“You have done something to him!” Loris whispered, pointing a shaking finger at Warin. “You have used your vile powers to corrupt his mind. He would not have had this change of heart if you had not meddled.”

Morgan took a step forward, restrained menace in every line of his body. “Do not forget to whom you speak, Archbishop,” he said, his voice silky but deadly. “Even a king’s patience can reach the breaking point.”

“Ach!” Loris flung up his hands in disgust and rolled his eyes heavenward. “Must we listen to this heretic? I have nothing more to say to either of you. We will not be shaken in our faith.”

“Then you will be incarcerated here at Coroth until you reach a change of heart,” Kelson said quietly. “We will not brook defiance from any subject, even an archbishop. Guards, take Archbishop Loris into custody and escort him to a suitable place of confinement. Bishop Cardiel, we hereby designate you as acting Primate of Gwynedd, until such time as the Curia can meet officially to either ratify your appointment or choose some other loyal bishop more to their liking. Archbishop Edmund Loris is no longer acceptable in the eyes of the Crown.”

“You cannot do that!” Loris raged, as two guards restrained him. “This is absurd!”

“Hold you tongue, Archbishop, or we shall have you gagged. Now, those of you who do not wish to share His Excellency’s fate have but two alternatives. If you feel that you cannot, in good conscience, unite with us to repel the invader Wencit, we shall free you to retire to the sanctuary of your respective sees, on condition that you swear neutrality until this conflict is resolved.

“But if you cannot give us that pledge of neutrality, we ask that you not forswear yourselves by pretending that you can. You would be far better off in custody here at Coroth than to face our wrath when we discover that you have broken faith with us.

“For the rest of you—and we pray that there may be some—we offer an opportunity to renounce the actions you have pursued for these past months and restore your good names. If any of you will bend your knee to us now and renew your allegiance to the Crown, we will be pleased to grant full pardon for past offenses and welcome you back into our company. Your prayers and support will be sorely needed when we face Wencit of Torenth a few days hence.”

He let his gaze search the faces of the watching prelates once again. “Well, my Lords? Which is it to be? The dungeon, the monastery, or the Crown? You have no other choices.”

The conditions Kelson had offered were too much for the infuriated Loris.

“He offers you no choice,” the archbishop ranted. “There can be no other choice where heresy is concerned! Corrigan, you will not betray your faith, will you? Creoda, Conlan, surely you do not mean to bend to this brash young king’s mistaken will?”