“I don’t know that,” Morgan replied tersely. “I know nothing of the kind. I do know that one of his entourage was given a flask of wine, that morning of the hunt. Very strange, but he described the donor as a beautiful lady with pale hair. And only Brion and Colin drank from that flask.”

“So?” Charissa retorted. “Are you accusing me of poisoning Brion? Come, now. You can do better than that.”

“I intend to,” Morgan answered. “I also happen to know that you’ve been working with the merasha mind-muddling drug for the past few years, and that the drug affects only those of Deryni blood or Deryni powers, like Brion.”

“Really, Morgan, you’re fishing.”

“Am I? You knew Brion was vulnerable in this way—that, being human, he wouldn’t be able to detect the drug in his system until it was too late.” He stood straighter, anger hardening his gaze as he glared down at her. “Why didn’t you call him out in honorable combat, Charissa? You might have won. He was mortal, after all.”

“And risk my reputation, my powers, against a mere mortal, in an unnecessary duel with a human?”

“You’re planning to duel with a ‘mere human’ tomorrow, aren’t you?”

She smiled a slow, lazy smile. “Yes, but that’s different. Against Kelson, I cannot lose. He’s but a boy, unskilled in his father’s trade. And you won’t be able to help him as you did his father fifteen years ago.”

“Don’t be too certain,” Morgan replied. “There is much of his father in him. And unlike his father, I am here this time to see that you don’t resort to treachery.”

“Why, Morgan, what a thing to say. Do you really think I’d bother? Of course, I did peek in on your precious princeling a little earlier this evening. . . .”

Morgan stiffened. “He’s safe from you this time. Tonight, all the powers in the universe couldn’t have broken my defenses.”

“That may well be true,” she conceded. “You set your wards most effectively. In fact, even I was impressed with your skill. I had thought a half-breed Deryni incapable of such highly developed expertise.”

Morgan forced himself to control his rising anger. “Having a goal helps immensely, Charissa. I’m determined you won’t succeed with this Haldane.”

“Why, that sounds almost like a challenge,” Charissa murmured archly. “That’s heartening, at least.” She glanced at her nails. “Well, you can depend on an energetic battle tomorrow—maybe even tonight. And I warn you in advance: There will be no quarter, no mercy.” Her eyes narrowed. “I intend to make you pay for what you did to my father. And I’ll do it by destroying the ones you love best, one at a time, slowly. And there is nothing, dear Morgan, nothing at all that you can do about it.”