Arilan started to speak, but Kelson held up an imperious hand. “No, I will not hear your comfort just now, Bishop. Allow me the luxury of feeling guilty for what I’ve had to do. In the realities of being who and what I am, I know that, all too soon, this will seem merely expedient. But not today.

“No, today I must go out of this circle, with you, my loyal friends, and face the cheers of my people, who will be overjoyed at the victory I have brought them. There I will receive the hollow homage of a child-prince whose father I have killed, give back another fatherless child to a woman whose husband I have slain—even though he deserved to die—and I will be expected to look as though I am pleased at the entire thing. You will pardon me, gentlemen, if I do not rejoice.”

He hefted Wencit’s crown in his hand and glanced at it dejectedly, then turned to look at them again.

“Come, gentlemen, the king plays out his role. The populace is waiting. If my smile of victory occasionally goes a little ragged around the edges, you will know the reason why.”

He lifted his head, and the circle glowed and was dissolved; the magic fell away. And as the king emerged, bearing the crown of Torenth in his hands, there arose a great cheering from the army of Gwynedd, and a great battering of swords and spears against shields to show their approval, and a thundering of horses’ hooves as the king’s men came riding out to meet him.

The four Deryni who had overseen it all laid their white and golden mantles upon the shoulders of the victors, that the words of the scripture might be fulfilled. And the friends of the king placed him upon a white horse, that he might be better seen as he rode to the men of Torenth’s lines to claim his victory.

But the crown lay heavily that day upon the Heir of Haldane.

INDEX OF CHARACTERS

(*Indicates a deceased character, or one only mentioned indirectly.)

ALAIN—Morgan’s alias at Saint Torin’s.

ALARIC Anthony Morgan, Duke—see MORGAN, Duke Alaric Anthony.

ALROY, Prince—eldest son of Duke Lionel, age twelve; heir to Wencit of Torenth.

ARILAN, Bishop Denis—see DENIS Arilan, Bishop.

BARRETT de Laney, Lord—blind coadjutor of the Camberian Council; full Deryni.

BENNETT—a sergeant in the service of Bran Coris.

BRADENE, Bishop—Bishop of Grecotha; a famed scholar; remained neutral in the Interdict schism at Dhassa.

BRAN Coris, Lord—traitor Earl of Marley; husband of Richenda and father of Brendan.

BRENDAN, Lord—four-year-old son of Bran Coris and Richenda.

*BRION Donal Cinhil Urien Haldane—late King of Gwynedd and father of Kelson; slain by Charissa’s magic at Candor Rhea.

*BRONWYN de Morgan—deceased younger sister of Alaric Morgan; betrothed of Kevin McLain, with whom she was slain by illicit magic at Culdi.

BURCHARD, Lord—one of Jared’s generals; escaped the slaughter at Rengarth with General Gloddruth.

*CAMBER of Culdi, Saint—full-Deryni patron of magic; responsible for the Haldane Restoration in 904.