High Deryni by Katherine Kurtz

Author:Katherine Kurtz
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Sagas, Epic, Fiction
ISBN: 9780441015269
Published: 1973-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Curse not the king, no not even in thy thought.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

"Tell your men to surrender, Warin. I am assuming command here," Kelson said.

"I cannot permit that, Sire." Warin's brown eyes met the king's without a flicker of fear. "Paul, call the guards."

"Stay away from the door, Paul," the king said before Paul could move to obey.

The lieutenant froze at the sound of his name on the royal lips, then glanced at Warin for guidance. Behind Dun-can, the door still glowed with a faint, greenish light, and the priest minutely shifted his grip on bis naked blade in a gesture calculated to instill hesitation.

Warin's eyes nicked to the door, to the look of indecision and fear on Paul's face, to the unreadable eyes of Morgan standing close by the king. Then, with a sigh, he dropped his gaze to the floor at his feet, his shoulders drooping dejectedly.

"We are undone, my friends," he said in a tired voice. "Drop your weapons and stand away. We cannot resist Deryni sorcery with mere steel."

"But, my lord " one of the men protested.

4*Enough, James." He lifted his eyes to meet Kelson's once more. "All know the fate of men who defy their king and fail. At least you and I and the others will die with the certain knowledge that we fought on the side of God, And you, O King, will pay a bigh price for our lives in the Hereafter."

There was a scarcely concealed murmur of consternation from the four men grouped behind him, but then they began slowly unbuckling sword belts and baldrics. The dull thud of sheathed steel on carpet was the only sound in the firelight as the men relinquished their weapons and fell in behind their leader. Even so, their manner was defiant Kelson noted this and many other things as he signalled Duncan to collect the weapons. And while the new captives were at least partially diverted by Duncan's movement, he caught Morgan's subtle sign toward the low armchair by the fireplace. With a slight nod, Kelson moved to the chair, waiting while Morgan turned it to face Warin and his men, then sitting and adjusting the folds of his borrowed cloak in a regal gesture. When Kelson had taken his place, Morgan retired to a position just behind and to the right of Kelson's chair, Cardiel remaining in the shadows to the left of the fireplace. The effect was instantly that of a king holding court, even in the relatively minor splendor of a castle bedchamber.

Nor was the effect lost on Warin's men, who watched apprehensively to learn what this bold young king would do.

"We do not require your life or the lives of your men,1* Kelson said to Warin, lapsing automatically into the royal "we". "We require only your loyalty from this time on or, if not your loyalty, at least your willingness to listen to what we will say in the next minutes."

"I owe no allegiance to any Deryni king," Warin retorted. "Nor am I any longer intimidated by your royal birth.

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