Kelson glanced up at the window and smiled, glanced around at the hushed sea of faces. Then he stepped calmly into the light.

A long sigh of wonder swept through the still nave then, for there was no death in the sunlight now. The pool of rich sunlight merely sparkled on Kelson’s gems, blazing on his crown like a thousand sunrises.

Smiling, he turned aside to glance at Morgan and Duncan, motioned them also to step into the light. They obeyed without hesitation.

The light glittered on Morgan’s golden hair, lit his rich velvet cloak, turned the snowy whiteness of Duncan’s surplice to a rainbow of rich color. And then the three continued down the aisle.

As the procession followed, the crowds began jubilant cheering, with heartfelt cries of, “God save King Kelson! Long live the king!”

And Kelson, King of Gwynedd, went out of that place to show himself to a grateful people.

INDEX OF CHARACTERS

INDEX OF CHARACTERS

AGNES, Lady—lady-in-waiting to Queen Jehana.

ALARIC—see Morgan.

ARILAN, Bishop Denis—auxiliary bishop of Rhemuth.

BRAN Coris, Lord—Earl of Marley.

BRION Donal Cinhil Urien Haldane, King—late King of Gwynedd and father of Prince Kelson; reigned- .

BRONWYN de Morgan, Lady—sister of Morgan, betrothed of Lord Kevin McLain.

CAMBER of Culdi, Saint—full Deryni patron of Deryni magic, called Defensor Hominum, or Defender of Humankind; responsible for the Haldane Restoration of .

CHARISSA, Lady—Duchess of Tolan and soi-disant claimant to the throne of Gwynedd.

COLIN of Fianna—eighteen-year-old son of the Count of Fianna, a renowned vintner; killed in ambush with Lord Ralson near Valoret.

CORRIGAN, Archbishop Patrick—Archbishop of Rhemuth.

DEFOREST, Michael—guard used as a medium by Lord Ian and then killed to implicate Morgan.

DERRY, Lord Sean—aide to Morgan, and his vassal; appointed to the Gwynedd Crown Council after the death of Lord Ralson.

DONAL Haldane, King—father of King Brion, reigned .

DUNCAN Howard McLain, Father—priest-cousin of Morgan, Confessor to Prince Kelson; secretly Deryni.

EDGAR, Lord—Baron of Mathelwaite, vassal of Morgan; one of three Morgan vassals persuaded by Ian that Morgan should be assassinated; killed himself rather than reveal Ian’s part in the plot against King Kelson.

ELSWORTH, John of—second guard used by Ian as a medium.

ELVIRA, Lady—lady-in-waiting to Queen Jehana.

ESTHER, Lady—another lady-in-waiting to Queen Jehana.

EWAN, Lord—Duke of Claibourne and hereditary marshal of the Gwynedd Crown Council.

GILES—principal body squire to Prince Kelson.

HAROLD Fitzmartin, Lord—one of three Morgan vassals persuaded by Ian that their lord should be assassinated.

HORT of Orsal—ruler of Orsalia to the east, and an ally of Morgan.

IAN Howell, Lord—Earl of Eastmarch who allies with the sorceress Charissa; given a magical coup de grâce by her after his defeat by Morgan.

JARED McLain, Lord—Duke of Cassan and father of Duncan and Kevin.

JATHAM—a royal page under the tutelage of Duke Nigel.