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sed an arduous climb to the pass leading out to the plain of Iomaire； and Saer wanted the pack animals； in particular； well rested。
The day was sunny and fine； however； far too beautiful for young knights to remain cooped up indoors； so Sir Jatham and Jass MacArdry organized a hunting expedition on the abbey lands； while a few； like Conall； preferred merely to sleep late and relax。 Kelson declined both options； he and Dhugal choosing to ride ahead shortly after dawn with Saer de Traherne； Dolfin； and a man…at…arms to inspect the ruins of Caerrorie。
It was a place once intimately associated with Saint Camber。 Until confiscated by the Crown； after the institution of the Statutes of Ramos； Caerrorie had been the favored seat of the MacRorie family outside the titular lands of Culdi； convenient to the then…capital of Valoret。 Unfortunately； anti…Deryni reaction following in the wake of Camber's demotion from saintly status had led to the wholesale demolition of the old castle； with a new manor house being constructed elsewhere on the estate for the new master of Caerrorie。 The land had passed through two families since then； and was now held of the Crown by Thomas； Earl of Carcashale； though said earl had his principal seat farther west； near Dolban。 Kelson had dined with him earlier in the week； and had been assured that little remained of the old demesne buildings。
The allure of Caerrorie； however； was not necessarily that Camber had lived there； but that it had been Camber's original burial place。 Though most of the vast pile of the earlier castle had been dismantled to build the new manor house； the cellars and family burial vaults were said to remain； though in deplorable condition。 Kelson did not tell Earl Thomas； of course； but he hoped that Haldane or Deryni powers still might sift some information of import from the ruins； despite the ravages of time and the destroyers。
Thus noon found Kelson quite happily immersed in Camberiana as he； Dhugal； Saer； and the squire Dolfin clambered over the ruins of old Caerrorie keep； working their way down to the lower levels to gain access to the MacRorie burial vaults…for； in the decade immediately following Camber's canonization； an active cult of Saint Camber was said to have flourished around a now…ruined shrine there。 A monk from the local village church； one Brother Arnold； had kilted up his habit to guide them； but he clearly was dubious as Dhugal； Dolfin； and the king tried to shift a fallen beam that blocked the way。
〃I don't really understand why you want to go down there； Sire；〃 the man said； wringing his hands together as Saer joined in and the beam shifted。 〃It will be full of water； after all this rain。 And I understand that no effort was ever made to restore the graves that were desecrated。〃
〃Why； for shame； Brother；〃 Kelson murmured； grunting and straining at the slowly shifting beam。 〃Even if you hold with those who took away Camber's sainthood； surely his kin before him did no harm； that they should deserve such treatment。〃
〃Why； no one would argue that。 Sire；〃 Brother Arnold said。 Able to stand it no longer； he pitched in on the beam and helped move it far enough aside that a boy or a slender man could slip through； but not one of his own size； or even of Saer's。 〃People did strange things in those days； though。 They say that one of Camber's sons used to be buried down in my churchyard； too； but the mob didn't spare him when they sacked the castle； either； and he died long before all the rest of this happened。 Local tradition has it that he should have been the saint； not his father。〃
〃Indeed？〃
Kelson peered down into the opening and considered whether he really wanted to get his feet as wet as it looked to be down there。
〃How deep is it？〃 Dhugal murmured； craning to see over his shoulder。
Saer took a torch from Dolfin and shoved it into the opening； but the resultant smoke obscured anything the increased light might have revealed。
〃Hmmm； that's no good；〃 Kelson muttered。 〃Dhugal； do you want to do the honors？ Brother Arnold； if you're likely to be offended by a little Deryni assistance here； I suggest you leave now。〃
Arnold gulped audibly； but he did not back off。
〃I'll…stay； my lord。 You'll…need someone to direct you to where the crypts were。〃
〃Suit yourself。〃 Kelson took Dhugal's hand as Dhugal lowered himself through the opening and dropped with a splash and a muffled oath。
〃Are you all right？〃 Kelson called。
Silvery light filtered upward from the opening； and Brother Arnold blanched and crossed himself furtively。
〃Aye。 Let me have a look around here。 Wouldn't you know I'd find the only pit in the place？ The rest seems to be only ankle deep…except for the spot I picked。〃
〃And how deep is that？〃 Kelson called； chuckling as he and Saer exchanged glances and Dolfin tried not to laugh behind his torch。
〃Oh； a little past my knees…just high enough to slosh over my boot tops when I landed。 I just love wet feet。 Try to aim a little farther to your right。 I'll guide you。 And Saer had better stay up there； in case we need help getting out。 You might send Dolfin for a rope； too。〃
Still chuckling。 Kelson vaulted his legs over the edge of the opening and supported himself with his hands until he could lower himself enough to feel Dhugal's hands on his boots； pushing him farther to the right。
〃All right； e on。〃
Smoothly he let himself drop； missing the hole but almost sprawling on his hands and knees instead； for the footing was uneven under the shallow water。 Dhugal caught him； though； and steadied him as he straightened in the silver…lit gloom。
〃Creepy； isn't it？〃 Dhugal murmured； as Kelson scanned the close…ceilinged chamber by the handfire hovering near Dhugal's head。
Kelson shivered； though as much from cold as from anything else。 The place stank of stagnant water and the musty； slightly sweet odor of the charnel house； though perhaps that last was as much imagination as any real scent； for Kelson felt sure there could have been no burials down here for at least a hundred years。 He motioned for Dhugal to take his handfire in hand again as he glanced up at the opening where the silhouettes of Saer and Brother Arnold blocked out most of the daylight。
〃Brother； you can e down if you want； but I fear it may be a tight squeeze for you to join us；〃 Kelson called。 〃Not to mention that it's a goodly drop； and the only way out is back up a rope。 You might prefer to direct us from there。〃
A nervous cough came from the side of the opening that was not Saer's。
〃Ah； if you please； my lord； I think I would prefer to stay。 I haven't been down there in years and I'm not as thin as I used to be。 But if you'll turn so that a carved doorway is to your backs； you should be facing toward the length of the vault。 Move straight ahead； as best you can； until you can't go any farther； and you ought to be near the place where it's said the Earl Camber was interred。〃
〃And that's where his shrine was？〃 Kelson asked。
〃Yes； Sire。 But there's really nothing left。 They burned it； you know。 That's what brought down part of the roof。〃
〃Bluidy fond of burning； they were；〃 Dhugal muttered darkly； his border accent oddly noticeable。
Kelson flashed h