«This is all distressing news, to be sure», Barrett said after a moment. «However, I am somewhat heartened by your report of Alyce de Corwyn through all of this sad unfolding. Her handling of the interrogation of the suspects was masterful — avoiding as much as she could of any outward show of her abilities».
Seisyll inclined his head. «True enough. She seemed to sense the importance of caution in the presence of Lord Deldour — for she will have known that, whatever passed in that room, and whatever became of Father Septimus, word would find its way back to Bishop Oliver».
«She has good sense», Khoren agreed. «Fortunately, Truth-Reading is perhaps the least threatening of all our talents, since it does not involve any direct interference with the person being read».
Seisyll gave a nod of agreement. «Aye, it was exceedingly well done. I would love to know what training has given her such wisdom. But since she already knew of de Nore's part in the affair, mere Truth-Reading was sufficient in the case of the guilty pair — and by inducing the one to inform on the other, our Alyce cleverly avoided having to compel answers from any of them.
«And once the first man was discovered in his lie», Michon agreed, «it was he who exposed his fellow — mostly out of fear for what more she might do, if answers were not forthcoming. That is both our strength and our vulnerability among humans — that they don't know what we can actually do».
A few of them chuckled at that, for it was perfectly true.
«What has been the reaction?» Barrett asked. «Nothing has yet reached Nur Sayyid».
Seisyll shrugged. «Bishop Oliver is said to be livid over the outcome, as one might expect, but that is largely a question of the authority of the Church, aside from his personal pique at having lost a brother; Septimus was a murderer, after all, and had betrayed his office.
«Few question the fate of the two sodomites. Among the common folk — those who know of it — I have talked to no one who argues with the king's disposition of the case. Though some might have stopped short of the gelding, all seem to agree that the punishment did fit the crime-especially since the two did acquiesce to the victim's death».
«Then, it appears we must wait to see what further develops on that front», Oisín said. «I am very glad I do not live down in Carthane». He slapped his palm against the ivory table, shaking his head. «'Why did they do it?»
«Not for the obvious reasons», Barrett said evenly. «It will not have been a matter of lust. Resentment might be a better guess — even hatred. Young Krispin had been invested as a page that day. Most at court no longer remark that his mother is Deryni, but it is known; and some would resent that he was being brought up with the royal children. He was an intimate of the king’s sons — and their corruptor, by the reckoning of some, simply by association, by the sheer fact of being what he was».
«Was that sufficient motive to kill him?» Dominy asked.
«It all would have played a part», Michon agreed. «And opportunity also would have been a factor, especially with drink having been taken».
«Then, what about Alyce de Corwyn?» Khoren asked. «She is far more prominent than Jessamy, especially since the death of her brother».
«But she is marrying a human», Vivienne pointed out. «By giving her to Kenneth Morgan, the king has chosen to dilute the blood of the only Deryni ducal line in the land. That would reassure some; it disturbs me. Especially with Corwyn being the principal barrier between Gwynedd and Torenth».
'This is a cause for concern», Michon agreed. «But short of killing off Kenneth Morgan and having one of our kind abduct Alyce and marry her by force, the way her father did with Stevana de Corwyn, there is no way to change what has now been set in motion. Pray, rather, that Alyce de Corwyn quickly bears male heirs — for Kenneth Morgan is a good and honorable man, and will instill the same qualities in his sons. And while you are praying, think how much worse it could be if Alyce bears no heirs at all».
«Feh! A half-breed on the ducal throne in Corwyn!» Vivienne muttered.
«Patience, Vivienne!» Barrett said with a gentle laugh. «Alyce de Corwyn is not yet even wed!»
Chapter 28
«We shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate».[29]
Donal Haldane had not heard the last regarding his disposition of Krispin MacAthan's murderers. The execution of Lord Deldour’s two guardsmen was largely accepted as just, under the circumstances, and soon forgotten; however, the killing of Septimus de Nore quickly became a cause célèbre, especially among Gwynedd's clergy. Septimus had been a priest and the brother of a bishop, and denying him due benefit of clergy was an affront that Gwynedd's hierarchy was not willing to overlook, even for a king.
«They've been waiting for several hours now, Sire», Sir Tiarnán MacRae told the king, in the selfsame withdrawing room where the infamous interrogation had taken place two weeks earlier. Sir Kenneth Morgan and Seisyll Arilan had been closeted with the king all morning, discussing the latest letter of protest.
«I suppose I must see them», the king said with a sigh.
«Aye, Sire, I fear you must», Seisyll replied. «Bishop de Nore is threatening an excommunication, if you do not humble yourself before the Church and repent of your action. For him, it is a personal affront, for you killed his brother; but for the Church, it is a matter of having overstepped your authority, trying a matter that, by canon law, belonged before an ecclesiastical court».
The king had been listening with growing impatience as Seisyll told him what he did not wish to hear — which was only Seisyll's appointed function, after all — and rose explosively to begin pacing.
«Seisyll, the man murdered one of my pages! A child! And why? Apparently, to cover up the crimes of two more men. And why did they do what they did? Who knows? A passion of the moment? A drunken indulgence? Or was it a lashing out at someone they knew to be Deryni, and therefore to be hated? — and moreover, one too young to defend himself!»
«Whatever their motive, Sire, you uncovered their guilt by employing the assistance of another hated Deryni», Seisyll said calmly. «I think that will have stuck in de Nore's craw almost as much as the fact that you executed his brother».
«No one complains when I use Morian's services, in the field», the king muttered.
«No, but Morian is far away in Meara, and that is war», Seisyll replied. «Here in Rhemuth, two weeks ago, you also flouted the authority of the Church. That is what will get you excommunicated, if you tread not carefully».
«Do you expect me to apologize? Well, I won't. Nothing can excuse what that foul priest did. Nothing! And I think that even King Solomon would have been hard-pressed to render a more fitting judgment».
«Nonetheless, the Church will uphold its right to deal with its own», Seisyll replied. «Don't say that I did not warn you, Sire».
«Yes, yes, I've been warned», the king grumbled as he moved to a chair of state facing the doorway. «Come and stand behind me — you and Kenneth, both. We might as well see what this latest delegation has to say».
At his nod, Sir Tiarnán opened the door and gestured into the corridor beyond, whence three clerics shortly appeared. Tiarnán himself stepped outside and closed the door.
Though all three men wore the plain black cassocks of working priests, two of the three sported the purple skullcaps of bishops, with pectoral crosses on their breasts and amethysts on their fingers. The senior of them was well known to the king and his advisors: Desmond MacCartney, auxiliary bishop to William Archbishop of Rhemuth — and William's brother. The other bishop was more recently come to the purple, though Donal had heard that young Patrick Corrigan was slated for rapid rise in the hierarchy. The third man seemed to be but a priest, though Donal had never seen him before.