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〃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。 You started all of this。 You can start this final folly； too。 Or don't you know how？〃
The gibe had its desired effect。 Drawing himself up in wounded pride； Conall backed off three stiff paces and。 without further preliminary； raised his arms above his head and then to the sides； murmuring a setting spell under his breath。 A semicircle of crimson fire sprang up on the floor behind and around him； sending watching courtiers scurrying farther back to flatten themselves along the south wall of the hall； those on Kelson's side also retreating into the window embrasures on the north side。
Kelson tested at the barrier Conall had raised； satisfying himself that it would not require a death to release it； once he pleted his part of the spell； then swept his own arms up and outward in a graceful arc； holding as he uttered the words that would produce the counter。 More crimson fire sprang up behind him； matching Conall's； enclosing them both now in a circle of red。
〃Your turn again；〃 Kelson said； lowering his arms。
The lightness of the king's tone； suggesting the triviality of whatever Conall might attempt； angered the wayward prince； but Conall only raised his arms to shoulder level again； his palms turned inward toward the center of the circle。
〃If you're expecting some trite piece of poetry； don't；〃 Conall said。 〃My teacher didn't believe in such things。 I affirm that the circle shall contain all power that we shall raise within it； so that none outside may be harmed； and that it shall not be broken until one of us has achieved a clear victory over the other。 Is that your understanding？〃
〃It is。〃 Kelson agreed； also raising his arms again。 And at Conall's nod。 Kelson began to pour energy into the binding of the circle as Conall did likewise； only barely aware； in his concentration； that the fire of the two arcs they had cast was rising to define a dome above their heads。 When they were done； it was as if they stood beneath a dome of pinkish； faintly opalescent glass。
Almost as soon as the dome was in place。 Kelson shifted into an assault mode； not even bothering to glance outside as he stalked closer to the center of the circle； away from the barrier ring。 Under the circumstances； he was not given to theatrics； so there was little outward sign of the energies he began to gather…for as challenged； he did not intend to forfeit the right of first strike simply because Conall was of his blood。 The attack was launched almost before Conall realized that battle was joined。
Conall staggered a little； absorbing the force of that first assault； but his shields wavered not at all； and he responded with a series of traditional testing spells that Kelson had countered before。 The king did so again； with ease； and launched the expected testing spells of his own…which Conall answered as readily as Kelson had answered Conall's。
What followed next became a more earnest battle of wit and power。 For a time； Kelson decided merely to hold firm and let Conall spend his first exuberance on pointless assaults。 Conall took up the challenge； fueling his attacks with increasingly vivid visual imagery…nightmare visions out of his own worst dreams at first； but then a relentless succession of images out of Kelson's past； people and events that had either threatened Kelson or brought him great hurt： the fanatical and slightly mad Archbishop Loris； who had so terrorized Duncan； the doomed Sicard MacArdry； Dhugal's traitor uncle； to whom Conall had alluded before； falling helplessly with a war arrow in his eye； shot down by Kelson himself within a ring of Haldane knights and archers； unable to escape； Sicard's elder son； Prince Ithel of Meara； choking out his life at the end of a rope by Kelson's order； unshriven and unrepentant； another Mearan prince； a priest and bishop named Judhael； bowing before the headsman； Prince Llewell of Meara Ithel's younger brother； accusing Kelson of blame for Sidana's death； just before the executioner took his head…and finally； Sidana herself； drowning in her own blood in Kelson's arms； the gore defiling the sacred altar before which they had just recited marriage vows。
That last shook Kelson most of all…until Conall followed up with vivid； graphic images of his own wedding night with Rothana that reverberated in Kelson's memory with his own erotic dream about her； during his ordeal in the cavern。
But it also brought back the memory of that other visitation within the cavern shrine…of the shrine's patron； grey…clad and powerful； standing at the edge of his circle and asking admittance； and Kelson had given it to him。 He called on Saint Camber's presence now； conjuring his image in as fine a detail as he could…the quicksilver eyes that a man could drown in； so very like Haldane eyes； the roundish； kindly…looking face surrounded by silver…gilt hair； the gentle but powerful hands reaching inexorably toward his head… toward Conall's head。
And suddenly； Conall saw the image； too； and stepped back； startled； raising his hands in an alarmed； warding…off gesture as the figure of the saint did not retreat but continued to advance。 Kelson stood very still； only staring at it； hardly able to breathe； uncertain whether he was even controlling the image any longer…though how Camber could have entered the sealed circle was beyond his prehension。 The last time Camber had e to call。 Kelson had had to open a door。
But this entity； whether Camber himself or merely an illusion of Kelson's mind； had not been deterred by the circle。 As it advanced on Conall； the prince continued to retreat； until finally his black…clad shoulders were hard against the glassy curve of the barrier circle…and still the apparition continued to advance。
Conall's scream； as the ghostly hands gently clasped his head； was one of the purest terror and echoed shrilly within the misty confines of the dome。 Nor did the apparition vanish when Conall at last had screamed out his final defiance and slid bonelessly to the floor； clutching his temples； either dead or unconscious。 The figure knelt beside the motionless prince for several seconds； head bowed； then rose gracefully and turned toward Kelson。
Hail； Kelson of Gwynedd。 Now shall thou truly be a king for humans and for Deryni； the being spoke in Kelson's mind； echoing words that another such being…or perhaps the same one…had spoken to Kelson at his coronation。
Dumfounded； the king dropped to one knee and bowed his head； crossing himself reverently。
Are you who I think you are？ he dared to ask。
The figure had moved much nearer while Kelson bowed his head； and Kelson gasped a little as the figure stopped an arm's length away。
And who do you think that I am？ the being replied。
Kelson's throat was very dry； and it was all he could do to swallow； very glad he did not need to speak with words。
I believe you are Saint Camber of Culdi； whom I sought on my quest。 You…came to my aid。
Did I？ the being answered。 Or am I but a convenient image for that stronger and better part that is within you and； indeed； within all folk who seek the Light； and which can