The Harrowing of Gwynedd (72 page)

“Well?”

“It is, indeed, a goodly blade, my lord, but not for you,” Ferris said happily. “Save it for your son. I can make you a better.”

“Can you?” Morgan replied, the one eyebrow rising in wry if dubious question as he slid the weapon back into its scabbard, to the watching aide's obvious relief. “And what might such a blade cost me, master swordsmith?”

“A place to work,” Ferris said promptly. “The steel from which to forge it. Enough of your time to fit the weapon to your own style. You deserve a gallant blade, my lord. It is the least I can do. And if you are pleased with my work, perhaps—perhaps you would take me into your service?” he asked recklessly.

Morgan stared into his eyes for so long that Ferris was sure the Deryni lord must be reading his mind, but he did not care. He
liked
this man. He suspected he would have liked him even if Morgan had
not
saved his life. What was more, he respected him. The Duke of Corwyn was a man he could happily serve.

“You know that Deryni can read men's minds, don't you?” Morgan suddenly said, in a very low voice. “Surely that must frighten you.”

“I have nothing to hide from you, my lord,” Ferris said slowly, meaning every word. “You would be a fair and honest master and do honor to my work. I could not ask for more.”

“Only—” Morgan murmured.

Ferris swallowed, suddenly ashamed of his misgiving.

“Only what, my lord?”

“Only, you
are
just a little afraid,” Morgan said gently, “which is certainly understandable.” He sighed wearily as he turned to gaze out the window. “You wonder whether I was reading your mind just now, and whether I would in the future. I cannot blame you for that.”

“Forgive me, my lord,” Ferris whispered, certain that any chance of serving the Deryni duke was now gone.

“No, you have a right to wonder,” Morgan said. “And you deserve an answer to your unspoken question. I was not reading your mind just now; and I would not in the future, if you served me, except for a specific reason—and then it would only be with your permission, unless there were dire reasons otherwise.” He quirked a strained, lopsided smile in Ferris's direction. “I'd have to touch you, in any case.”

“As you did out there?” Ferris breathed, remembering the eerie, helpless sensation as Morgan had ordered him to remember.

“Yes. It would be easier if you were cooperating, if I had to do it again.”

“But you didn't touch the other four,” Ferris pointed out.

“No, but I wasn't reading their actual thoughts, either. I was Truth-Reading. There's a difference.”

“Oh.” Ferris swallowed uneasily and tried to assimilate all that Morgan had just said.

“I don't know why I'm telling you all this,” Morgan muttered. “A man shouldn't tell a total stranger about, his limitations.” He gave Ferris a sidelong glance. “Maybe it's because I think I
would
like to have you serve me—and it's only fair that you know what you're getting into, if you do. Maybe it's also that I sensed your basic honesty and integrity, when I did have to read your mind.”

“I
would
be loyal to you, my lord!” Ferris said fiercely. “I swear by all the gods, I would!”

Smiling, Morgan glanced down at the hilt of the sword at his waist, then back at Ferris.

“By all the gods, I think you would. But this is not the time for either of us to make that kind of commitment. I've just delivered you from the jaws of a very unjust death. It's only natural that you should be grateful. You've offered to make me a better sword in return. I accept. So why don't you ride back to Coroth with me and my aide this afternoon, and I'll put you to work? When you've delivered the sword,
then
we'll decide about the future.”

“Done, my lord!” Ferris said, as he and Morgan began moving out of the window embrasure to rejoin Morgan's aide. “But I know what
my
decision will be.”

APPENDIX I

The Heirs of Saint Camber

INDEX OF CHARACTERS
¹

AARON
, Brother—Queron's alias among the Willimites.

ADRIAN
MacLean, Lord—grandson of Camber's sister Aislinn and father of Camber Allin (called “Camlin”); killed with Rhys' and Evaine's son Aidan and others at Trurill, by the regents' men. (
*
)

AGNES
Murdoch, Lady—eighteen-year-old daughter of Murdoch of Carthane, wed to the Regent Rhun.

AIDAN
Thuryn—deceased eldest son of Rhys and Evaine; mistaken for Camlin MacLean at Trurill and killed by the regents' men, age 10. (
*
)

AILIN
MacGregor, Bishop—
see MacGregor, Bishop Ailin
.

AIRSID
, The—an ancient Deryni fellowship, origin pre-500 AD. (
*
)

AISLINN
MacRorie MacLean, Lady—late sister of Camber, who died at Trurill; dowager Countess of Kierney and mother of Iain, the present earl. (
*
)

ALANA
d'Oriel—wife of the captive Healer Oriel.

ALBERTUS
, Lord—Grand Master of the
Equites Custodum Fidei;
as Peter Sinclair, former Earl of Tarleton, was present with Rhun at the sack of St. Neot's; brother of Paulin of Ramos.

ALFRED
of Woodbourne, Bishop—Auxiliary Bishop of Rhemuth; formerly confessor to King Cinhil.

ALISTER
Cullen, Bishop—Deryni former Vicar General of the Order of Saint Michael; Bishop of Grecotha and Chancellor of Gwynedd under King Cinhil; briefly, Archbishop of Valoret & Primate of All Gwynedd; alternate identity of Camber; a founding member of the Camberian Council.

ALROY
Bearand Brion Haldane, King—age 12; under-age King of Gwynedd; elder twin of Javan.

ALOYSIUS
, Father—a canon priest at Valoret Cathedral.

AMBERT
Quinnell of Cassan, Prince—client prince of Cassan, northwest of Gwynedd; father-in-law of Fane Fitz-Arthur, Tammaron's heir. (
*
)

ANNE
Quinnell, Princess—daughter of Prince Ambert of Cassan and wife of Fane Fitz-Arthur. (
*
)

ANSCOM
of Trevas, Archbishop—deceased Deryni Primate of Gwynedd. (
*
)

ANSEL
Irial MacRorie, Lord—age 18; younger son of the slain Cathan; grandson of Camber.

ARIELLA
of Festil, Princess—slain elder sister of the late King Imre and mother of his son, Mark. (
*
)

ARION
of Torenth, King—age 18; newly crowned King of Torenth. (
*
)

AURELIAN
, Dom—a young Gabrilite Healer who took refuge with Gregory at Trevalga.

BONIFACE
, Father—a priest at Saint Hilary's Basilica in Rhemuth; calligrapher and illuminator.

BONNER
Sinclair, Lord—Earl of Tarleton; nineteen-year-old son of Peter Sinclair, the former Earl of Tarleton (later Lord Albertus, Grand Master of the
Equites Custodum Fidei
); nephew of Bishop Paulin.

BURTON
, Father—a priest of the
Custodes Fidei
.

CAMBER
Kyriell MacRorie, Saint—former Earl of Culdi; father of Joram and Evaine; canonized as Saint Camber in 906; sainthood rescinded by Council of Ramos in 917.

CAMLIN
MacLean, Lord—age 11; son of the slain Adrian MacLean, Master of Kierney, whose rightful heir he is; survived crucifixion at the hands of the regents' soldiers at Trurill; aka Camber Allin MacLean.

CATHAN
Drummond—age 8; son of Elinor and Jamie Drummond.

CATHAN
MacRorie—slain elder son of Camber, father of Ansel and the deceased Davin. (
*
)

CHARLAN
—Javan's new squire.

CINHIL
Donal Ifor Haldane, King—late King of Gwynedd (reigned 904–917); father of Alroy, Javan, and Rhys Michael. (
*
)

CONCANNON
, Father Marcus—
see Maicus Concannon, Father
.

CONNOR
—a guard at Valoret Castle in the service of the regents.

CRONIN
, Brother—Abbot of St. Mary's in the Hills.

CULLEN
, Bishop Alister—
see Alister Cullen
.

CUSTODES FIDEI
—the Guardians of the Faith; religious Order founded by Paulin of Ramos to reform ecclesiastical education in Gwynedd for the exclusion of Deryni.

DAVET
Nevan, Bishop—deceased itinerant bishop. (
*
)

DECLAN
Carmody—Deryni in service of the regents; one of the two Deryni in chains with Rhun at sack of St. Neot's; wife and two small sons held hostage for his good behavior.

DERMOT
O'Beirne, Bishop—exiled and outlawed human Bishop of Cashien.

DERYNI
(Der-in-ee)—racial group gifted with paranormal/supernatural powers and abilities.

DESCANTOR
, Bishop Kai—
see Kai Descantor, Bishop
.

DUALTA
Jarriot, Lord—a Michaeline knight. (
*
)

DRUMMOND
—
see Cathan, Elinor, Jamie, and Michaela Drummond
.

EDOUARD
, Dom—Deryni author of
Haut Arcanum
. (
*
)

EDWARD
MacInnis of Arnham, Bishop—twenty-year-old son of Earl Manfred, and nephew to Archbishop Hubert; Bishop of Grecotha after Alister Cullen.

ELINOR
MacRorie Drummond, Lady—widow of Cathan MacRorie and mother of Ansel and Davin by him; wife of Jamie Drummond, by whom she bore Michaela and Cathan.

EMRYS
, Dom—renowned Gabrilite adept and Healer; Abbot of St. Neot's; slain there while closing the Portal. (
*
)

EQUITES CUSTODUM FIDEI
—Knights of the Guardians of the Faith; military arm of the
Custodes Fidei
; given the infamous “Benediction of the Sword” which absolves from malicide.

ERCON
, a Saint—elder brother of St. Willim; martyred during his attempt to find his brother's murderers; patron of the Little Brothers of Saint Ercon, founded by Paulin of Ramos. (
*
)

ERENA
—Willimite disciple whose sick child was “cured” by Revan and Queron. (
*
)

ESTELLAN
MacInnis, Lady—new Countess of Culdi; Manfred's wife.

EVAINE
MacRorie Thuryn, Lady—Deryni adept daughter of Camber; sister of Joram; widow of Rhys Thuryn; a founding member of the Camberian Council.

EWAN
, Duke—Duke of Claibourne and Viceroy of Kheldour; one of young King Alroy's five regents; son of Sighere, Gwynedd's first duke.

FANE
Fitz-Arthur, Lord—eldest son of Earl Tammaron and husband of the Heiress of Cassan.

FITZ
-
ARTHUR
—see
Fane, Nieve
, and
Tammaron
.

FIONA
MacLean—younger sister of the slain Adrian MacLean and granddaughter of Camber's sister Aislinn.

FLANN
—a Willimite disciple of Revan.

GABRILITES
—priests and Healers of the Order of Saint Gabriel, an all-Deryni esoteric brotherhood founded in 745 and based at Saint Neot's Abbey until 917, when the Order was suppressed and many of its brethren slain; especially noted for the training of Healers.

GEOFFREY
MacLean, Lord—late younger brother of Iain and father of Richeldis and Giesele. (
*
)

GEORDIE
—a Willimite reformed Deryni and disciple of Revan.

GIESELE
MacLean—age 12; niece of Iain, Earl of Kierney.

GILLEBERT
—a Willimite reformed Deryni.

GRAHAM
MacEwan, Lord—eleven-year-old son and heir of Ewan, Duke of Claibourne.

GREGORY
of Ebor, Lord—Deryni Earl of Ebor and an original member of the Camberian Council; father of Jesse.

GUAIRE
of Arliss, Lord—former aide to Alister Cullen and a founding member of the Servants of Saint Camber. (
*
)

HALDANE
—surname of the royal House of Gwynedd.

HONORIA
Carmody—wife of the Healer Declan Carmody.

HOWICCAN
, Pargan—classic Deryni lyric poet. (
*
)

HRORIK
of Eastmarch, Lord—Earl of Eastmarch; younger brother of Regent Ewan and uncle of Graham.

HUBERT
MacInnis, Archbishop—Primate of Gwynedd, Archbishop of Valoret, and one of young King Alroy's five regents; younger brother of Earl Manfred and uncle of Bishop Edward.

IAIN
MacLean, Lord—Earl of Kierney; father of the slain Adrian MacLean; nephew of Camber. (
*
)

IMRE
, King—fifth and last Festillic King of Gwynedd (reigned 900–904); father of Mark of Festil, by his sister Ariella. (
*
)

IVER
MacInnis—son of Manfred; marries Lady Richeldis MacLean.

JAFFRAY
, Archbishop—slain Deryni Archbishop of Valoret. (
*
)

JAMIE
Drummond, Lord—grand-nephew of Camber and second husband to the widowed Elinor; father of Michaela and Cathan.

JAVAN
Jashan Urien Haldane, Prince—age 12; younger twin brother of King Alroy; born with club foot.

JEBEDIAH
of Alcara, Lord—slain Deryni Grand Master of the Order of Saint Michael; a founding member of the Camberian Council. (
*
)

JERUSHA
Evaine Thuryn—infant daughter of Evaine and Rhys; a future Healer.