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Earl of Tarleton, who was also nephew to Paulin.
    Of all the men in that room, only Robert Oriss had attained his position of influence without the connivance of the former regents and had been uninvolved in the coup. Unlike Hubert, Rhemuth’s archbishop had no relatives who stood to benefit from his high office; but seeing the royal house purified of its Deryni taints was an aspiration all of them shared.
    â€œNo one wishes to impugn the sovereignty of the crown, Sire,” the old archbishop said slowly. “But perhaps Culliecairn does not represent an erosion of royal authority so much as an erosion of royal loyalties—in this case, loyalties to the Crown. What of the Earl of Eastmarch, who should have protected and held Culliecairn for you? He has a Torenthi wife. It is even said she comes of Deryni stock. Who is to say that it was not Eastmarch’s connivance that helped betray Culliecairn to its captors?”
    â€œIf so, he has already paid with his life,” Rhys Michael said quietly. “But Hrorik would never betray me. I trust my northern vassals, and especially the Earl of Eastmarch and his kin. However, I betray him , if I do not ride to the aid of his widow.”
    â€œPerhaps we ought to send a viceroy,” Manfred said, clearly with himself in mind for such an appointment. “I like not the thought of putting your Highness at risk.”
    â€œIf it were Culdi taken,” the king replied, “and a taunting challenge came, would you send a mere deputy? No, you would go. And this is the theft of a fortress at the northern gateway to my kingdom, to be handed over to the heir of my arch-rival, a man who would seize my throne. I will abide by your guidance, gentlemen, as needs I must, but surely you see why I must go.”
    They disputed the prospect for several minutes more, Tammaron and then Hubert sketching out the details of what he might say in his reply. Before they went back in, he slid the Haldane sword into its holders on his belt, setting his hand on its pommel as he returned through the curtained doorway that Fulk and Cathan parted for him. Up in the gallery, the watching archers lowered their bows and stepped back from sight, though their arrows remained nocked.
    â€œI trust you will pardon the brief interruption,” Rhys Michael said mildly, remaining standing as he faced the Torenthi herald once more. “I further note that the gage of your master’s challenge yet lies before my throne. I find his belligerence most distressing, for I have never wished him ill, but I am prepared to respond in the way that I must, if he persists in this folly. Is he determined to press this futile attempt to give my castle of Culliecairn to the pretender’s heir?”
    â€œNot futile, my lord, since he does possess it,” the herald replied. “What answer shall I give him?”
    â€œWhy, that I refute his claim and have taken up his gage,” Rhys Michael said quietly, “for it is certain that neither your master, the Festillic Pretender, nor any other person outside Gwynedd shall keep Culliecairn.” He bent and scooped up the gauntlet almost before anyone could react, hefting it briefly in one hand before tossing it deftly back to the herald, who caught it against his chest.
    â€œTell your master that I shall meet him at Culliecairn no later than the Eve of Saint John, at which time he shall render up my property,” Rhys Michael said. “Tell him that I regret he has forced us to meet under arms, for I remember him kindly from my brother’s coronation and would rather have counted him as a friend.”
    â€œWhen friendship would diminish a king’s crown, he needs must discount it, my lord,” the herald replied.
    â€œAye, that is true. I cannot count as friends those who befriend my enemies. If your royal master would assist the Festillic Pretender, who seeks to wrest back the crown my father restored after seventy years