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。 A show of royal force； especially in December； when he thinks I can't do it； may be sufficient to break his strength。〃
〃Perhaps he hasn't even gone to Ratharkin；〃 ventured Saer de Traheme； sitting opposite Ewan。 〃If he has the support of the Mearan Pretender； he may be heading straight for Laas。〃
Kelson shook his head。 〃No； Nevan said Ratharkin。 Loris has episcopal business to settle before he takes the time for secular politics。 And I have a bishop in Ratharkin that I've sworn to protect。〃
〃And you also have a friend in hostage there。 Sire； if Loris has indeed gone to Ratharkin；〃 Archbishop Bradene observed。 〃Might that not be clouding your judgment？〃
〃I have a duty to protect them both。 Archbishop；〃 Kelson replied。 〃And Loris must not be allowed to gain any more of a toehold than he already has。 I shouldn't have to lecture you； of all people； about Loris。〃
〃I still don't like it。 Sire；〃 said Arilan； who had already made it quite clear what else he did not like； when he heard of the manner of questioning Nevan。 〃Loris is clever … 〃
〃Even if he has Ratharkin fully garrisoned； which I doubt；〃 Kelson interrupted pointedly； 〃he does not have sufficient strengh to e out from behind the city walls and defeat a force the size I plan to bring。 We would have heard of any large massing of troops。 Even in Laas； there's been no report yet of anything larger than a household guard。 At worst； it's a standoff and we e back home。〃
〃I can think of worse。 Sire；〃 Cardiel sighed； 〃but be that as it may。 Perhaps you're right。 I shall pray that you are。 But suppose that you aren't？ If you were to be captured or killed … 〃
〃If it will ease your mind。 Archbishop； then be assured that my uncle is remaining here as regent；〃 Kelson answered。 〃If anything should happen to me； he will be your king … and he has three sons to succeed him。〃
〃And you should have sons to succeed you；〃 Ewan muttered petulantly； 〃before you go charging off on such harebrained ventures。〃
Kelson grinned； almost glad for the old argument。
〃Don't I need a wife for that； Ewan？〃 he quipped。
〃Then stay home an' take a wife； lad！〃 Ewan returned。 〃Spend the winter in bed with a bonnie queen； making baims … not dashin' about in the snow； taking on rebel archbishops and God knows what else！ There'll be time enough in the spring for making war。〃
Chuckling； Kelson motioned Duncan to take up pen and parchment； shaking his head in affection。
〃I wish I could stay home； Ewan。 Nothing would please me more。 Now； I'll need the household troops； Nigel … and gentlemen； precisely because it is winter； I'll need to raid each of your personal guard units to augment my own。 I'll want a hundred knights； lightly mounted for maneuverability and speed； and the minimum support force。 I'll take Morgan； of course； and Jodrell and Traheme； the rest of you I'll leave to begin preparing summons of array for the spring； in case this doesn't resolve everything。 Duncan； as Duke of Cassan I'd take you as well； but Nigel may need your good offices here in Rhemuth。〃
He did not say that Duncan would also be his Deryni link back to his capital； but Arilan seemed to sense it。
〃Shouldn't you take a bishop to represent the legitimate episcopal hierarchy。 Sire？〃 he asked； as prelude to including himself in the campaign。
〃The matter is best handled by secular authorities at this point。 Excellency；〃 Morgan answered for the king； before Kelson had to stumble over a reason not to include Arilan as that bishop。 〃Unless His Majesty particularly wants to risk one of his loyal bishops in this venture … ？〃
He glanced at Kelson； ready to back down if the king had strong reasons for wanting to include the disputed Arilan； but to his relief Kelson shook his head。
〃That won't be necessary。 If anyone holds Ratharkin besides Istelyn； my sworn man； it's out of ecclesiastical jurisdiction。 Now； does anyone have a major objection that hasn't already been stated？〃
No one had。
〃Then； I suggest we all set about making the necessary preparations。 I suspect Loris has agents here in Rhemuth； so I want to leave tonight； under cover of darkness； before anyone has a chance to send word ahead and warn him。 Morgan； let's get started。〃
As he rose and headed toward the great double doors leading from the chamber； the others stood and made their bows； Morgan exchanging a resigned glance with Duncan before falling into step behind the king。
CHAPTER TEN
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time； for it is an evil time。
Amos 5：13
Two days later； as Kelson and his battle force rode toward Ratharkin in an icy rain； the Pretender of Meara entered the city gates with her husband and children。 Snow had been falling since before dawn； discouraging casual travel； so her party passed largely unnoticed through nearly deserted streets。 Only the guards keeping the gates at the bishop's palace recognized the old Mearan colors her captain carried； and hailed her as she passed。
She took their homage as her due； she rode like a queen。 The Lady Caitrin Quinnell of Meara had never been a beautiful woman； nor had the years been kind。 But at sixty…one； she was pelling in that cool self…possession that sometimes es of the promise of power and the unquenchable belief that one has been wronged by one's station in life but eventually will be vindicated。 The white palfrey she rode was not a large animal； but the top of Caitrin's immaculately coifed head barely reached its shoulder when the Baron of Trurill handed her down in the snow…covered palace yard。 When he kissed her hand； she acknowledged the salute like a queen receiving homage； polite but aloof as she waited for the rest of her entourage to dismount around her。
〃Wele to Ratharkin； Your Royal Highness；〃 Trurill murmured。 〃Or perhaps I shall be privileged to greet you as the Queen's Grace； ere long。 I am Brice； Baron of Trurill； your most humble servant。 Your hosts await you inside。〃
She favored him with a quick smile； distracted and distant as she tapped a riding crop gently against her gloved hand； nodding toward the bearded man in border tartan who joined her from behind。 He was plain of face and a little thickset； but robust and fit； his costly riding leathers cut to enhance muscular legs。
〃My husband； the Lord Sicard MacArdry；〃 she said； by way of introduction。 〃And these are my children： Prince Ithel； Prince Llewell； and the Princess Sidana。〃
Brice's jaw dropped a little as the three approached； for in addition to being far younger than he had been led to expect； Caitrin's offspring were strikingly handsome。 He had no idea where they had gotten their aristocratic looks … neither Caitrin nor Sicard could have been described as more than pleasant looking； even in their youth … but it seemed the couple had thrown three of the eliest offspring Brice had ever seen。 The two boys； only slightly younger than King Kelson； pared very favorably with the king himself for poise； bearing； and fairness of feature； and the young princess …
Brice had to consciously remind himself that he was contentedly married； and such a lass not for the likes of him in any case。 Short but sapling…slender； with curling locks the color of chestnut burrs escaping from beneath her