Morgan’s eyes narrowed as he toyed with his ring. “Four guards, eh? There’re probably fewer at night, don’t you think? Once the cathedral doors are closed after Compline, there’d be no need for that strong a force. We can handle them, I think.”

Kelson stared at Morgan in disbelief, the color gradually returning to his face.

“Morgan, are we really to open his coffin?” he breathed.

Morgan’s answer was cut off by the sound of many horses arriving in the courtyard outside. Duncan jumped to his feet and dashed to the window, then began hastily drawing the drapes. Morgan was instantly at his side, peering through a crack in the curtains.

“Who is it? Can you tell?”

“Archbishop Loris himself,” Duncan said. “From the size of his entourage, though, it’s difficult to tell if he’s only arriving in the city or if he’s come to get you.”

“He’s after me. Look at the way he’s deployed his men. He knows we’re in here. We’ll be surrounded in a matter of seconds.”

Kelson joined them at the window, a look of consternation on his face. “What are we going to do?”

“I’ll just have to give myself up,” Morgan said mildly.

“Give yourself—Morgan, no!” Kelson cried.

“Morgan, yes!” Duncan contradicted, guiding the boy firmly back to the table. “If Alaric flees the just summons of the Council, your Council, he flouts the very laws he swore to uphold as a Council lord.” He sat the boy down. “And if you neglect your duty as head of that Council, you do the same thing.”

“It isn’t my Council right now, though,” Kelson argued. “It’s Mother’s Council—and she wants to kill Morgan.”

Duncan picked up the Ring of Fire, the parchment, and the red velvet box and carried them to the prie-dieu. “No, it’s still your Council, Kelson. But you’re going to have to remind them of that.” He touched a hidden stud in the prie-dieu, and a small compartment opened in the wall beside it.

“Besides, there’s little more we can do until tonight, anyway. And the longer you can stall in Council, the less chance there is for other treachery afoot. I suspect that some of your most formidable enemies are sitting on that Council right now, but at least you’ll know where they are and what they’re doing if everyone’s in Council.” He put the ritual items in the compartment and closed it. “These will be safe here until tonight.”

Kelson was not impressed. “Suppose they find him guilty, though. Suppose they already have. I can’t stand by and condone his death sentence.”

“If it comes to that, you must,” Morgan said, squeezing the boy’s shoulder reassuringly. “But remember, I’m not convicted yet. And even unarmed, a Deryni still has some formidable defenses to fall back on.”

“But, Morgan—”