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apparently had run ahead even of that fast…riding band； so that Nigel； Meraude； Duncan； and Jehana were already waiting anxiously in the privy council chamber。 Saer and Earl Roger broke the news； Conall prudently keeping a very low profile； suitably subdued and decorous； and the three bishops then gave what fort they could； though Father Lael had to be called to lend his physician's services when Jehana finally began weeping hysterically and had to be escorted from the room。 Roger left with them； leaving only the bereaved families and clergy。
Nigel； too； wept briefly； fortless and forlorn in his wife's arms； and Duncan withdrew into himself； moving to gaze unseeing out a window。 Arilan wavered uncertainly between him and Nigel as Cardiel and Bradene tried to give the new king more immediate attention； and even Conall could be seen to blink back tears。
〃God strike me dead if I ever wanted to be king；〃 Nigel said； shaking his head disbelievingly as he mastered his grief and looked up； still bleary…eyed； at Cardiel。 'This can't be happening； Thomas。 I'm not ready。 I wanted never to have to be ready。 Isn't there some chance he's still alive？〃
〃Not within reason； no；〃 Cardiel said softly； himself almost in tears again…for he； too； had wept at the news in Valoret； three days before。 〃They tell us that there's little chance the bodies will even be recovered； after this long。〃
Saer； trying to fort his sister； now that Nigel seemed to be in control again； shook his head； too。
〃We did everything we could； Nigel；〃 he whispered； but we didn't find a trace。 Not a trace！ The river goes underground； just past where they were lost。 We never found the monk's body； either。 The local folk say the river never gives up its dead； after that long。〃
Speechless； Nigel only shook his head； his grief almost palpable in the silence of the old room。 Arilan； still hesitating between Nigel and Duncan； turned his attention on Nigel。
〃There are things that must be done…Your Majesty 〃 he said quietly。
Nigel looked up in shock； dread in his eyes。
〃Don't call me that。 Please。〃
〃You are the king； however；〃 Arilan insisted； 〃regardless what you are called。 And by tomorrow； you will have to be proclaimed as such。 Gwynedd cannot go without a king for long。〃
Nigel looked away。 〃I'll continue as regent； until we're sure。 But I don't want the title…not yet； not while there's still hope。〃
〃Hope of what？〃 Arilan replied。 〃Hope of finding Kelson's body？ That doesn't change things。 And after this long； 1 m afraid there's virtually no chance of his being found alive； much as I wish I could tell you different。 Meanwhile you have responsibilities that must be fulfilled。〃
〃I'll fulfill them。〃
〃Haldane responsibilities； Nigel；〃 Arilan said softly。
Even Duncan looked up at that； as Nigel blanched and quickly looked away。
〃I shall exercise the customary responsibilities of the crown；〃 he whispered； 〃as I have as regent。 But unless Kelson's body is found； I shall not be crowned until a year and a day have passed。 That decision is not open to negotiation。〃
Even through his own grief； Duncan knew that neither Nigel nor Arilan was talking about merely human functions of royal responsibility。 But while Nigel apparently had assumed that his full assumption of the Haldane powers would be contingent upon his crowning； as Kelson's was； Duncan knew that no such contingency existed and that； if Kelson truly was dead； and Dhugal…God； let it not be true！…then the power must be brought to full fruition in Nigel as soon as possible。 But he dared not speak openly about it in front of Bradene； for Arilan's sake。
〃I see no difficulty in delaying the coronation； if that is what His Highness wishes；〃 Duncan said quietly； deliberately using the more neutral royal title to which Nigel was entitled as a prince of Gwynedd； but that also applied to a king。 〃Once a suitable period of mourning has passed； however； and we can all think more clearly； His Highness may wish to amend that decision。 For now； however； I suggest that no date be set at all。
〃In the meantime； I would remend that Your Highness summon the rest of the privy council to return to Rhemuth immediately； along with those other lords whose opinion Your Highness values。 If I may be of service； I would offer to take the news to Duke Alaric myself。 He… would take it best ing from me； I think。〃
Arilan； flashing Duncan a look that confirmed he knew precisely what Duncan was about； gave a nod of agreement。
〃I concur。 Your Highness。 But； Duncan； you are doubly bereaved…not that we all do not mourn the loss of your son。 Do you think it wise to attempt such a long and grueling journey？〃
Duncan swallowed painfully。 〃I shall value the time alone to remember both my sons；〃 Duncan murmured。 〃In the meantime。 Excellency； I wonder if you would pray with me a while before I leave。〃
The request startled Arilan； but only until he had followed Duncan up to the apartment that once had been Dhugal's； where Duncan； rather than praying； began stripping off his cassock to change into more suitable attire for riding…the courier's garb he had worn to Valoret。
〃Have you told the Council yet？〃 Duncan asked。
Arilan shook his head。 〃No； there was no time before we left Valoret。 I'll do it as soon as I've seen you off。 Cardiel will cover my absence until morning。〃
〃Fine。 Then you won't be missed if you spend a little additional time to take me to Dhassa…unless there's a Portal closer to Coroth； that is。〃
Arilan scowled as he watched Duncan pull on leather breeches and a shirt of soft black suede。
〃I don't recall having told you there was a Portal there。〃
〃You didn't； but if there wasn't one before； I can't imagine that you and some of your Council brethren wouldn't have put one in； once you became Bishop of Dhassa。〃
〃It was already there；〃 Arilan said sourly。 〃But you're asking a great deal。〃
〃I'm asking you to save me at least a week's riding； between here and Coroth；〃 Duncan replied。 He plopped on a stool to begin tugging on stout leather boots that came well over the knee。 〃Even from Dhassa； I'll still have a solid day's ride each way。 And I'll need a horse to get out of Dhassa； if you can manage it。 I'd rather not steal one。〃
Arilan could not control a wry smile as the younger man strapped on plain； blackened steel spurs such as any man…at…arms might wear。
〃You would； too； wouldn't you？〃
〃I've had to do worse；〃 Duncan said； rising to take up a quilted leather vest； heavy with metal plates sewn between the layers。 〃Will you or won't you help me？ If you won't； I'll go directly to the stables from here。 I haven't the time or the inclination to argue with you。〃
〃I'll help；〃 Arilan said； also helping him into the jazerant。 〃May I ask one favor； however？〃
Duncan gave the other Deryni bishop a warning look before bending to the buckles that closed the front of the vest。
〃As a condition for your assistance？〃
〃Of course not。 As a point of information that may benefit both of us。 Will you and Alaric be able to convince Nigel he must assume the full Haldane power before the year is out？〃
〃I don't see that that's any of your business；〃 Duncan replied coolly； tucking the last strap of the jazerant under its k