Deryni Rising (Chronicles of the Deryni) by Kurtz Katherine

Author:Kurtz, Katherine [Kurtz, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2008-10-04T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

“A Spokesman of the Infinite must guide. . . .”

MORGAN felt a twinge of dread as he approached Kelson’s quarters. What if Charissa had been bluffing, had somehow found a way to get at Kelson through the wards? Suppose she had even killed him?

Derry had taken command of the guard as planned, and he glided up beside Morgan as the general reached Kelson’s door.

“Anything wrong, m’lord?”

“I don’t know yet,” Morgan said in a low voice, signalling the two regular guards to stand aside. “Did you see anyone while I was gone?”

“No, sir. I have this entire wing sealed off.” He watched as Morgan put his hand on the door latch. “Shall I come with you?”

Morgan shook his head. “That isn’t necessary.”

Stealthily, he eased the door open just enough to slip through, then closed it gently behind him. He stood with his back to the door while he slipped the bolt into place, trying at the same time to peer across the darkened room to see if Kelson was safe.

He need not have worried. For his wards were, as he had boasted, impervious to almost any power in the universe tonight. As he approached the royal bed, he was able to discern the faint protective aura still glowing around his young lord. And he could sense the boy’s undisturbed sleep patterns on the very surface of his awareness, if he concentrated.

But he did not. It was enough that the boy was safe. Wearily, he crouched down before the fireplace and shifted some of the logs with an ornate poker. When the blaze had been stabilized once more, he rose catlike and stretched.

The bells would be ringing Compline soon, and he and Kelson still had a short journey ahead of them. He didn’t want to have to hurry. Haste led to carelessness, and that was a luxury they could ill afford tonight.

He shrugged out of his borrowed robe and draped it over the chair back, then slung his own heavy cloak around his shoulders once more. The clasp closed with a metallic snick as he crossed to kneel at Kelson’s bedside. The fat yellow candle he had left on the floor there still flickered its pale light over the sleeping form.

Morgan allowed himself a feeling of satisfaction as he glanced over his Ward Major, for it had served him well tonight. He would not be able to use it again until the cubes were recharged, but that was no matter. He had had the use of its protection when he needed it most. And he didn’t intend to leave Kelson alone again for even a minute until after the coronation tomorrow.

Standing up, he spread his hands over the sleeping prince, palms up, and began murmuring a counter-spell, slowly turning his hands palms down as he finished the verse. As he did so, the glow of the wards slowly diminished to nothing. Then there were but eight tiny cubes, four white and four black, cast like strange dice, a pair at each corner of the bed.

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