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〃In truth； it is not I； personally； who am responsible； Excellency；〃 Judhael replied； gazing up at him raptly。 〃My Lord Creoda felt it wisest if I knew none of the details of my family's involvement。 Apparently that was a wise precaution。 When General Morgan questioned me about the attempt on Duncan McLain's life last week； I was honestly able to say that I knew nothing。 Tis said the Deryni can make a man speak the truth whether he will nor no。〃
〃The Deryni。 Aye。〃 Loris' eyes took on a dangerous； preoccupied glint。 〃They also say the traitor archbishops plan to make McLain a bishop at Eastertide。 A Deryni bishop！ Blasphemy！ Blasphemy！〃
〃Yes； Excellency；〃 Judhael murmured meekly。
His tone seemed to remind Loris where he was； and the archbishop's expression softened as he looked down at Judhael again and smiled； raising him to his feet。
〃But more of the Deryni and their accursed race later。 'Tis also said that your bishopric has been given to another； my son。 Do you intend to stand for that？〃
Judhael looked a little taken aback。 〃I am not certain I have any say in the matter。 Excellency。 I am eager to serve； of course； but Henry Istelyn now holds the See of Meara directly from Archbishop Bradene and the king。 What of him？〃
〃What of him？〃 Loris replied。 〃I am Primate of Gwynedd … not Bradene。 Are you willing to accept a slightly less pretentious title than Bishop of Meara； to unsettle these dissident bishops who have usurped my position and yours？〃
Creoda's brow furrowed in question。 〃What title did you have in mind。 Excellency？〃
〃Bishop of Ratharkin；〃 Loris said。 〃Because the Meara you know today is not the Meara which will exist when we are finished。 We will take back the ancient Mearan lands when I confound the heretic Duncan McLain … who shall never enter into his lands as prince and prelate while I breathe … and you； Creoda； shall be Patriarch of the new Mearan state；〃 he finished pointedly。 〃Does that please you？〃
Creoda flushed with pleasure。 〃A promotion for all of us； my lord。 Of course I am pleased。 And allegiance to the rightful queen upon the throne of Meara？〃
〃Perhaps to a queen of far more than only Meara；〃 Loris said softly。 〃It is not only in the episcopate that the Deryni taint has cast its pall。〃
Creoda blanched。 〃The king？〃
〃He is Deryni； is he not？〃
Dhugal； following their conversation with growing horror； nearly gasped aloud at the implications。 It took all his strength simply to close his eyes and force his body not to tense in outrage。 The three clerics continued to discuss minor details of the flight to Ratharkin for several minutes； while Dhugal lay there numbly and tried to think what he could do to stop them。 The clink of goblets jarred through the buzz of their further discussion； almost directly behind him； and suddenly he knew that their eyes were on him。
〃Who is that？〃 Judhael asked。
〃A hostage；〃 Loris said casually。 〃My Lord of Trurill tells me he's the Master of Transha； Clan MacArdry's heir。 You'll want his support when Transha is reintegrated with Meara。〃
Dhugal felt hands rolling him face upward； and the pressure on his ribs made him moan and actually black out for just a few seconds。
〃 … want him to witness Judhael's consecration； then；〃 Creoda was saying； as consciousness returned。 〃Is he badly injured？〃
〃Brice？〃 Loris called。
The Baron of Trurill came away from unbuckling his armor and knelt to peel back one of Dhugal's eyelids。
〃He's no worse than he was； Excellency；〃 the traitor baron said； pressing his fingertips to the pulsepoint in Dhugal's throat。 〃He has some cracked ribs that nothing could be done about while we rode； and probably a concussion； but you're mainly seeing exhaustion。 He's a strong lad； he'll mend。〃
〃Well； if he's that strong a lad； we'd better put him in a secure place； hadn't we？〃 Creoda said。 〃Gendon； take him to one of the chambers below and have someone tend to him in the morning。 I don't think he'll be causing anybody any trouble before then。 After that； you can see to your men。 Excellency； if you and Father Gorony will follow me； please； I'll show you to quarters where you'll be secure from prying eyes until we're ready to confront Bishop Istelyn in the morning。 I expect you're in need of sleep yourselves。〃
〃A few hours will suffice；〃 Loris said； as they headed out the door。 〃I wish little delay before informing Istelyn of the error of his ways。 Perhaps we can。。。〃
Dhugal lost the thread of Loris' words in pain； groaning anew as Gendon and one of Trurill's knights lifted him between them and began slowly walking him toward the door。 His only thought； as he tried to make his feet move with theirs through the fog of anguish； the pounding in his head； was that Kelson must be informed of what was happening here。 But he did not know how he was going to acplish that。
CHAPTER EIGHT
Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels。
Isaiah 47：13
Kelson and his warband swept into Rhemuth the following forenoon on the fringes of a thunderstorm； half…frozen and soaked to the skin despite oiled riding leathers and fur…lined cloaks。 Prince Nigel met them in the castle yard； bare…headed and heedless of the rain pelting down； and set his hand urgently on the king's bridle。 The ill tidings he conveyed set a chill on Kelson which had nothing to do with the storm。
〃Loris？ But that isn't possible。〃
The words carried to the others of his close circle … Morgan and Duncan； Cardiel and Aribn … despite the downpour。 Young Baron Jodrell was the first to spring from his horse when the others would have sat there dumbly in the rain； all but immobilized by shock。 His movement jarred the rest of them to action。 Kelson beckoned his intimates to follow as he dismounted and splashed up the steps to the shelter of the great hall； anger warring with despair。
〃I expect you'll want to question the messenger yourself；〃 Nigel said； handing off Kelson's sodden cap and gloves to a page and hurrying to keep up。
〃Yes； but tell me briefly what he said right now； so I'll be prepared。〃
He listened tight…lipped as he stalked through the great hall； unclasping his wet cloak with one hand while his other fumbled at the buckle of his sword belt。 Morgan collected cloak and sword as he shed them； passing them to another page in exchange for a towel which Kelson used on his dripping face and hair。 Nigel left king and pany in a small withdrawing chamber while he went to get the messenger。
They sought the meager fort of the fire while they waited； heaping sodden outer garments in a er and exchanging guarded glances； no one wanting to be the first to break the silence。 Jodrell played squire to the tight…jawed Kelson； removing vambraces and spurs and helping him shinny out of his mail shirt； while Payne and Rory； NigeFs younger sons； moved among the others with cups of mulled wine。 The king stiffened at the approach of footsteps outside the door； hastily drawing a dry robe over his clammy undertunic。
〃This is Father Bevis； my liege；〃 Nigel said； ushering in a nervous…looking young priest in the sea blue robes of Saint Iveagh's Fratri Silentii。 〃He has been given dispensation from his abbot to speak aloud。〃
The man had the courage to e forward alone； but he could not bring himself to meet Kelson's eyes as he knelt at his feet。 Glancing at the others to draw them nearer。 Kelson wrapped his robe closer and sat with his back to the fire； stretching one leg slightly to the side so Jodrell could pull off a soggy boot。
〃Be wele at our court。 Father Bevis；〃 he said formally； 〃though I fear I cannot say that your news is wele。 Forgive me if Baron Jodrell continues to disarm me while we speak； but I should rather not take a chill … especially if； as it seems； my old enemy is once more at large。〃
The priest's tonsured head bobbed even lower。
〃Nay； it is I who must ask to be forgiven。 Sire … I and my brethren。 We have failed you。〃 His voice was hardly above a whisper despite his dispensation。 〃We made every effort to keep the Lord Loris secure as you manded； but he … got out。〃 He looked up fearfully。 〃Please do not hold us entirely to blame。 Sire。 Father Abbot says he must have had help from outside。〃
Morgan； warming his backside to Kelson's right； snorted contemptuously； but Kelson only shook his head and sighed； bracing himself so Jodrell could pull off his other boot。
〃Please rise。 Father；〃 he said patiently。 〃My uncle has told me the gist of your message already。 We are certain that your noble Order did all within their power to ensure the former archbishop's safe detention。 Did you find no trace of him？〃
〃None； Sire。 And an itinerant preacher calling himself Brother Jeroboam was also missing。 We think he may have had some part in it。 Archb … I mean Father Loris specifically asked that the man be allowed to hear his confession a few days before。 We thought he simply had been moved by the man's preaching。〃
〃Moved right out of Saint Iveagh's；〃 Cardiel muttered。 But Kelson ignored the remark。
〃I see。 And the escape occurred when？〃
〃Six days ago。 Sire … the Eve of Saint Andrew's … sometime after pline； we think。〃
〃Saint Andrew's Eve；〃 Kelson murmured。 〃While we were in Ratharkin。 That's been six days；〃 he added； glancing aside at Morgan。 〃He could be anywhere。〃
〃Would it were in hell！〃 Morgan said bitterly。
Kelson sighed again and started to turn toward Cardiel and Arilan； then remembered the priest still standing before him。
〃Ah； thank you for bringing us this news。 Father Bevis。 We may wish to question you further； but for now you have our leave to wait outside。 The pages will show you where。〃
As his cousins escorted the priest from the room； clearly disappointed to miss what might happen next。 Kelson pivoted on his stool to face the fire； waiting while the others found seats。 Nigel and the bishops claimed the remaining stools； so Jodrell hunkered down on the edge of the raised hearth。 Duncan chose to remain standing； his arms folded across his chest as he leaned against the wall to the left of the fireplace。 Morgan； too restless to sit or stand； paced a short； fidgeting path between Duncan and the king。
〃Very well； gentlemen。 Any ideas where Loris might be headed？〃 Kelson asked。
Cardiel pursed his lips and exchanged a glance with his brother bishop； who had not yet said a word。
〃Toward the source of his aid； of course。 Sire。 He cannot have acted alone in this … and all Gwynedd knows and understands why he was relieved of his office and sent to Saint Iveagh's。 That means his help must surely e from outside Gwynedd。 Two possibilities e to mind immediately： Meara or Torenth。〃
〃Not Torenth；〃 Arilan said。 〃Not while Deryni hold the Torenthi throne。〃
〃Meara； then；〃 Cardiel said； when Arilan did not go on。 〃The implications； while quite different； are hardly more reassuring； however。〃
〃How so？〃 Kelson asked。
〃Secular and ecclesiastical politics are very closely intertwined in Meara； Sire； as we are all aware。 Loris is very much a political creature。 He has always found his support among the conservative clergy … and such clergy were very much involved in the dispute over who should be Bishop of Meara。 He garners support from rebel factions as well。 Two years ago； it was Warm de Grey； today … well； why not the Mearan Pretender？ So long as it suits his plans to regain his position； I should think Edmund Loris would support just about anyone。〃
〃A sad mentary on the man who once was Primate of All Gwynedd；〃 Duncan muttered。
〃Let's talk about Meara； then；〃 Kelson said。 〃Who in Meara might profit from Loris' release？〃
〃That's simple；〃 Nigel said。 〃The Mearan Pretender and her kin。〃
〃Especially ecclesiastical kin；〃 Cardiel agreed； glancing at Arilan； who still was oddly quiet。 〃Like Judhael。 Denis and I had quite a discussion about him after the attempt on Duncan； Sire。 My brother in Christ made light of my notion that Judhael might have been functioning as an agent for his aunt。〃
Morgan； noting Arilan's sullen expression； decided he had best reveal what he had learned。
〃He's innocent of that； at least。 Excellency；〃 he said quietly。 〃Or if he is involved； it's without the direct knowledge or assistance of his aunt。 Nor did he know anything about the attempt on Duncan。 I … ah … questioned him about it that evening。〃
Arilan's reaction con