Kelson was speechless, horrified. How could his own mother believe such a thing of him? How could she have gained such a warped sense of truth, to link him and Morgan with last night’s terrible deed in the cathedral?

“Jehana,” Morgan said quietly, “it isn’t what you think. We were—”

Jehana turned on him in a cold fury. “I don’t want to hear about it! And I forbid you to presume that you know what I think about anything, you—you fiend! First you corrupted my husband—perhaps even brought about his death, for all I know—and now you’re trying the same thing with my only son. And Rogier—poor, innocent Rogier, struck down and most wickedly murdered while he guarded the remains of his dead king—” Her voice broke.

“Well, you can just take it from there by yourself, Deryni. Because I don’t intend to lend even token support to what you’re about to do. And as for you, Kelson Haldane, I wish you had never been born!”

Kelson went white. “Mother!”

“Don’t call me that,” she replied, turning her face away from him and edging toward the door. “I want nothing further to do with you. Let Morgan take you to the coronation. I have no wish to see the throne of Gwynedd usurped by a—a—”

She began to sob bitterly and buried her face in her hands, her back to Kelson and the others. Kelson started to go to her, to comfort her, but Morgan forbade it with a sharp glance. If there was to be even a slight chance of success, they must have Jehana’s support, even if given under duress.

“Jehana” he said softly.

“Leave me alone!” she sobbed.

Morgan moved to her side and began speaking to her in a low voice. “Very well, I’m through coddling you. We’re going to have to get a few things straight right now, and there isn’t much time. Kelson is innocent of what you charge him with, and—”

“Save your Deryni lies for someone else,” she replied, wiping her eyes and fumbling for the door latch.

Morgan moved between her and the door and leaned back against the latch, looking her directly in the eyes.

“Deryni lies, Jehana?” he asked quietly. “You use the term rather freely, don’t you think? Especially for someone like yourself.”

Jehana stiffened, a look of frightened bewilderment on her face. “What do you mean?”

“You needn’t look so innocent. I only marvel that I didn’t think of it long ago. It would have explained so many things you’ve done through the years.”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jehana said haughtily, though she backed off a step in the face of Morgan’s confident demeanor.

“Why, your Deryni blood, of course,” he replied. “Tell me, is it on your mother’s side, or your father’s side, or both?”