The King’s Justice Read Free Page B

That is trust.”
    Laran raised a silvered eyebrow. “Do you trust Kelson, then?” he asked. “Or you, Denis? Has the king bared his soul to you?”
    â€œIn the sense that Sofiana has just reminded us?” Arilan smiled. “Hardly that. He has come to me for confession on occasion, when Duncan McLain was not available, but that is another matter entirely. I believe , however, that his ultimate goals are the same as our own.”
    â€œAnd what of Nigel?” Tiercel asked impatiently. “In case anyone has forgotten, Kelson is going to attempt to pass on a part of his power tonight.”
    â€œAye, we’ve not forgotten,” Arilan agreed. “And I know where your argument is headed, Tiercel. Fortunately, the notion that more than one Haldane might hold that full power at a time has not occurred to our headstrong young renegades. But if all of you would like something else to worry about, consider this: Kelson has decided to have young Dhugal MacArdry present tonight. Now, there’s a one for you. I don’t know where he got it, but he’s at least part Deryni as well; and just because he didn’t know that until a few months ago doesn’t mean he hasn’t been learning since then from Kelson, Morgan, and Duncan.”
    Kyri made an expression of distaste, and Vivienne muttered something about “another half-breed.”
    â€œAnd then there’s Jehana,” Arilan went on, ignoring both women. “When she returns to court.…”
    All of them grew apprehensive at that, for the queen mother was of the same bloodline that had produced one Lewys ap Norfal—a Deryni of enormous ability and training who had defied the authority of the Council nearly a century before. Though Jehana knew nothing of that, and had spent a lifetime denying her Deryni blood, yet she had been able to flex long-unused potentials at Kelson’s coronation with sufficient strength to give serious pause to a highly trained sorceress who sought her son’s life.
    Nor had she yet reconciled that act with her conscience, even after nearly three years in the seclusion of a cloister. Her imminent return to court presented but another unknown factor, for Jehana was still quite hostile to Deryni.
    â€œShe will have to be watched closely,” Barrett said.
    Arilan nodded and sat back wearily in his chair, covering his eyes with his hand.
    â€œI know that,” he whispered.
    â€œAnd the king,” Vivienne joined in. “He must not be allowed to get the notion in his head that Nigel might keep his powers, once Kelson begets an heir of his own.”
    â€œI know all of that,” Arilan replied.
    But as the Council shifted its deliberations to other matters, Bishop Denis Arilan remained very much aware of the task laid upon him. He alone, of all the seven, must move regularly among the chaotic blending of uncertainties and try to maintain some sort of equilibrium.

C HAPTER O NE
    With arrows and with bow shall one come thither .
    â€”Isaiah 7:24
    â€œKelson,” Alaric Morgan said, as he and his king looked down on the bustling yard at Rhemuth Castle, “you’re becoming a hard, cruel man.” He ignored Kelson’s startled stare and continued blithely. “Half the ladies of this kingdom and several other realms are pining for you, yet you hardly give them a second glance.”
    Across the sunlit courtyard, bright as finches in their spring silks and satins and sarcenets, nearly a score of young females ranging in age from twelve to thirty chattered and postured among themselves along an overlooking balcony—ostensibly come to observe and applaud the men honing martial skills in the yard below, but equally to see and be seen by Gwynedd’s handsome and eligible young king. Admiring glances aplenty there were for others of the keen young men drilling with sword and lance and bow, for practicality recognized that the chance of any single one