“No one has approached the Council about a mediation, Denis. You must be mistaken.”

“Mistaken?”

Arilan stared at Coram in surprise, shock quickly yielding to suspicion as Coram’s bland expression did not change.

“Oh, come now, don’t act so innocent. Wencit of Torenth has many faults, but stupidity is not one of them. Not even he would dare to make a claim like that unless he could back it up. Do you dare to tell me that you know nothing about it?”

Tiercel sat back in his chair and sighed, a scowl creasing his handsome features. “Stefan speaks for us all, Denis. There has been no communication from Wencit regarding any matter, much less a Duel Arcane. You know that I side with you and the king. I would not lie to you.”

Arilan forced himself to relax, willed his hands to be steady as he rested them on the edge of the table and sat back in his chair. If Wencit had not approached the Council, then…?

“I begin to see,” he murmured, his gaze softening as he continued to scan the Council. “My lords, ladies, you must forgive me. It appears that we—the king and I—have been the victims of an audacious hoax. Wencit tells us that there will be official Council arbitration of the duel, hoping to lull us into a feeling of false security. Then he appears at the duel with only his three—or, no. He and his chosen three appear at the duel with four additional men impersonating a Council arbitration team. He does not know that I am a member of the Council, or even that I am Deryni. And how could Kelson be expected to know the members of the Council by sight? Until a few hours ago, he didn’t even know about us. Treachery, treachery!”

The Council was still in shock, ill-accustomed to dealing so quickly with matters so grave as this. It had been years since the authority of the Council had been openly defied. The older members still could not believe that such a thing was happening, though the younger ones were beginning to assess the implications. Tiercel, who had spoken before, glanced at his colleagues and then sat forward thoughtfully.

“Denis, who is named in Wencit’s challenge?”

“Somewhat unusually, it is to be a four-way Duel Arcane,” Arilan replied. “Wencit, his kinsman Lionel, Rhydon, and Bran Coris, on Wencit’s side. With Kelson would be Morgan and McLain and, presumably, myself. Wencit did not name us specifically, but there is no one else.” He paused. “But I do not intend to fight Wencit where there is treachery involved—not under his terms, at least. I claim Council protection for myself and my colleagues. The protection of the real Council.”

Barrett cleared his throat uneasily. “I fear that will be impossible, Denis, though I regret it for your sake. Not all of those whom you have named are Deryni.”

“They are not all full Deryni,” Arilan conceded. “However, all of them are being obliged to function as full Deryni. Do you object to Morgan and McLain still?”