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〃No！〃 Conall replied。 〃I was jealous…I admit that…but I never actually would have done anything to Kelson。 He was my king。〃
〃Yet you put merasha in Dhugal's wine flask； knowing that Kelson might drink from it； too；〃 Duncan said。 〃Surely you knew what it would do。〃
〃I know nothing about merasha；〃 Conall insisted； though none of the Deryni present had any doubt that he was lying。 〃I was…jealous ofDhugal； too； but I never would have tried to kill him。〃
〃But you were quick to take advantage of the situation； once you believed Kelson and Dhugal were dead；〃 Archbishop Bradene said。
Defiantly Conall lifted his head。
〃Fate seemed to have eliminated both my rivals； without my lifting a finger；〃 he said haughtily。 〃Meanwhile； I had a responsibility to my royal line。 Everyone believed that Kelson was dead…including Alaric and Duncan！ And that meant that my father was king…and I was his heir。 It was appropriate that I take a suitable bride at once and secure the succession； as my royal cousin had failed to do。 Whatever else I may have done in error； I at least have fulfilled my dynastic duty； for my lady wife carries my child。 Nor is there any crime in that。〃
And indeed； there was none； no man could say there was； though many might lament that it had occurred； after the fact。 All eyes turned toward Rothana in shock； but she only kept her head bowed over her clasped hands； sitting forlornly on her bench near Niger s pallet。
〃And what of Tiercel's death？〃 Duncan asked。 〃Do you maintain that there was no crime in that； either？〃
〃It was an accident；〃 Conall replied。 〃We argued。 Both of us said things we shouldn't have。 It degenerated into pushing； and he…went over backwards and hit his head。 I didn't mean to kill him； but I was afraid I would be blamed。〃
〃And you were feeling guilty； because you had been seeing Tiercel secretly；〃 Morgan added coldly。 〃And the reason you were seeing him secretly is because you were engaged in a crime with him…for you were plotting to usurp the Haldane magic； which has always been reserved to the senior Haldane。 You planned eventually to rival the king for the throne。 That's why； when Duncan and I took measures to confirm you in the Haldane powers…after you had struck down your own father with your illicit power…both of us had the feeling that something was not quite right。 We couldn't really confirm you in the power； because you had already usurped it for yourself； in defiance of the law。〃
〃No！ It wasn't that way at all！〃
〃Then； how was it； cousin？〃 Kelson demanded。 〃We know that Tiercel always maintained that more than one Haldane could hold the power at a time…and you two set out to prove it； didn't you？ And now we know exactly why it was always forbidden before。〃
The interrogation went on for several hours。 Partway through it； an overjoyed but fearful Jehana arrived； escorted by Father Ambros； but Duncan intercepted them and had Ambros take her to a seat in one of the upper galleries before she could interrupt； for Kelson did not need her distraction at a time like this。 Kelson marked her arrival； but he did not allow it to shake his resolve。 He sighed and slowly nodded when Conall at last wound down in his latest attempt at justification。
〃It's pointless to continue this；〃 the king said quietly。 〃Your very refusal to allow yourself to be Truth…Read condemns you； Conall。 What would you do； if you were I？ How would you resolve this sad； sad state of affairs？〃
Conall； sitting dejectedly in a straight…backed chair； with Morgan and Jass MacArdry standing guard to right and left of him； lifted his bound hands in a weary； futile gesture。
〃What else could I do but kill me； cousin？〃 he said bitterly。 〃You killed my chances long ago of rising to my true birthright。 And no matter what I say； you will condemn me now。〃
Kelson shifted uneasily； knowing that it was so。 But before he could open his mouth to say anything； Conall suddenly gave a desperate lurch to the left and looped his bound wrists over Jass's head； bearing him backwards onto the floor； with Jass's body shielding his。 He had overturned his chair as he launched himself from it； but； before it could hit the floor； he kicked it deftly into Morgan's path so that Morgan tripped and fell with it。 Simultaneously； he conjured a blazing aura of white light around himself and Jass that immediately made Morgan recoil。
〃Call off the archers； or he's a dead man！〃 Conall shouted； wrenching his head wildly from side to side to try to watch them all as Jass subsided jerkily。 〃I don't want to kill him； but； if I'm going to die anyway； I've got nothing to lose。 Morgan； get back！ You know what I can do。 And if one arrow touches me； I can kill Jass before it kills me。 I mean it！〃
Kelson had sprung to his feet as the struggle erupted； and Dhugal was halfway down the dais steps…as； indeed； half the court had started forward instinctively； while the archers took aim and the rest of the MacArdry men began to move…but the king's stiff gesture halted all further notion of intervention； at least for the moment。
〃Conall don't be a fool！〃 Kelson said。 〃Don't add deliberate murder to your list of crimes。 What did Jass ever do to you？〃
Conall only smiled and whispered something in Jass's ear； his eves bright with defiance。 The young border knight had ceased his struggling； arms slack at his sides to further shield Conall and his eyes were half…closed。 The field of energy keeping Morgan at bay distorted Deryni perception of precisely what else Conall was doing； but not enough to disguise the fact that he had taken control of Jass's mind…for Jass's hands slowly raised to begin untying Conall's wrists。
〃Why don't you go ahead and have them cut me down； Kelson？〃 Conall taunted； glancing up triumphantly at the hesitant archers as Jass worked at the knots。 〃Kill me； the way you cut down Sicard MacArdry last summer。 But I don't think you'll risk Jass's life further； if you can bargain instead。〃
〃I don't bargain with traitors； Conall；〃 Kelson said coldly； raising a hand to stay the archers in the balconies above。 〃But； just to humor me； suppose you tell me what you want。 Surely you don't think I'd let you walk out of here； after what you've done。〃
Conall； his wrists freed at last； slid his right hand back to twist it several times in Jass's border braid； keeping the young knight's head very close to his own while his other arm stayed close around the young man's neck。
〃I want you to face me in a proper Duel Arcane；〃 Conall said softly； a wild； crafty look lighting his eyes。 〃I want you to face me the way you faced Charissa at your coronation… except that this time； the oute will be a little different； because I've got Tiercel de Claron's knowledge behind me to augment all the Haldane power we've both got。〃
A ripple of indignation and disapproval rose and fell in the crowded hall； especially among the Deryni； but Kelson only set his jaw； barely containing his anger。
〃Do you really think that would solve anything？ Even if you won； Conall； no one would accept you。 If you killed me； you wouldn't walk out of this hall alive； no matter how many innocent people had to die to prevent it。〃
〃Then I would make certain that they paid a high price for my l