按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
looked even more like his dead brother Brion…and Morgan had a terrible foreshadowing of some future time when Nigel would lie thus arrayed on his funeral bier； with funeral tapers guttering at the ers of his catafalque and the noblest knights in the land keeping watch to do him honor before his final journey； deep into the royal crypts of Rhemuth Cathedral。 In a sense； Nigel was dead already； Morgan mourned him as a friend and brother； though the true time of mourning was yet to e。
And yet； it was fitting that Nigel should be here； for Nigel twice had witnessed rituals similar to what would be worked here tonight； first for Brion's ing to power； half a lifetime ago； and then his own potentializing。 He had not been present at Kelson's enabling； only a handful of years ago； though Duncan had been。 What was about to transpire tonight would be a melding of elements from all three rituals； with additional details added according to tonight's peculiar circumstances。 If only a successful oute would not also confirm that Kelson was truly gone。。。
Morgan tensed as the click of the door latch announced the arrival of Arilan and Conall； but neither he nor Duncan looked up as the Deryni bishop took Conall's cloak from him； guided Conall to a prie…dieu set against the foot of the canopied bed； and bade him kneel before returning to secure the door。 Conall bowed his head without prompting； impassive behind smooth…layered shields； then crossed himself piously and looked up at his father's still form； the shallow breathing hardly stirring the sword laid along the shrouding Haldane crimson。 Arilan moved directly behind the kneeling prince a scarlet cope now covering most of his black cassock； hands joined in an attitude of prayer。
〃If you have any misgivings concerning what we are about to do；〃 Morgan said softly； still not looking directly at Conall； 〃now is the time to voice them。 We expect everything to go smoothly； but the procedure we have decided goon is not without its dangers； especially since we have had to improvise； to some extent。
〃I therefore must ask you； formally； and as designated Master of this ritual； whether you are willing to place yourself unreservedly in our hands； body and soul； to do with as we deem necessary for the purpose of raising the Haldane newer within you。〃
〃I am willing；〃 Conall replied； as he had been told to answer。
〃Before we proceed； then；〃 Duncan said； taking up the thread of formal narrative in a flat； emotionless voice； 〃it Behooves me to read the formal declaration outlining the reasons for this ritual。 For； in the normal course of things； a prince ought not to usurp the office of his father while the father still lives。〃
He drew a flat sheet of parchment before him； from a small stand set beside the bed； and read from it in a steady voice。
〃Whereas our late lamented and beloved lord； King Kelson Cinhil Rhys Anthony Haldane； by the Grace of God； King of Gwynedd； Prince of Meara； and Lord of the Purple March； has departed this realm without leaving an heir of his body；
〃And whereas said King Kelson did designate his beloved uncle； the High and Mighty Prince Nigel Cluim Gwydion Rhys Haldane； as his heir both in law and in magic； should the said King Kelson die before engendering such an heir；
〃And whereas said Prince Nigel； before he could be crowned or his Haldane powers confirmed； has been rendered inpetent to reign； by virtue of physical illness rapidly drawing him toward death of the body；
〃And whereas the High and Mighty Prince Conall Blaine Cluim Uthyr Haldane； firstborn son and heir of Prince Nigel； has been recognized as Regent and future King by the Lords Of State； both temporal and spiritual；
〃And whereas our late lamented and beloved King Kelson did designate as executors of the passing of his Haldane powers The Most High； Potent； and Noble His Grace The Duke of Corwyn； General Sir Alaric Anthony Morgan； The Most High； Potent； and Noble His Grace The Duke of Cassan。 Sir Duncan Howard McLain； Priest and Bishop； and The Most Reverend His Excellency The Bishop of Dhassa； Lord Denis Michael Arilan；
〃So； therefore； do said executors agree that； inasmuch as Gwynedd has urgent need of a ruler with the full faculties of the Haldane legacy intact and functioning；
〃And inasmuch as said Prince Nigel is not now able； nor is he likely to be able in the future； to assume these Haldane faculties； the temporal authority of his office already having been vested in his son and heir。 Prince Conall；
〃Therefore； the spiritual and magical authority of that office ought also to be vested in said son and heir。
〃To which purpose； the aforesaid Duke Alaric； Duke Duncan； and Bishop Denis have gathered together； in the presence of the aforesaid Prince Nigel； to perform such rites as are necessary to see the transfer of such authority to His Royal Highness； The Most High； Most Mighty； and Most Illustrious Prince Conall Blaine Cluim Uthyr Haldane。
〃Attest： Morgan； Duke of Corwyn； McLain； Duke of Cassan； Arilan； Bishop of Dhassa。〃
The three of them had already signed and sealed it。 Now Arilan brought Conall to add his signature to the document； setting a quill in his hand as Duncan spread the parchment on the side table。 Conall traced the letters carefully…Conall Interrex…finishing with the flourished paraph； almost impossible to forge； that made the signature unique。 But when he set the pen aside and glanced at Duncan in question regarding the matter of a seal； Arilan drew him back to kneel again at the foot of the bed； cautioning silence with a forefinger held to lips。 Morgan； with a quick glance at Conall； drew a thin stiletto blade from inside his cassock and gently unwound Nigel's right thumb from around the hilt of the sword。
〃It's traditional；〃 Arilan murmured in Conall's ear； 〃that such documents be sealed in the blood of the principals。〃
Morgan's deft pricking of Nigel's thumb with the point of the stiletto produced a glistening drop of scarlet that Duncan caught at the bottom of the parchment and set with Nigel's thumbprint as seal。 Then； while Morgan cleaned the wounded thumb with a cloth Duncan gave him； and briefly enclosed it in his hand to heal it； Duncan passed the document to Arilan； who laid it on the armrest before Conall。
〃Your sealing will be done a little differently；〃 Arilan said as Duncan brought a small glass tray from the side table Slid Morgan came to hold it。 On the tray were Kelson's Ring of Fire； an earring set with a blue star sapphire； a needle threaded through a scrap of white silk； and a small glass vial with a tuft of cotton wool stuck into its neck。 This last Duncan took from the tray and upturned once； holding the wool in place with a forefinger as Arilan moved closer to straddle the kneeling Conall and brace his head lightly from either side。
〃The Eye of Rom was lost with Kelson；〃 Morgan explained； watching as Duncan swabbed Conall's right earlobe with the moistened cotton wool and then began cleaning the needle and the wire of the earring。 〃That's doubly unfortunate； because we are of the impression that it has always played some part in the setting of the Haldane potential in Haldane heirs。 I know for a fact that it was used in Kelson's and Nigel