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ie to prevent it。〃
〃Then I would make certain that they paid a high price for my life；〃 Conall retorted； 〃and I would die in battle…not at the hands of an executioner。〃
〃And are you so certain you have to die？〃
Conall snorted。 〃Do you take me for an idiot？ There's no way you can let me live； knowing what I can do。 If you don't kill me； you'll have to keep your best Deryni busy guarding me night and day for the rest of my life…because； having tasted the full sense of what it means to be a Haldane； I'll never rest now until the crown is mine。〃
And though he would have wished it almost any other way。 Kelson knew that this was true； for Conall permitted him to read it。 Nigel knew it； too； sitting propped against Duncan's shoulder and shielded by him…though he knew it not by any Haldane magic； but only honest human intuition and knowledge of his son。 His eyes were dark with righteous anger as he struggled weakly in Duncan's arms to sit up with more dignity。
〃I am ashamed for the honor of my family； Sire；〃 he said； as Kelson glanced in his direction。 〃He is my son； and I love him…but I do not like him。 All apart from what he did to his own father； he has tried to usurp the throne and kill my king。 For that I cannot forgive him。 He is a traitor。 He must die。〃
Nor could Meraude honestly plead her son's case； though she said nothing in words； only turning pointedly away from Conall as Kelson glanced at her。
〃My lady？〃 Kelson said softly； turning his attention reluctantly to Rothana。
She would not meet his eyes。
〃Do not ask me to speak for or against my husband； Sire；〃 she whispered。 〃Nor should my future be a factor in what you decide。 I shall never marry again…never！ So do what you know you must。 Do what you were born and have been trained to do。〃
Sighing； Kelson turned back to Conall； whose face had gone hopeful and then a little sad as Rothana spoke。 But the prince immediately resumed his expression of defiance as he looked back at Kelson； his arm tightening across Jass's throat。
〃She's said it all； hasn't she？〃 he said。 〃Do what you must。 And I shall do what I must。〃
〃Very well；〃 Kelson said wearily。 〃I suppose you must have your Duel Arcane。 Now release Jass。〃
〃And how do I know you will not order the archers to shoot me before we can meet in bat？〃 Conall countered。 as Jehana slowly stood； suddenly realizing what was about to happen。 〃Remember； I've used the archers before； cousin。 I know what they can do。〃
Kelson snorted derisively； but his mere glance made Jehana sit down again。
〃I shall give you my word。〃
〃Truly？〃 Conall replied。 〃On your honor and on the Haldane sword？〃
Kelson colored； but he knew Conall had read him correctly。 Kelson Haldane could not break an oath thus sworn。
〃I swear on my honor and by this Haldane sword that 1 shall give you honorable bat； according to the ancient tenets laid down for the Duel Arcane…with two qualifications。 First； if at any time before or during the bat you violate the terms； all oaths go by the boards； and I shall be free to deal with you in any manner I see fit。〃
〃A reasonable concession； since I do not intend to violate the terms；〃 Conall agreed。 〃And the second qualification？〃
〃The second qualification is that the Duel Arcane shall not necessarily be to the death within the circle； but only until one of us has a clear victory over the other。 Presumably that will be me。〃
〃A somewhat arrogant presumption； don't you think； cousin？〃 Conall retorted。 〃Or are you afraid to die in the circle？〃
Kelson only shook his head sadly。 〃I do not intend to die anywhere today； Conall。 But I do intend that you shall not have an honorable death in battle； but shall face just execution in the manner befitting a traitor。〃
The answer clearly angered Conall； but he seemed to realize that no more concessions were likely to be forthing。
〃Very well； then。 The question is moot； in any case。 since I do not intend to die； either。 But I swear by my honor…for whatever you may think that is worth…that I likewise shall abide by the terms of Duel Arcane； with the two conditions you have set。 Which settles that；〃 he added； rolling the pliant Jass off him and getting to his feet。
The archers stirred uneasily； some of them starting to raise their bows again； but Kelson's gesture stayed them。
〃Let no one interfere；〃 he said； rising briskly to hand his sword to Dhugal。
His crown he gave into Nigel's keeping； in pointed recognition that Nigel was still the heir； even if Conall should manage to win。 As Kelson came down from the dais； Morgan was helping the groggy Jass to a seat on the steps。 The king paused to convey his concern； setting one hand on the young border knight's shoulder。
〃Are you all right； Jass？〃
〃Aye； Sire。 I didnae want tae let him use me like that but I couldnae help myself。〃
〃Not your fault；〃 Kelson murmured。 〃Don't worry about it。 Alaric； do I need to be concerned on Jass's account？ Conall hasn't planted any unpleasant surprises； has he？〃
Morgan shook his head； tight…lipped。 〃It was strictly a contact control。 There are no residuals。 But be careful； my prince。 From his Haldane potentials； Conall could be as powerful as you are。 And there's no way to predict what additional information and skills he may have gotten from Tiercel。〃
〃Well； he still hasn't got Deryni blood；〃 Kelson replied； glancing up at Jehana with a reassuring smile。 〃Maybe that will make the difference。〃
〃That； or experience；〃 Morgan agreed。 〃Fortunately； he's new at this game。 That's a disadvantage； regardless of how good his teacher was。 Good luck； my prince。〃
Kelson nodded as he straightened。 Conall was standing alone in the center of the hall； arms crossed on his chest； a faint glint of anxious anticipation lighting his otherwise smug expression。 Someone had removed the chair to the side。 As their eyes met。 Kelson came down from the dais。 Instantly the assembled lords began backing off to clear a larger space in the center of the hall； for many had been present when Kelson and Charissa dueled and knew what kinds of energies shortly would be raised and exchanged。
〃You're sure you want to do this？〃 Kelson asked quietly。
For just an instant； Conall looked uncertain。 But then he nodded emphatically。
〃You've given me no choice；〃 he whispered。 〃I'm backed into a corner。 No matter what I do； I'm going to die。 But if I take you with me； that's something； isn't it？ I only wanted what was rightfully mine。 Kelson； but you were the king； and you wouldn't give it to me。〃
Kelson snorted contemptuously。 〃When did you ever demonstrate that you deserved to be given anything beyond what your birth entitled you to； by courtesy？ You could have followed in your father's footsteps； Conall。 Would that have been such a terrible fate？〃
〃My father may be a great warrior； but he has no ambition；〃 Conall replied。 〃He might have been content to be always in second place but I can't be。 It isn't in my nature。〃
〃Is it in your nature to accept disgrace； then？〃 Kelson countered。 〃Because that's the only thing you can hope to gain by this display。〃
〃One of us will gain disgrace； but it shan't be I！〃
〃This is pointless；〃 Kelson murmured。 〃Cast the circle。〃
〃Me？〃 Conall squeaked。
〃Yes； you