The King’s Justice (58 page)

“My Liege,” Morgan said, from the step behind Dhugal, “I am honored to present Lord Dhugal Ardry MacArdry McLain as a candidate for knighthood.”

“We are most honored to receive him, Your Grace,” Kelson replied, looking inordinately pleased with himself as he hooked his thumbs in his new white belt and glanced out at the thronged hall, apparently looking for something. “But before we proceed with this well-deserved honor, we command that Duncan, Duke of Cassan, come before us.”

The command startled Duncan, and he considered briefly and futilely trying to melt back into the crowd; but eyes were already turning toward him, and he knew there was no escape. Setting his left hand on the pommel of his dirk, he worked his way reluctantly among those standing between him and the dais, murmuring apologies to those he had to jostle, and made the king a puzzled but respectful bow as he came to a halt beside Morgan and a little behind his son.

“Sire?”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Kelson said. “We require your assistance. Attend us please—here on the dais.”

As Duncan uneasily mounted the steps, suddenly wondering whether the king planned what Duncan feared he might, Kelson drew his sword, smoothly reversing it to offer Duncan the hilt across his forearm.

“I see you're not wearing a sword today—and a man should never be knighted with a dirk—so you can use mine.”

“Sire, I—”

“Come, now. We've already established that a son should be knighted by his father,” Kelson said. “Please do the honors.”

“But—”

Joy mingled with chagrin and showed on Duncan's face, but before he could even begin trying to explain why he could not oblige, Morgan was at his side, leaning forward to whisper in Kelson's ear.

“But, that's impossible!” Kelson blurted, drawing back to stare at Morgan in astonishment. “What do you mean, he was never knighted?”

“'Tis true, Sire,” Duncan murmured, wishing he could sink through the floor and disappear, for it was this that had made him choose not to sponsor Dhugal, as much as any fear of notoriety from his episcopal office. “I was in holy orders by the time I was of age for the accolade. It was my brother Kevin who was to have carried forward the family honor and name. After I inherited, it—never occurred to me that I should seek to rectify the matter.”

“Well, I'll jolly well rectify it today,” Kelson muttered, so low that only Duncan, Morgan, and Dhugal could hear, though Conall strained to catch what they were saying. “If I'd known, it could have been done in the field a dozen times over. Why, good
God
, man,
any
knight would have been proud to acknowledge you!”

He reversed his sword, which had been resting with its point against the carpet at his feet while they disputed, then glanced sharply at Morgan as he let the blade lie back across his right shoulder.

“Don't even think about lecturing me,” he said. “Either of you. I know what I'm doing—and
hang
those who still think there's anything untoward about a bishop having a legitimate son or being a knight. Alaric, I'll thank you to loan Duncan your spurs for the occasion. This won't be as formal as I would have liked, knowing Duncan's penchant for ceremony, but I think he's waited long enough for the honor. Duncan, will you
please
kneel! I can't knight you if you insist on standing up.”

Misgivings still loomed in Duncan's mind, for fear Kelson might one day rue this act of friendship untempered by more considered reason, but Morgan's resigned grin, as he knelt on the steps and began unbuckling one of his gilded spurs, told Duncan it was no use appealing to
him
. He fell to his knees, removing his cap and coronet as he did so, and the delighted Dhugal stood and backed off a pace to watch.

“My lords and ladies,” Kelson said, lifting his head to address the mystified court—most of whom had no idea what was going on. “It seems that we have committed a grave injustice against our most loyal Duke of Cassan.” He controlled a grin as Morgan eased closer on his knees to slip the first spur onto Duncan's right heel. “In asking said duke to knight his son, as is often done, we find that we have inadvertently asked the impossible of him—for only a knight may make a knight, and we find that Duncan McLain has never himself received the accolade.

“That certainly is not for want of merit,” he added, holding up his empty hand to still a murmur of surprise, “for on the basis of last summer's campaign alone, he could have been knighted many times over. Nor is there any doubt that he has served our crown most loyally, in any number of different areas, since our accession.”

Morgan had by now finished with the second spur and bit back a pleased grin as he rose and slipped his sheathed sword from its holders to hand it to Dhugal before stripping off his white belt.

“It is therefore my honor and privilege to confer upon you, Duncan Howard McLain, the ancient and honorable estate of knighthood.” Kelson raised the Haldane sword and brought the flat of the blade down smartly on Duncan's right shoulder. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son—” The blade shifted to the left shoulder, “—and of the Holy Spirit—” The blade came to rest upon his head. “—be thou a good and faithful knight, as thou hast been hitherto.”

He raised the blade and again rested it across his right shoulder. “Rise, Sir Duncan, and be vested with the white belt of thy rank.” He glanced at Duchess Meraude rather than his mother. “Aunt, would you perform this service?”

Meraude came forward willingly as Duncan rose, receiving the worn leather from Morgan with a grave nod and taking her time as she slid it around Duncan's waist to fasten it.

“I imagine you know that the white belt is a symbol of chastity,” she whispered, as she worked the knot. “Which is not necessarily the same as celibacy, as I'm sure you also know, though it can mean that as well, for you—now. Your son is very lucky to have such a father. This is a well-deserved honor.”

“Why, thank you, my lady,” Duncan murmured, surprised, for he had not realized Meraude regarded him so highly.

“There,” Meraude said aloud, backing off to make him a little curtsey. “Be thou steadfast and true, Sir Knight.”

“My lady, with all my heart I shall endeavor to do so.”

“Good. That's done,” Kelson said, rising up and down on the balls of his feet in a posture very reminiscent of his father. “You've already given me your fealty as a duke and your homage as a bishop, so I think we can dispense with any further oaths. I believe we were about to knight your son.”

He snapped his fingers for Brendan, Morgan's seven-year-old stepson, to bring Dhugal's spurs forward, and Dhugal gave the lad Morgan's sword before dropping to his knees again, grinning from ear to ear.

“Let the candidate be vested with the spurs.”

Doing his best not to chuckle at the coup the king had just accomplished against both the court and Duncan, Morgan took the spurs and bent to do the honors, leaving Duncan to exchange uneasy glances with the king as he put on his cap and coronet again. Morgan knew what argument Duncan was about to offer, and about how much good it would do.

“Kelson, I'm flattered beyond reckoning, but are you sure you want me to do this?” Duncan murmured, as Morgan finished with the spurs. “I think I understand what you're trying to achieve, but Dhugal is your blood brother. That's important, too. Don't you think it's more appropriate that he have the link of chivalry with
you
?”

“He'll
have
that, by my having knighted you,” Kelson said, setting the hilt of his father's sword in Duncan's hand with an expression that brooked no further argument. “He'll also have it through my sword.”

Read him, if you don't believe me
, Kelson continued, mind to mind.
Do you think he could lie, in a situation like this, given what we are?

Swallowing, Duncan glanced at his son and read the awe and adoration there, catching a little of Dhugal's wonder at the glitter of the Haldane blade heavy in his hand. Its weight brought to mind another matter weighing heavily upon Duncan for the past three days; and all at once he knew how that quandary, as well, must be resolved. He had no doubt that Dhugal would approve; nor would Morgan have any objections. And his meek, tentative query to the king returned royal approval and even glee, almost before he could frame the silent question with his mind.

“So be it, then,” he murmured aloud, squaring his shoulders resolutely as he let a tendril of his coiled, tight-leashed power probe into the royal blade.

It held the magic of a long line of Haldanes—no doubt of that. With his Deryni senses, Duncan could feel it pulsing in his fist. Trembling, he steadied it with his other hand on the pommel so that he could bring it slowly to his lips to kiss the sacred relic encased in its hilt and, in doing so, loosed his own Deryni essence to show as silver light along the blade—a light that flowed bright as water down the steel and welled as quickly up his hands and arms to settle like a cloak of light around his head and shoulders, openly and unmistakably Deryni at last. The awed gasp of those watching was immediately caught in rapt silence as Duncan dipped the glowing blade, two-handed, toward Dhugal's right shoulder.

“In the name of the Father.” The blade touched. “And of the Son.” The blade shifted to the left shoulder. “And of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

But as the sword touched the crown of Dhugal's head, and Duncan sighted down the blade to his son's eyes, Dhugal's own Deryni aura flared like a halo around his coppery hair, sunburst golden, his eyes blazing an exultation so fierce that the rest of the formula nearly went out of Duncan's head.

“Be thou a good and faithful knight, my son,” Duncan managed to say, himself surprised at the steadiness of his voice and the pristine silence into which his words fell. “Be faithful and true, and may God prosper thee in thy great love for Him and for our Lord the King.”

“Amen to that!” Kelson said heartily, daring anyone to gainsay it as Duncan lifted the blade to kiss the hilt again, and first his and then Dhugal's auras died away. “Rise, Sir Dhugal, and receive the other tokens of thy new-made knighthood.”

As Dhugal rose, proud tears shimmering in his eyes, Duncan whispered, “Thank you, Sire,” and reversed the blade again, offering it back to Kelson across his forearm as he bent his knee once more.

And though you did not ask it
, Duncan continued, mind to mind,
I do reaffirm my fealty, unconditionally, in all things saving my holy office
—
as Deryni, now openly so to serve you, if you will have it
.

The sword trembled with the emotion between them, with Kelson's hand on the hilt and the blade still resting on Duncan's sleeve. With a little flick of his wrist, the king shifted the weapon to lie across his outstretched palms, silently inviting Duncan's response.

No word passed aloud between them, and few in the audience caught the significance of the action that followed, being now released to startled speculation, albeit whispered, as the significance of what they
had
seen registered—that both Duncan and Dhugal were Deryni. But as if the two had rehearsed it, Duncan briefly laid his hands atop Kelson's and bent to brush the blade between with his lips, silently affirming a most holy oath.

Then he was bounding to his feet, and Kelson was sheathing the sword, beckoning Dhugal forward to be girded with the white belt that Meraude slipped around his waist, Jehana already having retired from the dais and, indeed, from the hall when Duncan's intentions became clear.

“I, Dhugal, do become your liege man of life and limb and earthly worship,” Dhugal proclaimed, kneeling once more to set his hands between those of the king.

And when he had finished his oath, the hall erupted to the raucous whoops of his MacArdry borderers, noisily proclaiming their approval of all that had been done and daring anyone to speak against their young lord or his father. After all, Dhugal was their chief, chosen by their chief, the grandson of their chief, regardless of who his father was.

Even a piper added his salute, on pipes smuggled into the hall past the watchful eyes of the chamberlain Rhodri and his assistants, who were always trepidacious where border custom was concerned. The cheering and the piping ceased only when Kelson himself raised open hands to beg their forbearance, grinning and shaking his head as the MacArdrys hefted both Deryni father and Deryni son onto broad shoulders and paraded them to the side of the hall to savor the moment.

Even then, it was some little while before sufficient decorum had been restored that the rest of the knightings could continue—somewhat anticlimactic, after the spectacle of the MacArdry acclaim, but satisfying, nonetheless, for the young men who received the accolade.

When Kelson had done, twenty-two new, crimson-mantled knights were ranged near the king's throne, eleven on either side, with Conall still seated beside his father's chair, as was the prerogative of a royal prince, and Dhugal now posted directly to the king's left, where Morgan had been. The new knights' sponsors occupied the front ranks of those standing in the main part of the hall, assembled there as each finished the duties attendant on knighting his candidate—for what came next would require a show of strength, a display of the finest of Gwynedd's chivalry, old and new.

As Saer de Traherne came into the hall to inform the king that all was in readiness to admit the Torenthi ambassador and his party to the keep, Duke Ewan drew his flock of young charges farther to one side, close by Cardiel and his bishops. Morgan and Duncan moved quietly among the squires to flank young Liam.

“Well, we can bring them in whenever you're ready, Sire,” Saer muttered under his breath, kneeling at the king's knee. “Just wait until you see them, though.”

Kelson smiled as he caught a flash of what Saer had seen—it
was
an exotic contingent, by Gwynedd standards—but he only pulled his sheathed sword from its belt hangers and laid it across his knees again.