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d； within all folk who seek the Light； and which can be called up when darkness threatens？
Kelson blinked。 It had to be Saint Camber。 Only the irascible Deryni saint would be so evasive and yet speak so primal a truth。
It doesn't matter； he dared to say next。 I'm still going to restore the cult of Saint Camber。 I promised that； back in the shrine at Saint Kyriell's； and I'm going to do it； too。 I'll build you a shrine the likes of which no one in all the Eleven Kingdoms has ever seen！
The saint's chuckle surely must have been audible； but Kelson's ears were still ringing with the silence。
Dear； dear young champion of Light； do you truly think that I need physical edifices to guard my memory？ My memorial is in the heart of every man and woman down through the ages who has been willing to sacrifice everything in the service of Light and Truth。
I don't mean to contradict you； Lord； Kelson dared to reply； but a memorial means more to many folk if there's a physical focus for it。 You don't…mind； do you； if I build you shrines？
The being's laughter rang like tiny silver bells in the hollow confines of the dome； and he shook his head。
Human frailty…and Deryni； he answered。 You may build your shrines； if it gives you and them fort。 But keep what I have stood for； that is far more important。
Yes； Lord； Kelson replied meekly。 Ah； have you any remendations on what I should do with Conall？
The apparition's face grew pensive； even a little wistful。
You must do what you must do； Kelson Haldane。 It is a king's duty to render both mercy and justice； according to the circumstances。 Only you can decide。
But； can't you give me some hint？ Kelson persisted。
You must listen to …your inner voice…your higher self。 With prayer and meditation； you will know what to do。
But when Kelson would have pressed him further； the figure only moved a little closer and stretched forth his hands over Kelson's head。
Go in peace now； my son； the voice said in his mind； as the hands descended to touch his hair lightly。 Life and prosperity to thee； King of Gwynedd。
At the very touch； the figure was gone； vanished in less than a blink of an eye； and the dome of the circle was disintegrating into thousands of tinkling； musical shards that slid down the curve of the dissolving barrier ring to shatter and dissipate on the stone floor in a silent music。 Not a soul moved for several seconds； only scores of eyes darting from Kelson to Conall and back again。 But when Kelson finally sighed and stood up； weaving a little on his feet； the murmur of renewed life sighed through the hall like a cleansing breeze。 Dhugal was thumping to his knees at Conall's side almost before Kelson could； pulling a blue glass vial from Tiercel's drug satchel。
〃What's that？〃 Kelson murmured； thrusting his hand hard against the side of Conall's throat to feel for a pulsebeat as he glanced at the vial。
〃Merasha； so we don't have to go through this again before you execute him。〃
Kelson grimaced； for his own two encounters with the drug had been all too vivid； but he knew it was the wisest course。
〃You're that sure I'm going to execute him； are you？〃 he asked。
〃You haven't any choice；〃 Morgan said； crouching down beside him and lifting Conall's head as Dhugal pried loose the vial's cork。 Arilan had appeared from somewhere and stood behind him with crossed arms。 〃Even if he were contrite； which I doubt very much he is； you can no more let him live than you could have let Judhael of Meara live。 Romantic notions of redeeming the strayed prince from dishonor and death are all very well and good； but not entirely practical in the real world。〃
Dejectedly。 Kelson bowed his head and sighed。
〃I wonder if you realize how tired I am of buying life with the coin of others' deaths；〃 he said in a very low voice。
Duncan； too； had e to overlook the unconscious Conall。 At Kelson's words； he also crouched down to join the conference in progress； helping Morgan open Conall's mouth so that Dhugal could administer the drug。
〃That's an old； old controversy that we're no more likely to resolve now than we have in the past； Kelson。 It's an unfortunate but necessary part of being king。 Incidentally； were you talking to someone； just before you broke the circle？〃
Kelson blinked。 〃You didn't see him？〃
〃See who？〃 Dhugal asked； tossing the empty vial back into the satchel。
〃Sa…never mind。〃 Kelson murmured； as Conall stirred and moaned； and Morgan produced a cord to tie the prisoner's hands behind him。 〃Bring him。 I'll tell you about it later。〃
EPILOGUE
Thou hast granted me life and favor； and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit。
…Job 10：12
Several months later； on a seashore near Morgan's capital of Coroth； the King of Gwynedd and his blood brother； now Duke of Cassan and Earl of Kierney as well as Transha； rode silently together just at the water's edge。 It was high summer； with a balmy breeze wafting in off the great southern sea； and the day was sunny and mild。 Both young men rode in shirt sleeves and homespuns now； in fortable contrast to the silks and brocades of earlier in the morning。 For the king had e to Coroth with his court to celebrate the birth of Morgan's first son and heir； and Duncan had baptized the infant Kelric Alain Morgan。
〃Little Kelric's a handsome bairn； isn't he？〃 Dhugal said wistfully。 〃All those masses of pale hair。 I wonder if his eyes will be blue or grey。〃
Kelson shrugged distractedly； trying not to think of another noble infant； not yet born； who would almost certainly be as dark as Morgan's son was fair； like both his parents： and of the other child expected far sooner； and of far more humble birth…both of whom would enter the world fatherless。 He especially did not like to think about the children's sire。
For Conall had died no better than he had lived； all but weeping with terror as a stony…faced detachment of Haldane lancers escorted him to the scaffold on a fine morning in May。 Nor had Conall's death been as quick as Kelson would have wished。 The poor executioner faltered during his first stroke； unnerved already at having to take the head of a royal prince of Gwynedd； and then was further distracted by Conall's violent flinch just before the blade struck。 It had taken two more blows finally to end the matter…though at least Conall knew nothing after the first…and Kelson had been violently and wretchedly sick as soon as he was out of public view。
〃Will you stop thinking so much？〃 Dhugal murmured； breaking into Kelson's grim reverie。 〃What is it this time？ Rothana？ Conall？〃
Kelson sighed explosively； shaking his head。 〃It was Conall…and his son…and Rothana；〃 he admitted。 〃God； Dhugal； why did he have to do it？ He was my cousin。 I would have been glad to give him so much； if only he'd been willing to earn it。〃
〃Kelson； he earned exactly what he got；〃 Dhugal retorted。 〃It's all very well to say that he was the victim of an odd chain of events； if that makes you feel better； but Conall chose to be attached to it。 Regardless of what his true intentions may have been； when he put merasha into my flask…and we'll never know whether he was really getting cold feet and would have warned us not to drink…he got that merasha by killing a m