But he had resolved to speak with Jessamy, at least, and contrived to drift into the castle gardens with the others, after the ceremony. He had hoped for a closer scrutiny of the child in her arms; but as he approached her, standing with her daughters and the queen amid half a dozen of the queen's other ladies, she handed the boy into the keeping of the queen herself, excused herself with a curtsy, and came to meet him before he could join them. Her expression was composed beneath the black wimple of recent widowhood that she wore, but he thought he detected wariness in the deep violet eyes. The marriage of her eldest daughter to his son, like her own marriage to Sief, had been arranged and required by the Camberian Council.
«My Lord Michon», she said coolly, offering him her hand. «Your presence honors this gathering. I caught a glimpse of you at my husband's funeral, but there was no opportunity to seek you out among the other mourners. How fortunate that you happened to be in Rhemuth when he passed away».
He knew she would be aware that his presence had owed little to mere fortune, then or now, but he made a courtly bow over her hand, unsurprised to find his cautious probe casually deflected and even dissipated by the odd, fuzzy shields that characterized Lewys ap Norfal's line. So far as he could tell, she did not seem to notice.
«Fortunate, indeed», he murmured. «And you have borne up bravely, through all of this. What a cruel irony, that Sief’s heart should fail him when he finally had a son».
She withdrew her hand and inclined her head, faint challenge in her eyes. «Fate often does deal in ironies, doesn't it?» she replied. «Pray, what keeps you here in Rhemuth?»
«I have business interests here, as you know», he said neutrally. «They are nearly finished now». He glanced at the knot of women cooing over the infant Krispin, who had set up a wail. «Your son seems a lusty bairn. Does he resemble you, or his father?»
«I couldn't possibly say. Both of us? Neither?» The answer was truthful but ambiguous, as Michon was certain had been her intention. «When they are this age, I have always observed that one baby looks remarkably like the next».
Michon allowed himself a tiny smile. «Indeed. Well, I shall be certain to render a glowing account of his christening to his sister and her children back in Rhondevala. No doubt she will be relieved to hear of his Majesty's generous gesture, in inviting you and his other sisters to remain in the royal household».
Jessamy inclined her head with prim graciousness. «I am a poor widow now, my lord, with no means of my own, so I am grateful that I and my children shall continue to have a roof over our heads and food in our mouths. And for Krispin to be educated alongside Prince Brion is a great honor — as is the dowry the king has promised his sisters».
«You are, indeed, fortunate», he said. «Clearly, faithful service to the king is very rewarding».
A hint of what might have been uncertainty briefly flickered in her eyes, but she did not lower her gaze.
«Both Sief and I have served the House of Haldane for many years, my lord», she said carefully, «so I hope that I and mine shall always remain their Majesties' good servants». She glanced back at the women surrounding the queen and the fretting Krispin. «You must excuse me, my lord. Sometimes only a mother's arms will serve to soothe a baby's crying. I pray you to give my devotion to my daughter and grandchildren».
«My lady».
He bowed to her back as she turned and hurried back toward the queen and her ladies, reviewing their exchange and considering all possible interpretations. Later that night, he recounted their conversation to the Camberian Council.
«She was very careful, wasn't she?» Barrett said, when Michon had finished.
«Methinks that she had reason to be», Michon replied.
«Then, you believe that Donal is the boy's father?» Vivienne asked, looking decidedly scandalized.
Michon shrugged. «I cannot be certain without examining the child, of course — or subjecting Jessamy herself to a proper interrogation — but I would say that it's entirely likely».
«Might it be possible to bring Jessamy here for questioning?» Dominy said.
«Not of her own accord. And I doubt she could be brought against her will without it coming to someone's notice».
«What about examining the child?» asked Oisín.
«That will be very difficult. I gather that he's to live in the royal nursery, apparently to be raised alongside Prince Brion — which is also suggestive of his true paternity».
Barrett sat back in his chair with a perplexed sigh. «Then, it appears that, at least for the nonce, we cannot resolve this question».
«I would have to agree», Michon said. «But if we're dealing with a Haldane by-blow — and a grandson of Lewys ap Norfal, as well — he's still an infant, only weeks old. It will be years before he could become any kind of serious threat — plenty of time to consider our options. Meanwhile, we have a vacant seat to fill on this Council. Has anyone had a change of heart?»
When no one spoke, he gave a nod to Oisín, who rose and went to a side table, where he pulled a drape of deep violet velvet from a fist-sized amber crystal set on a simple wooden stand. Shrouding his hands with the velvet, he picked up crystal and stand and carried them back to the table, setting them before the chair of the absent Seisyll. The drape he laid across the arms of that chair before taking his own seat again, to the right of Seisyll's.
«Is it late enough to be certain that he's asleep?» Vivienne asked.
Michon, to her left, gave a knowing chuckle.
«The governor's court at Ratharkin is not known for its scintillating night life, especially in these troubled times, and the negotiations being carried out by day will have been tedious, if not exhausting. I have little doubt but that Seisyll will have retreated to his bed by now. Nor, I think, could he long ignore our summons, amplified by Oisín's wee bauble». He nodded toward the crystal and laid his open palms to either side in invitation. «Shall we get on with it?»
The smiles of the other four acknowledged Michon's observation concerning the court of Meara, and they likewise laid their open hands to either side, each turning the left palm downward to overlap the neighbor's open right hand. Those flanking the empty chair called Camber's Siege stretched slightly to bridge the gap, and those to either side of Seisyll's chair lightly set their fingertips to the crystal, completing the circle.
«Now we are met. Now we are one with the ancients», Michon murmured.
«Benedicamus, Elohim», Oisín responded.
His long-drawn breath and whisper of a sigh set the trigger for all of them to begin settling into trance. Some of them briefly closed their eyes, each centering in his or her own way… stilling, focusing, shifting into another mode of consciousness. As a silence that was almost palpable settled on the room, every gaze gradually turned to the giant shiral crystal set before Seisyll's place, each one's concentration melding with the crystal.
At length a faint spark seemed to kindle within its amber depths, flickering and then flaring to a glowing heart that throbbed with a pulse-beat like a living thing — erratic at first, but then steadying as the heartbeats of the five settled into synchronization. It was Michon who then set the call, reaching out for the mind of their absent member and willing him to respond. After a moment, a mist began to form around the pulsing flame, swirling and then coalescing into the face of Seisyll Arilan.
I am here, came Seisyll's focused declaration. What is your wish? The handsome face was still and tranquil, the violet eyes dreamy and unfocused.