This is the story of the visit to Provence that had been suggested by King Alexander to help Roderic recover from his illness caused by the mugging on castle hill. Roderic needed a companion for the journey and he learned to appreciate his younger brother, Kenneth Malcolm, in his visits to Kintail. Their father Kenneth MacKenzie took them on learning sessions through the Kintail hills and mountains, and taught them both sailing on their lochs and seas. They also learned more about each other and felt they would do well together on the long months that the trip would take. Roderic had a letter of introduction to the Count of Provence who was well known expert in Provencal stories and songs and enjoy the experience. Kenneth Malcolm would visit the University of Paris and the University of Oxford to see which he would attend. The King of Scotland would take them with him to France where they would meet his mother, Marie de Coucy, Queen of Scotland, and visit the magnificent Chateau de Coucy as her guest. She would show them Paris and then get them on to a barge to begin their great adventure to the south of France. They would earn their way with their music.