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smaller, so it was worthy of note when they reached the city gates of Tarent that the walls were manned with hundreds of soldiers. The gates to the city were also closed, and a small contingent of guards stood outside the walls to question arriving travelers.
    "Is there trouble in this land?" asked King Hector when the party reached the gate.
    "The king has been murdered," the guard stated.
    "I am well aware of that," replied King Hector. "It is the reason for my journey from Salacia. I am here to pay my respects, but you have not answered my question. Why are the gates closed and the walls manned?"
    "The gates are closed because we were ordered to close the gates," answered the guard. "They will, of course, open for the king of Salacia."
    The guard stepped away quickly as if he had no wish for further questions. He signaled to the men on the wall, and the mighty gates swung open. The two kings and their retinue rode through the gates and into the city.
    Tarent was a large, walled city, and a prosperous one as well, but on this day not a single shop was open. The streets were deserted, and the party from Arin and Salacia were the only travelers. King Arin moved his horse close to King Hector without appearing to do so deliberately.
    "I don't like the looks of this," the Arin king whispered. "There are no mourners in sight, and the city guards seemed almost embarrassed by their defenses. What do you think is going on?"
    "I am not sure," King Hector whispered in reply, "but I agree with you. That guard did not want to answer my questions."
    "I am going to demand that we each take a man inside with us when we reach the palace," declared King Caedmon. "Will you agree?"
    "Antion and Derri?" questioned the Salacian king. "But we were going to have them go with us in any event. I do not understand what you are saying."
    "They were going to come with us to pay their respects," explained King Caedmon, "but I am uneasy about that now. I would prefer to take them as individual bodyguards."
    "They will be recognized," frowned King Hector,  "and we will be seen as trying to do something clandestine. I don't like the idea."
    "I am not thrilled by such deceptions either," agreed King Caedmon, "but my gut tells me it is necessary. We can have them wear full-face helms. I made sure to carry two with us in case the men chose to have some friendly competitions with the other soldiers."
    "That would be terribly uncomfortable for them," King Hector sighed heavily, "but I learned one thing about you when we were mere boys, and that is to never distrust your gut. Is there any safe exit from this if their identities are discovered?"
    "There is," nodded the Arin king with a thin smile on his lips. "We can say that we feared that their lives might be in danger. I know that I can honestly say that with a good conscience."
    "You were always shrewd with words," laughed the Salacian king. "Shall I tell them, or will you?"
    "I will handle it," replied the Arin king.
    King Caedmon let his horse falter as the rest of the column continued onward. Near the center of the short column were two young, muscular soldiers riding side-by-side. One wore the colors of the Arin Kingdom, and the other Salacian. King Caedmon expertly managed to end up riding between them without the chance that anyone would have suspected it was deliberate.
    "Good riding, Father," smiled the Arin soldier. "I see that you learned your lessons well during your stay in Odessia."
    "Some things are never forgotten," smiled the king.
    "So you also feel as if we are being watched?" asked the Salacian soldier.
    "I have no doubt about it," King Caedmon responded softly. "While I have not sensed any hostility directed towards us, your father and I have agreed to alter our plans. The two of you will accompany King Hector and me as personal bodyguards. That will require the wearing of full-face helms. Can you handle that?"
    "Tell my father that it will be my pleasure to act as his personal