But at that moment, Camber’s thoughts were far from the princes and from Valoret. As he and Joram followed Jesse up the outside stairs from the castleyard, into Ebor’s great hall, he reviewed in his mind the little he had gleaned thus far about the situation for which Rhys had called him.
It was unusual for Rhys to ask directly for his help, for Camber had never really been able to learn any of the Healer’s Art which Rhys had mastered so well and so many years before. Camber had been considered a great non-healing adept, and Alister was not unaccomplished himself; but neither aspect of the man who now nodded greeting to Gregory’s various servants and retainers could compare with the specialized abilities of a gifted Healer like Rhys.
And yet, if Rhys had somehow managed to take away Gregory’s Deryni powers, then that was, indeed, a subject of great interest, both to Camber and to the part of him which was Alister. It was a thing which could touch all Deryni. Camber had never heard of such a thing happening, except in occasional head injuries which were so severe that other functions were also impaired; and in those cases, function could almost never be restored, and the patient surely died. Nor had he ever read of such a thing, though over the years he and Evaine had worked with some very ancient documents, indeed—records which sometimes spoke of many wondrous things not normally thought of as falling within even a Deryni’s abilities. The ancient texts said nothing about taking away a person’s powers deliberately.
Jesse led them up a winding turnpike stair for nearly two floors, then doubled back through a narrow gallery walkway which skirted along the length of the hall and overlooked it. At the end of the passage, a heavy, metal-studded door stood ajar.
The earl’s great, tapestry-hung bed could be seen through another arched doorway across the entry-room, the green-clad figure of Rhys sitting wearily on a chair beside the sleeping Gregory while Evaine stood behind him and massaged his temples. Rhys looked up as Camber and Joram entered, his face creasing in a relieved smile as he rose to greet them.
“Am I glad you’re here, both of you!” he said, laying his hands on their shoulders in a dual embrace. “Jesse, thank you for bringing them up. We’ll call you if there’s any need.”
Linked minds exchanged in an instant what lips would have taken long minutes to recount, even as Jesse backed out deferentially and closed the door. Evaine, too, joined in the rapport, the mind-brush of her affection reaching out to caress both father and brother. Even as their link receded to more usual levels, Rhys drew them all physically into Gregory’s bedroom, to stand along the near side of the bed.
“You’re sure he’s all right now?” Camber asked in a low voice.
“Perfectly normal. I only have him in forced sleep because I wanted to be able to talk freely with you. I know that I can duplicate the effect, though. We won’t even have to wake him. I don’t think he’ll remember anything out of the ordinary, either. He was only conscious for a few seconds, and he was still in a bit of shock. Do you want me to show you what I did?”
“Not just yet. Are his shields malleable?”
“To the four of us, yes. Do you want to read him?”
“I think so.”
Moving closer to the bed, Camber unclasped the heavy riding cloak he had been wearing against the outside cold and shrugged it into Joram’s waiting hands, then blew on his fingertips and rubbed them together briskly to warm them before touching Gregory’s temples. As he let his fingers slip easily back into the thin reddish hair and took control, Gregory gave a little sigh and seemed to relax even more.
Deeply Camber delved, exploring the traditional pathways through which the Deryni potential was usually carried, appreciating the discipline of this particular Deryni mind and marvelling that anything could have neutralized it, even briefly. Then he withdrew both mental and physical contact and turned to Rhys.
“He seems fine to me. Perfectly normal, other than being open to the controls you’ve placed upon him for Healing. Now, what did you do to him before?”
With an indrawn breath of apprehension and resolve, Rhys moved in closer and laid his hands on Gregory’s head. “You’d best not come with me while I do it, at least the first time. Just stand by for a moment.”
“Very well.”
As Rhys closed his eyes and went into his deep Deryni trancing, Camber watched neutrally, aching to follow what the Healer was doing, but respecting his opinion that it were better not to do so. After a moment, Rhys opened his eyes and drew back a little.
“Take a look now,” he said, a twisted little smile on his lips. “Even knowing something of what to expect, I think you’re going to be surprised.”
“Indeed?”
With the arching of one bushy Alister eyebrow in skepticism, Camber laid his hands on Gregory’s head once again and extended his senses—and encountered no shields, no resistance, nothing—nothing at all which gave hint that the being beneath his hands was Deryni! Despite himself, he looked up quickly at Rhys, at Evaine, noted both their hesitant, slightly troubled little smiles. Without taking his attention from Gregory further, he motioned for Joram to move in and read with him, felt the increased potential as Joram’s familiar presence bolstered his own awareness of the mind they read.
Backed by Joram’s steady touch of mind and hand, he let himself sink into his own deep trancing, reaching out at successively lower levels for the telltale signs of Deryni potential which were no longer there in Gregory. He could feel Joram’s incredulity in tandem with his own, felt a slight twinge of dread as the thought simultaneously crossed his and Joram’s minds that use of this particular technique could be a threat to any Deryni; thanked God that the Healers were bound by so rigid a code of ethics. What a weapon for Deryni to use against Deryni!
But he dared not dwell on that further. Surfacing enough to function on a physical plane as well as a mental one again, he signed for Rhys to join them in the deep rapport, to work his Healing magic and restore what he had taken away, while he and Joram observed. He felt Rhys join the linkage and withdrew enough for Rhys to take control, felt the Healer slip deep into union and reach out.
A twist, a psychic wrenching, gentle but persistent—and suddenly Gregory’s mind was as it had been, sleeping and controlled still, but completely restored to the fullness of his Deryni potentials. Camber was shaking his head even as the three of them withdrew, too stunned by what he had witnessed to do more than stare at his son-in-law in amazement. He could not seem to find his voice. Rhys finally broke the silence.
“You didn’t really believe me, did you?” the Healer said, as he reinforced Gregory’s Healing sleep and then broke off all contact. “Let’s go into the other room. He needs to rest.”
Without a word, Camber followed, his mind still examining the implications of what he had just seen and felt. When they had settled down on stools and in chairs beside the fire in the outer room, it was Joram who spoke.
“All right, how did you do it?”
Rhys laced his fingers together on his knees and shook his head slightly. “I think it’s a Healer’s function, Joram. I did it inadvertently the first time, while working at a very deep level, and I couldn’t reverse it until I’d gone down deep again. The process seems to require the same kind of energy expenditure as an actual Healing.”
“Is it more difficult?” Camber asked.
“No, it’s—different. I suspect that one could become quite adept at this, after a while, but I don’t really see that it’s worth the effort. I mean, what good is it to take away someone’s powers? Now, giving powers this easily—that’s another story.”
Joram snorted as he shifted closer to the fire. “Humph. I can’t say that it’s done Cinhil that much good to have such powers. Nor would I have been unhappy to see Imre or Ariella lose theirs. It could have saved a lot of needless deaths.”
“True,” Rhys agreed. “However, gaining Imre’s and Ariella’s cooperation might have been another matter. Gregory was easy. He was drugged to a fare-thee-well the first time, a
lready in Healing sleep, totally trusting me to do what needed to be done. One could hardly ask that of an enemy. At this point, I don’t know whether I could have done it to a conscious subject or not.”
“You mean, if Gregory hadn’t already been unconscious, you don’t think you could have done it?” Camber asked.
“He probably wouldn’t even have discovered it,” Evaine said.
“She’s right,” Rhys agreed. “And remember, we know one another’s mental touch, from working together in council. If we hadn’t had that advantage, he wouldn’t have been so open.” He shrugged. “But this isn’t the place for further speculation right now. I don’t even want to tell Gregory what’s happened until I’ve had a chance to think about it some more.”
Camber nodded. “A wise decision. Given all the pertinent factors, though, how soon do you think he’ll be able to ride? Cinhil thought Gregory was being melodramatic.” He chuckled as he remembered the king’s outburst. “He seemed to think Gregory was trying to steal his thunder, with all this talk about dying, so he wants to see him.”
“I can imagine,” Rhys chuckled. “On the other hand,” he continued on a more serious note, “I didn’t want Cinhil thinking he had to get on a horse and come charging out here, in his condition.”
“Oh, I don’t think he would have—” Camber began.
“He would have, and you know it!” Rhys disagreed with a grin. “He’s the second most stubborn man I know.”
“Myself being the first, I suppose.” Camber smiled. “Well, you’re probably right.” He sobered as his thoughts returned to Cinhil. “The trip certainly wouldn’t have done him any good, though. I don’t like the sound of his cough.”
He looked to Rhys for reassurance, his hope fading as the Healer did not deny the fear he had so lightly posed. “How much time does he have, Rhys?” he asked, almost inaudibly.
“A matter of weeks,” Rhys managed to reply. “A month, at the outside. I don’t think he’ll see Eastertide.”
A chill slithered down Camber’s spine. Weeks! A month at the outside!
And Cinhil knew, he realized, as he thought back on their last conversation. Cinhil was aware that he was dying, and had started to tell Camber and Joram about his concern for his sons when Rhys’s message had called them both away.
Now Cinhil was alone at Valoret—or, not alone, for Jebediah was with him; and Tavis was available for the basic work of Healing. But Jebediah was not trained to cope with what must occur before Cinhil died—and Tavis must never know!
“We must get back to him,” Camber breathed, unclasping cramped fingers and reaching for his cloak. “How soon can the two of you leave?”
He stood as Joram laid the heavy cloak on his shoulders and fastened the clasp. Rhys and Evaine also stood, almost frightened at the intensity of Camber’s reaction.
“We need to be certain Gregory is free of any aftereffects,” the Healer said. “Under the circumstances, with he being who he is, we really should spend the night here and plan to leave in the morning.”
“So long?” Camber murmured. “God, I wish I hadn’t left Cinhil! What if he—”
“Father, he isn’t going to die tonight!” Evaine insisted gently, sensing Camber’s increasing anxiety and knowing it to be unwarranted, as yet. “Unless he was much worse at noon than he was this morning, he has time.”
With a weary sigh, Camber clasped both their hands to his breast and shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I know. You’re right. Nonetheless, I must go back to him. We’ve come so far.… Return as soon as you can. God keep you both safe.”
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APPENDIX I
INDEX OF CHARACTERS
ALFRED, Father—Cinhil’s human confessor.
ALISTER CULLEN, Father—see Cullen.
ALLYN, Crevan—Alister Cullen’s successor as Vicar General of the Order of Saint Michael; human.
ALROY, Prince—infant son and heir of King Cinhil, twin to Javan; in poor health.
ANDREW—farrier at Grecotha.
ANSCOM of Trevas, Archbishop—Deryni Primate of All Gwynedd; Archbishop of Valoret.
ANSEL MacRorie, Lord—younger son of Cathan; age five.
ARIELLA of Festil, Princess—elder sister of the former King Imre and mother of his son, Mark.
BAYVEL de Cameron, Lord—uncle of Queen Megan.
BENEDICT—King Cinhil’s name in religion.
BEREN, Sir—a Michaeline knight.
CAMBER Kyriell MacRorie, Lord—Earl of Culdi: canonized as Saint Camber in 906; Defensor Hominum and patron of Deryni magic.
CAMERON—family name of Queen Megan.
CATHAN MacRorie, Lord—Camber’s eldest son and heir; murdered by Imre in 903.
CHARLES, Brother—a Servant of Saint Camber; formerly a baker in village at Caerrorie.
CINHIL Donal Ifor Haldane, King—restored King of Gwynedd; formerly a priest of the Ordo Verbi Dei under the name of Benedict; kidnapped from his monastery by Joram and Rhys.
COEL Howell, Lord—brother of Elinor, Cathan’s wife; member of Imre’s council; executed by King Cinhil in 905.
CRINAN—Cathan’s squire; doubled for Rhys under a shape-changing spell.
CULLEN, Father Alister—Deryni Vicar General of the Order of Saint Michael; later, Bishop of Grecotha and Chancellor of Gwynedd.
DAVET, Bishop—one of Gwynedd’s six itinerant bishops.
DAVIN MacRorie, Lord—elder son of Cathan; age seven; Earl of Culdi after his grandfather’s death.
DERMOT O’Beirne, Bishop—human Bishop of Cashien, in west Gwynedd.
DOTHAN of Erne, Lord—former Festillic minister imprisoned by Cinhil for trial; son and daughter killed in assassination attempt on Cinhil.
DUALTA Jarriot, Lord—a Michaeline knight.
ELINOR MacRorie, Lady—widow of Cathan; mother of Davin and Ansel; later, wife to James Drummond.
EMRYS, Dom—Deryni adept and Abbot of the Order of Saint Gabriel.
EUSTACE of Fairleigh, Bishop—one of Gwynedd’s six itinerant bishops; human.
EVAINE MacRorie Thuryn, Lady—daughter of Camber and wife to Rhys.
EWAN, Lord—eldest son of Duke Sighere; later, Earl of Rhendall.
FINTAN, Lord—human earl on Cinhil’s council.
GABRILITES—priests of the Order of Saint Gabriel, an all-Deryni esoteric order based at Saint Neot’s, in the south Lendour mountains; especially noted for training Healers.
GELLIS de Cleary, Father—acting Precentor of the Order of Saint Michael.
GUAIRE of Arliss, Lord—friend of Cathan; former aide to Camber and Cullen; finally, a founding Servant of Saint Camber.
HALDANE—surname of the ancient royal family of Gwynedd.
HILDRED, Lord—human baron on Cinhil’s council; expert on horses.
HOWELL, Coel—see Coel.
HOWICCAN, Pargan—classic Deryni lyric poet.
HRORIK, Lord—middle son of Duke Sighere; later, Earl of Eastmarch.
HUMPHREY of Gallareaux, Father—dead Michaeline priest responsible for death of Cinhil’s firstborn son, Prince Aidan.
ILLAN, Lord—a Michaeline knight.
IMRE, King—fifth Festillic King of Gwynedd, reigned 900–904; died after defeat by Cinhil.
JAFFRAY of Carbury, Archbishop—successor to Anscom as Archbishop of Valoret; Deryni and former Gabrilite.
JAVAN, Prince—infant son of King Cinhil, twin to Alroy; born with a clubfoot.
JAMES Drummond, Lord—grand-nephew of Camber; former suitor to Elinor and later her second husband.
JASPER Miller, Father—a Michaeline priest.
JEBEDIAH of Alcara, Lord—Deryni Grand Master of the Order of Saint Michael; later, Earl Marshal of Gwynedd.
JOHANNES, Brother—lay Michaeline monk, servant of Vicar General Alister Cullen.
JOHN—factor who bought Dolban for the Servants of Saint Camber.
JOHN, Brother—an alias of Evaine.
JORAM MacRorie, Father—youngest
son of Camber; priest and knight of the Order of Saint Michael; later, confidential secretary to Bishop Alister Cullen.
JOWERTH Leslie, Lord—formerly a Festillic minister; Deryni; now on Cinhil’s staff.
KAI, Bishop—one of Gwynedd’s six itinerant bishops.
KYRIELL—Camber’s name in religion.
LAUREN, Sir—a Michaeline knight.
MacGREGOR, Bishop Ailin—one of Gwynedd’s six itinerant bishops.
MacRORIE—surname of Camber’s family.
MARK of Festil—infant son of Imre and Ariella and carrier of the Festillic line in Torenth after his parents’ deaths.
MEGAN, Queen—wife to Cinhil; mother of Alroy, Javan, and Rhys Haldane; formerly Camber’s ward.
MICHAELINES—priests and knights of the Order of Saint Michael, a militant fighting and teaching order, predominantly Deryni.
MURDOCH, Baron—human Baron of Caithane, of an ancient human family in power before the Festillic Interregnum.
NATHAN, Father—a Michaeline priest.
NIALLAN Trey, Bishop—Deryni Bishop of Dhassa; formerely of the Order of Saint Michael.
NIMUR, King—Deryni King of Torenth; connected to the Festils of Gwynedd through the female line.
ORIN—Deryni mystic and magician; author of the Protocol of Orin, a collection of four scrolls containing extremely potent spells of Deryni magic.
ORISS, Father Robert—human Vicar General of the Ordo Verbi Dei; boyhood friend of Anscom of Trevas; later, Archbishop of Rhemuth.
PORRIC Lunal, Father—a priest of the Order of Saint Michael and a candidate to succeed Alister Cullen as Vicar General.
QUERON Kinevan, Dom—Deryni Healer-priest, originally of the Order of Saint Gabriel; a founding Servant of Saint Camber.
RAYMOND, Bishop—former Prince-Bishop of Dhassa and maternal uncle of Alister Cullen, whom he ordained.
REVAN—lame former carpenter’s apprentice saved by Cathan; now a clark to Evaine.
RHYS Thuryn, Lord—Deryni physician and Healer; developer of the Thuryn technique of concentration; husband of Evaine and son-in-law to Camber.
SIGHERE, Duke—former independent Earl of East-march; later, first Duke of Claibourne.
The Legends of Camber of Culdi Trilogy Page 86