Good, I thought. Between his height and Dominic’s bulk, our group should present an imposing enough appearance that no cut-throat would try to sneak up on the slightly-built king.

King Haimeric looked around the room. “Two knights,” he said thoughtfully, “especially warriors like you two princes, should be enough.”

“You’ll need servants with you, certainly,” said the assistant constable quickly. “I’ll gladly come with you, sire.”

But the king smiled again and shook his head. “Thank you for the offer, but this will be a pilgrimage as well as a quest, and we will travel very simply, without servants.” The assistant constable nodded reluctantly, but the cook, to whom he was married, positively beamed.

“I shall of course ask the Royal Wizard to accompany us,” the king added.

That was a relief. When he turned down servants, I was afraid for a moment he was going to turn down everyone in his pay. “And the Royal Chaplain,” I said quickly.

The king looked slightly surprised, then nodded. Years of my company had made him used to me speaking up without what the finicky might consider proper respect. “Since our trip will take us to the Holy Land, we should certainly have our chaplain with us.”

The chaplain’s eyes were still ablaze, but he replied calmly. “Thank you. I shall ask the bishop to send another priest to serve the castle while I am gone.”

“If the chaplain’s going,” said Prince Paul, trying desperately to salvage something, “does that mean I won’t have to have any lessons until all of you come back?”

“No, you’re old enough for a tutor now,” said the queen, speaking for the first time since the end of dinner. She smiled as she spoke and seemed to have her voice well under control.