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A knock at the outer door cut her off in mid…statement； and Morgan gave her an apologetic shrug as he rose and stepped into the opening of the window embrasure； where he could be seen from the doorway。
〃e。〃
An entire contingent was waiting to enter： Lord Rathold； his chamberlain and master of wardrobe； carrying a state coronet he had brought up from the ducal treasury； Lord Hamilton and the chancellor； Lord Robert of Tendall； the latter robed to assist at the ing assizes court； and bringing up the rear； Sean Lord Derry； Morgan's former military aide and now his lieutenant for Corwyn； escorting a messenger wearing the deep green cloak and cassock of the monastic chapter at Rhemuth。 But before Derry could edge the messenger past the others； Lord Robert let out a gasp as he saw the tally sticks and counters scattered over the carpet before the counting table。
〃Your Grace； what has happened？〃 Robert asked。 〃The tallies…〃
〃I have the necessary figures in my head； Robert；〃 Morgan said； ing down out of the embrasure。 〃Don't worry yourself about it。 One of the jewels on this damned sleeve caught in the cloth and pulled everything off before I realized what was happening。 Rathold； you'd better check the settings after court。 In the meantime； please have someone clean up the mess。 There's ink spilled； too。〃
As he took his coronet from a dismayed Rathold and set it on his head； the old man was shaking his head。
〃I don't see how that could have happened。 Your Grace I always check so carefully…〃
〃Yes； well…I probably snagged it on something else first。 Anyway； it doesn't matter now。 Just see to the mess；〃 Morgan said； easing past him toward the messenger waiting with Derry。 〃Brother； you have something for me？〃
The monk bowed respectfully； handing over a pair of sealed missives from his scrip。
〃Correspondence from Bishop McLain and the Prince Regent； Your Grace。〃
〃Thank you。〃
The monk's use of Duncan's proper title assured him that the news was not of Duncari's deposition or other ill fate at the hands of the synod meeting in Valoret…at least not yet； or so far as the monk knew…and the physical contact as the missives changed hands conveyed no other apprehension about Duncan； so Morgan opened Nigel's letter first； turning slightly and lifting his arms to read it so that Rathold could buckle on his sword belt and make last…minute adjustments to his attire。 Nor was Duncan's status the subject of Nigel's missive； though what Morgan read instead made him go a little cold； all the same。 He had only met Tiercel de Claron twice； but the death of any member of the Camberian Council could not but affect him and those close to him。
〃Bad news； m'lord？〃 Derry asked。
〃A death；〃 Morgan murmured； scanning the rest of Nigel's letter but learning little beyond a superficial report of Duncan's finding of the body。 〃More an acquaintance than an actual friend； but he wielded a great deal of influence in some circles。〃
Derry nodded。 〃Anyone I might know？〃
〃No；〃 Morgan said quietly； 〃I don't think so。〃 He looked up at the others waiting on him and decided that Duncan's letter was best read in private。 〃Please go ahead to the great hall； gentlemen。 I'll join you directly； when I've read the other letter。 And see that this good brother is given a hot meal and a decent bed； would you； Derry？〃
〃Right away； sir。 This way； if you please； brother。〃
As they were filing out； Morgan turned back into the room； easing loose the outer seal on Duncan's letter。 He had thought it might contain a hidden message； discernible only to Deryni senses； but it did not…though the one at the bottom of the page； next to Duncan's signature； did。 Richenda had e to the opening of the window embrasure at his words about a death and she came down the rest of the way when she saw Morgan scanning the written part of the message。
〃Who died？〃 she asked。
Morgan did not look up as he continued reading Duncan's letter； but he held out Nigel's； which she took。
〃Tiercel de Claron。 Apparently he fell down a flight of stairs and broke his neck…though what he was doing in that secret passage that leads out of Kelson's old rooms； I have no idea。 Duncan pretty much reiterates what Nigel's said… at least there's no bad news about the bishops。 But there's an extra message in his seal。〃
He touched his fingertips to the seal and closed his eyes for several seconds； taking a deep breath to trigger the light trance state necessary to read the message beyond the words penned on the single sheet of vellum。 Duncan's synopsis was short and concise； telling of the finding and initial examination of the body； bringing Nigel back to look at it as well； the grueling ride to Valoret to inform Arilan； Arilan's reaction； and of Arilan's bringing both of them back to Rhemuth through a Portal in the sacristy at the Cathedral of All Saints； to which Duncan now had access。 Tiercel's body had been taken to the Camberian Council； but Duncan； to his immense relief； had not been obliged to go and testify before them in person concerning his finding of the body； though he had allowed Arilan a deep reading of his memories surrounding the event。 No action was required on Morgan's part； for all the evidence pointed to accidental death； but Duncan had felt he should know。
Morgan let out a weary sigh as he came out of trance； allowing Richenda to read what he had learned from the seal as he handed her Duncan's letter and let her retain his hand a moment longer。 Tiercel's death brought the number of councillors down to six… an event that could not but send them into an even greater state of disfocus than was their usual wont； so far as Morgan's experience could tell。 But perhaps this would shift their attention away from Kelson； Duncan； and himself for a while。 He had no idea whether they； through Arilan； had been trying to influence the proceedings in Valoret…he knew Arilan was very unhappy about Duncan confirming his Deryni status in front of the entire court… but perhaps they would concentrate on finding new councillors for a while now and leave Duncan alone。
He was thinking about the Council chamber； remembering the one time he had been there； and trying to envision it； as he took a subdued Richenda on his arm and went into the great hall for court a few minutes later。
And in a domed chamber atop a remote mountain many miles away； the six remaining members of the Camberian Council were； indeed； discussing Duncan； Morgan； and the king…but it was not the same king Morgan had in mind。
〃Denis； the fact remains…King Kelson is dead； and Nigel must be the new king；〃 Vivienne was saying。 〃This presents us with a unique opportunity to reassert our influence over the House of Haldane。〃
〃Oh； must you be so cold…blooded about it？〃 Barren murmured； uncharacteristically snappish。 〃Unlike the rest of us； Denis was close to Kelson。 Let him have a decent interval of mourning。〃
〃If he observes a 'decent' interval of mourning；〃 Kyri said； 〃the moment may pass before we can seize it。 Of the four persons designated to assist in bringing Nigel to his full Haldane potential； three are safely occupied； for at least another two or three days。 That leaves the initiative with you； Denis。 The question is； can