“M’lord, I wanted to—”

“That’s an order,” Dain snapped. He glared up at Sir Terent until the knight bowed his head obediently. “I have released you for the day. Get to your business.”

“Your safety must come first.”

“I am well-guarded by these others,” Dain replied, although he had no intention of spending the day in the stands like a chaperoned girl. “Now go. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I want to watch you take the victory.” Sir Terent’s ruddy face darkened. He said something in a choked, eager voice, then spurred his horse away. Sir Polquin followed after him.  Sulein, perched on his donkey, grinned at Dain. “Good morning blessings shine on you this day, Lord Dain. You have walked in the land of Between, and the spirit world still glows in your face.”

Thum’s freckled face knotted in bewilderment. He shot Dain a strange look, and Dain scowled at the physician.

“You should go with Sir Terent, in case he takes some harm today,” Dain said sternly. He had no intention of discussing his encounter with the ghost king with Sulein. Faldain, rightful king of Nether, whispered a voice in the back of his mind. Dain shoved the thought away. This tourney had been long anticipated.  He wanted to see the jousting, to eat at the fair, to catch a distant glimpse of the king, and to enjoy himself. And neither Lord Odfrey’s death nor the ghost king’s quest were going to rob him of these pleasures. There would be time enough to decide what to do later, when the merrymaking was over.  The physician’s dark eyes were knowing. He nodded.  “Yes, your concern for the health of Sir Terent is good to see, Lord Dain. But with you will I stay, for the conjunctions today are most unsettled around you.  Most unsettled. I feel something has happened that you need to explain to us.”

“What’s that?” Thum asked, suddenly alert. “Is something amiss?”

“Nay,” Dain said impatiently. He went to get his horse.  Thum followed him. “What does he mean by conjunctions? What has happened? And what was all that talk about the land of the spirits? Is it magic he speaks?” Inside the mews, Dain saddled his horse and gave a last, tightening yank on the girth. Coiling the reins in his hand, he turned his horse around. “Sulein’s mysteries need not concern you,” Dain said to Thum. “The physician speaks much puffery, that’s all.”