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ity to seem like adventure。 But of course the great lords would never stand for it。 There's no place but the grave for a man who once was king。〃
As Nigel applied seal to wax again； Conall felt a stir of anger at how little his own father understood his yearnings； but he forced himself to put it aside dispassionately； in the same way he put aside the second letter。 In many respects； Nigel was absolutely correct。 There was no room for two kings in any land。
〃God grant that day may be long in ing； Father；〃 he murmured。 〃For now； I'm perfectly content to continue learning statecraft at your side。 In the meantime； however； there's other craft we both must learn。 And you； in particular； dare not delay that overlong。〃
〃Ah； I see Arilan's been at you；〃 Nigel said。
〃Only casually；〃 Conall replied； focusing all his outward attention on the next seal； though his shields had firmed instinctively at his father's faint rebuke。 〃He's right in warning that our enemies will be testing； as soon as they learn of Kelson's death； hoping for just such a delay in confirming your powers。〃
He sent a cautious tendril of thought against the shields he expected to be already in place； but it slithered unimpaired and undetected past defenses only barely maintained； and never intended to stop his own son。 Nigel only shook his head in response to Conall's words as he switched a sealed letter for an unsealed one。
〃I don't see that they'll be testing all that soon。 They can't even know yet； in Torenth。 Even Morgan will only be finding out in the next day or so…and Duncan didn't have to ride the distance from here to Dhassa。 It will take far longer for conventional couriers to cross the Torenthi border。〃
〃From here； perhaps；〃 Conall agreed； 〃but not from the north； where it happened。 We took four days to ride from Saint Bearand's via Valoret； but one must take into account that the news will have spread directly from there as well。 All the monks at Saint Bearand's certainly knew； as soon as anyone outside our immediate party。 And we ourselves sent a messenger directly to the Earl ofEastmarch； to name only one。 He'll have sent word on to Cardosa。 And once the news reaches Cardosa； it can be all over Torenth within a matter of hours； as soon as some Torenthi agent with Deryni connections can make it to the nearest Portal。〃
〃You paint rather bleak prospects；〃 Nigel replied； exchanging another sealed letter for an unsealed one。 〃Still； I think we can delay making any binding decisions until Duncan and Morgan return。〃
〃Why not let Arilan handle it and be done？〃 Conall asked。 〃He says he was keyed to your power ritual； the same as Duncan and Morgan。 And he isn't emotionally involved over Kelson's death in the same way that the rest of us are。 He might be a better bet； all the way around。〃
Nigel sighed and laid aside his seal； setting one fist on his hip to turn and gaze at Conall。
〃Did he tell you that； son； or did you figure it out for yourself？〃
Suddenly uneasy； for no clear reason he could immediately discern； Conall straightened and blew out the flame on the coil of sealing wax； setting it carefully beside his father's discarded ring。
〃What do you mean？ He is less emotionally involved。〃
〃Less involved over the immediate matter of Kelson's death； perhaps；〃 Nigel conceded； 〃but I'd hardly call him disinterested。 He is a member of the Camberian Council； after all。〃
〃What does that have to do with anything？〃
Nigel shrugged； then folded his arms on his chest。 〃I'm not sure。 Nothing I can exactly put my finger on。 But they were already in turmoil themselves； over Tiercel's death。 Kelson did tell you that one of the councillors had been found dead； right here in the castle； didn't he？〃
Conall felt like a cold hand was closing around his heart and he had to avert his eyes to keep from telegraphing his consternation to his father。 He hoped Nigel had not seen his momentary start of panic as the words first registered。 He had not expected the conversation to turn to the dead Tiercel de Claron。
〃He mentioned that someone important had been found dead； but he never said whom…only that it was no one I would know。〃
〃No； you wouldn't have；〃 Nigel murmured。
But an odd flicker of confusion rippled across his mind。 Conall still had a probe set deep within his father's shields and could read no sign of real suspicion…yet…but he could follow connections being made as Nigel tried； mostly just below the surface levels of real awareness； to reconcile Conall's words of denial with the momentary start。 Conall feared he might have underestimated his father and wondered whether it was too late to turn the light of doubt on Dhugal。
〃Kelson really didn't say much else about it；〃 Conall went on。 〃I got the impression it was something that needn't concern me； so I didn't pry。 I do seem to recall a letter to Dhugal； however。 In fact； Dhugal seemed very upset about it。 Did he know the man？〃
〃We don't know；〃 Nigel replied。 〃Duncan didn't think so。 But the body was found in the secret passageway that leads from Dhugal's room out to the yard by the basilica。 Only a few people knew about it。〃
〃Well； obviously Tiercel de Claron did；〃 Conall said。 〃How do you suppose he found out？〃
Too late； he realized what he had said； and watched with a sick churning in the pit of his stomach as Nigel's face changed。
〃I never mentioned Tiercel's full name； son；〃 Nigel whispered。 〃How did you know it？〃
〃Well； I…suppose Kelson told me；〃 Conall lied； trying frantically to retrace and cover his tracks。 〃Or maybe Arilan mentioned it。〃
〃No； Arilan never would have said it to you； and you told me Kelson had never given you the dead man's name； since you wouldn't have known him。 Conall； do you know more about this than you're telling me？ Don't lie to me； son。〃
All at once； Conall knew that Nigel was aware of his probe； appalled to find it already past his shields。 A part of the invaded mind tensed to repulse the intruder； but Conall could sense his father also trying to tap into the Truth…Reading ability he had been authorized to use。
Conall dared not let that happen。 But even as he squelched the attempt； wrapping a part of his mind around that section of Nigel's and reaching for more emphatic controls； he knew that Nigel knew。
〃Conall； what are you doing？〃 Nigel managed to gasp； clutching at the edges of the table for support as he quailed before his son's intrusion； grey eyes hurt and confused。 〃Oh； God； you did know him。 And he gave you power； didn't he？ Sweet Jesu； he gave you power； and you killed him！〃
Conall was never sure just where the knowledge or the power came from…only that he could feel it welling from somewhere deep within him； coiling to strike； he helpless to stop it。 Later； he was to reflect that it might have been triggered by reading the dead Tiercel's memories； for he experienced a rapid succession of mental images that were not in his own experience； but that seemed to hint that he had done battle with his mind before。
But guessing the source of his new…found power gave him no control over it。 It was a survival reflex； untempered by reason or mercy or even by the knowledge that it was his own father he was about to strike and almost certainly