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't suppose it does any good to spoil our evening worrying about it； in any case。 Incidentally； did you notice who's sitting with your Aunt Meraude； down there near Saer and Duke Ewan？〃
Taking a deep pull at his wine。 Kelson glanced in the direction of Dhugal's vague gesture； flicking his attention past a pair of indifferent jugglers。 The Princess Janniver was sitting on Meraude's left； nearest Kelson； shyly sharing a trencher with his ex…squire。 Sir Jatham…well； that was nice！ But Kelson had to look twice before he recognized the young woman seated on Meraude's other side…and nearly choked on his wine when he did。
It was Rothana。 Had she been wearing the expected pale blue of her novice's habit； he would have noticed her immediately； but he had never seen her in secular attire before。 Her gown reminded him of the color of the wine he was drinking； lavished around its high neck and flowing sleeve hems with silver tracery。 Her hair was covered by a gauzy pinkish veil draped in eastern fashion and held in place by a silver circlet set with purple stones the size of grapes； framing sultry brown eyes a man might drown in。
〃Good God almighty！〃 Kelson whispered； when he could breathe again。
Dhugal only chuckled and shook his head。 〃Good God； the man says。 One would think you'd never seen a pretty girl before； Kel。 And she is a nun； after all。〃
〃Then where's her habit？〃
〃I dunno。 Shall I ask her？〃
〃You do； and I'll have to kill you；〃 Kelson muttered； clutching at Dhugal's sleeve and only half joking； when Dhugal shifted in his seat as if he might do exactly as he threatened。
Dhugal only smiled and sipped at his wine； letting his eyes rove over other parts of the hall。
〃Don't worry。 I have better things to do this evening than play matchmaker for a man who doesn't want to be matched。 I wonder if the Earl of Carthane's daughter will give me a dance or two？ And then； there's the Lady Agnes de Barra… if one can work one's way past her ever…watchful brother。 You might be able to get past。 Shall I introduce you？〃
〃I don't know how you do it；〃 Kelson said； shaking his head。 〃Go on； then。 I don't think I'm drunk enough for that yet。〃
By the time the feasting was over and the center of the hall had been cleared for dancing and entertainment； Dhugal was already making good his boasts； flirting boldly with nearly every lady present…as were most of the other young men。 Kelson dutifully led off a pavanetta with his Aunt Meraude； since his mother had declined to attend the feast； and watched both Dhugal and Conall claim a dance from Rothana as the afternoon wore into evening…but at length he found himself sitting quietly next to Nigel during a lull in the entertainment； drinking more than he should and worrying about bishops and Torenthi ambassadors and hostage Torenthi princesses。
He tried not even to think about the bishops。 He was sure that matter could be resolved without too much difficulty。 It wasn't as if Cardiel and Arilan hadn't known what Duncan was； after all； though he supposed some of the other bishops might not be too happy； once the word spread。
The Torenthi matter was far more vexing just now； however。 Rasoul had raised many doubts in Kelson's mind…as he was sure the Moor had intended。
Could he have misjudged the danger？ Was the promise to consider releasing Morag a mistake； even if he took Prince Ronal hostage in exchange？ Liam； and Ronal after him； were the rightful heirs to Torenth； as blood nephews of Wencit； and Kelson had no designs on their crown； he had enough to manage； keeping his own kingdom at peace。 But their mother's children by a second marriage might be said to have equal claim to Wencit of Torenth's bloodline； even if not the senior claim； and might be better supported by the nobility of Torenth than two princes in fosterage to the king of a neighboring land…especially if the father of the junior claim…' ants were one of them and as strong a leader as Mahael of Arjenol appeared to be。
Kelson did his best to appear attentive as Lord Rhodri announced a troupe of players and the servants lit more torches to dispel the growing twilight； but in the face of his own concerns tonight； he was little interested in the exploits of the semi…legendary Sir Armand； flattered though he was to be pared to that goodly knight。 By the time the play had ended。 Kelson knew that he needed more perspective than his own analysis could give him。 Nor was such input likely to be forthing tonight。
Dhugal was no help。 He had retreated to the other end of the hall to flirt shamelessly with the Earl of Carthane's daughter。 His bishops were even less use…taking off in a snit； just because Duncan finally had e clean about being Deryni。
Nigel was telling jokes with Rhodri and Ewan at the other end of the table； Meraude had returned to her chaperone duties with Janniver and Jatham； Rothana was dancing a spirited gavotte with Rory； and his mother was off being penitent。
He had no idea where Morgan and Duncan were。
CHAPTER FIVE
A feast is made for laughter； and wine maketh merry。
Ecclesiastes 10：19
By twilight； as the court of Gwynedd relived the legend of the saintly and chivalrous Sir Armand and Kelson mulled the problems of Torenth and bishops with increasing uneasiness； Morgan and Duncan were within an hour's ride of Desse and the ship that would convey the Torenthi ambassador back to his lord。 Riding to either side of the Deryni Rasoul； it had been necessary to forbear exchanging speculations about Cardiel and Arilan； though both men longed to do so。 Verbal discussion might have revealed far more than a Torenthi ambassador ought to know about the inner affairs of Kelson's court。 And while； in theory； a mind…to…mind exchange could have been effected without Rasoul's knowledge； that was not possible in fact…not while carrying on a conversation with their guest。
For the colorful and clever Al Rasoul ibn Tarik had proven loquacious as well as articulate as they waited for the escort of Haldane lancers to form up and then made their way from the keep to the city's outer gates； first plimenting the vaulting of the hall they had just left in some detail and then firing a seemingly endless string of knowledgeable questions about architectural features of the city proper。 Rhemuth the Beautiful was justly famed even outside the Eleven Kingdoms； after all； and it seemed the Moor had pretensions as a master builder himself； with several castles and fortified towns to his credit in Torenth and in the northern Forcinn。
Which made for novel diversion until they had passed through the city gates…especially whenever one of the Haldane horses went into a bucking fit for fear of Kisah； riding like a queen on her pillion pad behind Rasoul。 Whatever Deryni powers Morgan and Duncan employed during that first part of the ride were confined to controlling their mounts； not surreptitious mental converse。 The lancers stayed well back with Rasoul's Moors； to avoid similar difficulties。
The scenario changed； once they passed the city gates and picked up speed for the long dash down the river road to Desse。 Not even verbal conversation was possible then。 The cat loped along a few lengths ahead of Rasoul's barb at that speed； to the re