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〃Who is； himself； Deryni； and he a bishop！〃 Jehana challenged。 〃Or didn't you know she'd begun going to your precious Bishop Duncan？〃
〃Careful； Mother。 He's my confessor； too。〃
〃And damned； for having defied the Church to be ordained； knowing what he was！〃
Kelson turned away to look out into the hall and caught several people staring…though they immediately pretended not to be。
〃It's pointless to continue this discussion；〃 he murmured。 〃You're making a scene。 And you're absolutely correct that I should be in seclusion； preparing for my knighthood。 I'll do that now； if you don't mind。 Dhugal； Jatham； attend me； please。〃
He had raised his voice to call them from the next bay； and they appeared almost at once； both looking frankly embarrassed； for they could not have failed to overhear much of the exchange。
〃Gentlemen； my lady mother has correctly reminded me that we should all be making preparations for tomorrow；〃 he said； stepping past Jehana to join them。 〃We shall keep a nightlong vigil on the morrow； so tonight should see us early to bed。 Jatham； this means you as well。 You're hereby relieved of all further squiring duties。 Dolfin will serve tonight； and you'll dine with Dhugal and me in my quarters。 There's something I wish to discuss with you；〃 he added； glancing at the door whereby Rothana had exited。 〃Mother； I and my panions bid you a respectful good night。〃
His brisk bow before turning on his heel to leave was echoed a trifle more respectfully by the two who followed him wide…eyed from the hall。 Blessedly； no one apprehended them again on their way to his chambers。 He and Dhugal even had time for a nap before Dolfin brought a hearty supper…a meal that quickly took on festive overtones when Kelson broached the subject of the Princess Janniver to Jatham。
Afterward； Duncan came to them briefly； to ensure that all three slept soundly in preparation for the ceremonies of the next two days。 They rose at noon； sober but refreshed； to pass the remaining hours until sunset in quiet reflection； as was seemly for young warriors about to undergo their knightly initiation。
The formal observances began at Monday Vespers； with the assembly of all the candidates and their sponsoring knights at Saint Hilary's Basilica。 Prince Nigel stood for Kelson and Conall； and Morgan for Dhugal； and there were more than twenty candidates； each with his sponsor armed and formal at his side。 Monks from the cathedral chapter came up from Saint George's to sing the Office； and their voices floated celestially pure among the roof beams of the ancient church。
Archbishop Cardiel preached the sermon that night； instructing all present on the duties and obligations of the estate about to be entered。 As a part of the service； all the sponsoring knights renewed their knightly vows as a group； that they might better assist their charges。 Afterward； assisted by Bishops Arilan and McLain； the archbishop presented each novice knight with the traditional garments of knightly profession： the long； loose…fitting white tunic； symbolizing purity； the shorter overtunic of black； with hose and boots the same； reminder of death and the earth to which all must eventually return； and the crimson mantle； betokening nobility； but also the blood that a true knight must be prepared to shed in defense of his lord and in the service of his vows。
These the candidates donned after undergoing the prescribed ritual bath； each assisted by his sponsor。 They returned at midnight； in solemn； candlelit procession； there to make their own vows before the high altar； witnessed by their sponsors and the bishops。 After that； following special prayers and blessings； the candidates were left alone to keep watch over their arms through the rest of the night。
Kelson knelt on the lowest altar step； hands resting on the quillons of the Haldane sword； sometimes resting his forehead against the pommel when he bowed his head in prayer。 Conall knelt slightly behind and to his right side； Dhugal to his left。 It was not until nearly dawn； when the altar candles had nearly guttered out and Kelson's attention was drifting； that he realized there were tiny cuts of mistletoe mixed in with the holly and ivy on the altar。
CHAPTER THREE
Many seek the ruler's favor。
Proverbs 29：26
As steel descended toward his unarmored shoulder； King Kelson of Gwynedd suddenly found himself helpless to move or even to blink。 Eyes as grey as his own； Haldane keen and as little to be swayed； held him frozen as the blade flashed inexorably downward。 Kelson had the chilling impression that he could not have broken that immobility even if his life depended on it…which； thank God； it did not。
For it was his Uncle Nigel's hand on the hilt of the weapon…the royal sword that had knighted Nigel and nearly every other seasoned warrior present in the great hall of Rhemuth Castle…and the loyal Dukes Alaric and Ewan MacEwan stood solemn witness to either side of Nigel； sanctioning the deed。 What held Kelson was not fear； but awe at joining the ranks of knights such as these； as the flat of the blade pressed briefly to his right shoulder； left shoulder； then to the top of his uncrowned head。
〃In the name of the Father； and of the Son； and of the Holy Spirit； be thou a good and faithful knight；〃 Nigel said； lifting the blade to kiss the sacred relic in its hilt before handing it off to Morgan； who sheathed it with characteristic economy of motion。 〃Arise； Sir Kelson Cinhil Rhys Anthony Haldane； and receive the other symbols of thy new estate。〃
Released at last from his immobility； Kelson grinned and obeyed； letting Nigel and old Ewan assist him to his feet。 The golden spurs of knighthood were already on his heels； set there by Morgan and Ewan before he knelt to receive the accolade。 The spurs； like the sword； had been his father's。
Two other items of this morning's attire also had been his father's； though they had to do with kingship rather than the accolade he had just received。 One was the great ruby in his right earlobe； worn by every Haldane sovereign since the great Cinhil of the Haldane Restoration。 The other was the fist…sized disk of red enamel clasping his crimson mantle； bearing the golden lion rampant guardant of the House of Haldane。
Only noble significance…not royal…attached to the rest of the king's garb this morning； however。 For beneath the crimson mantle； he still wore the traditional garb of any novice knight； received from the archbishop the night before。 He held his arms a little away from his body as his mother； Queen Jehana； buckled the white belt of knighthood around his waist。 Like the white undertunic； it signified purity； but in the sense of chastity； or faithfulness to one's chosen state…a fitting virtue for any upright man。
That symbolism was behind Jehana's now customary white novice's habit and wimple； too； though Kelson thought she might have worn more queenly attire today； of all days。 It was one thing for professed nuns like the Sisters of Saint Brigid to wear religious garb to such an important court function； it was embarrassing when one's mother； who had taken no vows as yet； retained her austere adopted garb as a personal statement of protest against her son's way o