieved to be parted awhile from your infant son?»

Jared fought back an impulse for a grin, and Andrew covered a smile with his hand.

«Sire, I have considered taking a new bride», Jared allowed. «But even were I to remarry tomorrow, I would be hard-pressed to quickly reclaim my son from my mother and his doting aunties».

«'Tis true», his father agreed. «My wife and my sisters would be inconsolable, were young Kevin to leave my household just yet. And indeed, since he is my only grandson at present, I confess that I should be less than happy myself».

Sir Kenneth Morgan had snickered at the mention of doting aunties, and shrugged as the king looked at him in question, still smiling.

«'Tis all true, Sire», he said. «One of those doting aunties is my dear mother. At least if the worst were to befall, young Kevin McLain would never lack for kinfolk».

«Then it appears that a tour of service from Jared in Meara would not place undue stress on your domestic arrangements», Donal said to the McLains, father and son.

«Aye, Sire. So long as he fares better than Meara's last royal governor», Andrew replied gravely. «He is my only son, and I shall not get another».

«With one like Jared, you shall not need another», the king replied. «And accordingly, I shall be pleased to make him my governor in Meara, at least until next spring».