As the choir finished the processional and the last of the participants took their places, Arilan and Loris came to either side and stood there expectantly. It was time for the recognition, Kelson knew. Taking a deep breath, he crossed himself, then raised his head and allowed the two prelates to assist him to his feet. As they turned him to face the people, Archbishop Corrigan stepped in front of him and took his right hand.

“My lords,” Corrigan’s voice rang out clear and sure, “I bring before you Kelson Cinhil Rhys Anthony, your undoubted king. Be ye willing to do homage and service in his behalf?”

“God save King Kelson!” came the affirmation.

With a slight bow toward the congregation, Corrigan gestured toward the altar, and Arilan and Loris escorted the now-recognized king up the altar steps. All bowed in unison, and then Corrigan and Kelson ascended the last three steps alone. Firmly Corrigan placed Kelson’s right hand on the Holy Scripture, placed his own left hand on top of Kelson’s, then began to read the coronation oath from a document held by an acolyte.

“My Lord Kelson, are you now willing to take the coronation oath?”

“I am willing,” Kelson replied.

Corrigan drew himself up a little straighter. “Kelson Cinhil Rhys Anthony Haldane, here before God and men declared and affirmed to be the undisputed heir of our late, beloved King Brion, will you solemnly promise and swear to keep the peace in Gwynedd, and to govern its peoples according to our ancient laws and customs?”

“I solemnly promise to do so.”

“Will you, to the utmost of your power, cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?”

Kelson glanced out at the assembly. “I will.”

“And do you pledge that evil and wrong-doing shall be suppressed, and the laws of God maintained?”

“All this, I pledge,” Kelson replied.

As Corrigan placed the coronation oath on the altar, Kelson glanced around again, felt confidence flow back as he caught Morgan’s reassuring glance. With a flourish, he scrawled his new signature, Kelsonus Rex, then took the document in his left hand and held it aloft, placed his right hand once more on the Holy Scripture.

“That which I have here promised, I will perform and keep, so help me God.”

He gave the oath into the hands of one of the attending priests, then allowed himself to be led back to the faldstool. As he knelt there again, he caught a stealthy movement to his right, glanced aside, and saw Derry glide unobtrusively to Morgan’s side and begin conferring in low tones. As the archbishop’s voice echoed through the cathedral in the traditional prayers for the king, Kelson strained to hear what Derry told the Deryni lord, bit his lip in vexation because he could not discern what was being said.