tion。 We're due back at the council meeting very shortly； but why don't we closet ourselves with Alaric afterward and get to the bottom of this？ I'll be fascinated to see whether you react the same to him as you do to me； Dhugal … though I warn you； you could react just as easily as you did to Kelson's probe。〃
Dhugal grimaced； but he hobbled gamely between them as they started back down the nave。
〃Just warn me before anybody else touches me。 Father。 If General Morgan … 〃
But he was not given time to plete the thought。 As the three of them reached the narthex； pulling up cloak hoods against the snow falling outside the postern door； Morgan himself came through the narrow doorway； acpanied by a worried…looking Nigel。 Morgan gave them all a grim； distracted smile and sketched a bow to Kelson as he pulled a parchment packet from inside his tunic。 Nigel brushed snow from his shoulders and stamped his feet as Morgan handed the parchment to the king。
〃This arrived within the present hour； my prince；〃 Morgan said； scanning the narthex as he signalled Nigel to pull the door shut behind them。 〃I had a little difficulty finding where you'd gone。 It's a reply from Ratharkin； though I fear it isn't the answer any of us would have wished。〃
The parchment was heavy with pendant seals and dark with the meticulous script of someone who had favored a broad nib to his pen。 Kelson skipped over the first few lines； with their expected formulae of titles and assumed titles。 The crux of the message was contained in only a few terse phrases。
。。。 that We do not intend to surrender ourselves； and further； that if you do not immediately give indication of your willingness to return our son and daughter。 Bishop Henry Istelyn will suffer for it。 As earnest of our determination； We send you his ring。。。。
The missive was signed by Caitrin and Sicard； as co…rulers of Meara； and witnessed by Prince Ithel； Archbishop Loris； and a host of other bishops； expected and unexpected； eight in all。
〃I can't say I'm surprised at the demand；〃 Kelson observed； scanning the script a second time； 〃though I am surprised at the amount of support Loris managed to gather in so short a time。 He must have been laying his groundwork for several years … all the while he was in prison。 He almost got enough names to set up a counter…synod like last time。 Do you think he will； Duncan？〃
〃I should think it almost inevitable。 Sire；〃 Duncan replied； peering over his shoulder。
〃There's more to it； I'm afraid；〃 Morgan said； drawing a small wooden box out of the front of his tunic。 〃This was with the letter。 It's going to put you in a very unenviable position。〃
〃I'm already in an unenviable position；〃 Kelson said； taking the box and turning it to worry at the clasp； 〃though I fail to see what Caitrin thinks she can offer that would make me trade Sidana and Llewell for Istelyn。〃
〃I suspect we have Loris to thank for this little piece of work；〃 Morgan said quietly； as Kelson opened the box。 〃The note； at least； is his。 The rest； I fear； is from Istelyn。 And more than just his ring。〃
Kelson's eyes widened and he recoiled so violently that he nearly dropped the box。
〃Sweet Jesu！〃 he gasped； his eyes darting to the others as if to seek denial of what his eyes saw。 〃Look what they've done！〃
Lying on a curl of closely inscribed parchment inside was Istelyn's bishop's ring； with the cut…off finger still inside。
〃And Loris threatens to send ever more important parts of our captive bishop until you relent；〃 Morgan said quietly。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Let our strength be the law of justice： for that which is feeble is found to be nothing worth。
Wisdom of Solomon 2：11
〃I had begun to suspect Loris had no conscience； but I never dreamed even he would be this ruthless；〃 Archbishop Bradene said a short time later； when the king had presented his council with Caitrin's ultimatum and Loris' grisly postscript。 〃Certainly I never thought the Lady Caitrin would be a party to such an act。〃
〃You underestimate the lady's desire to be queen。 Sire；〃 Ewan muttered。
Cardiel nodded grimly。 〃His Grace is right。 Sire。 Nor should we forget how persuasive Loris can be when it suits him。 God knows he nearly fooled many of us； two years ago。 And he's certainly fooled the other bishops who've joined him this time； in Ratharkin。〃
〃Just now； my concern is with the bishop who didn't join him；〃 Kelson said； 〃and whose finger lies in that box。〃
His curt gesture between himself and Morgan； where the box weighted a er of the offensive letter； renewed the anger which had flared in every heart at his first reporting of the outrage。
〃Unfortunately； I fear this is only a taste of what Loris has in store for Istelyn；〃 Kelson went on after a studied pause。 〃Be that as it may； I cannot agree to the Mearan terms。 Nor may I sacrifice my kingdom for the sake of one man； however precious he may be to all of us。 As my council； you must know that at the outset。〃
They were not his full council； for several important members had not yet arrived from their outland holdings to keep the pulsory Christmas Court with the king； but they represented some of Gwynedd's finest minds。 Kelson knew some of those minds in quite a literal sense； but without making unwarranted use of his powers； he could only guess about the others。
Morgan was no mystery； of course … at least in his feelings on this matter。 Seated as usual at the king's right hand； he was as close as a touch； whether of hand or of mind。 Morgan had spent his outrage on his first inspection of the letter and the box； so that now only cool purpose remained … that his old adversary should not have the ultimate victory。
Duncan occupied the next chair； where once his father and brother had sat as Duke of Cassan and Earl of Kierney； and after him came Ewan； senior of Gwynedd's three nonroyal dukes。 Kelson sensed an uneasiness in Duncan which was as much an aftereffect of their interplay with Dhugal as a concern about Istelyn； but Ewan required no Deryni reading at all； he would say what he thought； when he thought it； as he always had。
Beyond Ewan sat Bishops Arilan and Hugh de Berry … the Deryni Arilan； whom Kelson could not have read even if he dared to try； and the earnest and faithful Hugh； touchingly human。 Arilan had resigned a council seat on taking up the See of Dhassa； but Hugh had never been a member。 Hugh had been secretary to Loris' deceased colleague； Patrick Corrigan； however； which meant he knew Loris as well as any man present。
Dhugal knew Loris； too … not as intimately； but certainly more recently … and he was acquainted with the Mearan royal family as well； which none of the rest of them were。 He was not an official member of the council either； though Kelson planned to remedy that once Dhugal had been formally confirmed as Earl of Transha。 Now that they had been reunited； the king wanted his foster brother at his side … especially in light of Dhugal's unexpected but intriguing shields。 The recent probing of those shields； as well as Dhugal's on…going disfort from his aggravated injuries； had left the young border lord a little shaky； but he was at Kelson's side now； perched self…consciously on a stool between Kelson and Archbishop Bradene。
Archbishop Cardiel sat next to Bradene； and Jodrell and Saer de Traheme beyond them； all four new to the council since Kelson's accession。 Nigel occupied the chair at the opposite end of the table； as heir presumptive； with Conall as an unofficial observer at his right。
〃No one questions your position。 Sire；〃 Bradene said quietly； when a few of the others began to fidget at the lengthy silence。 〃Least of all would Istelyn question it。 According to what young Dhugal has told us； Istelyn is totally resigned to the consequences of his loyalty。〃 He sighed。 〃I fear we can do nothing save to offer up our prayers for his deliverance。〃
〃Prayers will not deliver him from the agony Loris intends for him；〃 Arilan murmured under his breath。 〃If I could give him the coup and save him Loris' spite； I would。〃
Arilan's open espousal of an act the Church forbade as murder startled Bradene and Hugh； each only recently emerged from the relative shelter of cloister or academia。 But the coup de grace was an ackno