“My Deryni bl—you’re mad!” she whispered, her eyes wide with fear, betraying the doubt in her own mind.

Morgan smiled slowly. “I don’t think so. Kelson has a strong Deryni background from somewhere, and we both know it wasn’t from Brion.”

Jehana forced a nervous laugh. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Why, everyone knows how I feel about the Deryni.”

“Some of the most vociferous Deryni haters in history have been Deryni themselves, Jehana, or with some ‘taint’ of Deryni blood. Those who have studied these things say it comes from long-buried feelings of guilt. It’s what happens when a people bottle up their true nature for generations, perhaps; when they deny their true heritage.”

“No!” Jehana blurted. “It isn’t true. If it were, I would have known!”

“Perhaps you always have, in a way.”

“No! I never—”

“There’s an easy way to prove it, you know,” Morgan said mildly.

“No.” Jehana’s voice was a whisper, as she shrank away from him.

Morgan seized her arm, drew her closer. “Allow me to Mind-See for myself. Let us settle the matter once and for all.”

Her eyes widened with horror, and she tried to pull away. “No! No, please!”

Morgan did not release his grip. “Are you willing to make a bargain, then?”

“What kind of a bargain?” Jehana whispered.

“A very simple one,” Morgan continued conversationally. “I think we both know what I’d find, if I did Mind-See you. But to spare you that, I am willing to let you keep your illusion for a while longer—on one condition.”

“Which is?”

“You will come to the coronation and at least support Kelson outwardly. You also will not attempt to interfere in whatever must be done in the course of today’s events. Agreed?”

“Is this an ultimatum?” Jehana asked, some of her spirit returning.

“If you wish,” Morgan replied calmly. “Which is it to be? Do I Mind-See, or will you cooperate with us, at least for today?”

Jehana dropped her gaze from Morgan and glanced furtively at Kelson. Morgan’s threat was a powerful one. And because Jehana had suspected her origin, had considered the possibility of Deryni ancestry, the threat was all the more terrifying. She was not willing to accept it yet. Accordingly, the coronation seemed infinitely the lesser of the two evils.

She raised her head, but would not meet Morgan’s eyes.

“Very well,” she whispered, her voice small and subdued in the quiet room.

“Very well what?” Morgan insisted.

“Very well, I shall go to the coronation.”

“And you’ll behave yourself? You won’t make a scene and embarrass us? I promise you, Jehana, all will be resolved to your satisfaction. You won’t be disappointed. Trust us.”

“Trust you?” she murmured. “Yes, I suppose I have no choice at this point, have I?” She looked down. “I won’t make a scene.”