King Kelson's Bride

by Katherine Kurtz

  Smiling, he came to take it, mounting the step up to the great bed and sitting beside her in a rustle of scarlet silk.

  “You know, of course,” she said, as he bent to kiss her hand, “that we’re expected to make a son tonight.”

  She was smiling playfully as his eyes darted to hers, briefly startled; but then he, too, smiled and bent again to turn her hand in his, letting his tongue caress her palm—thrilling to her delicious shiver as she laughed delightedly, in an echo of long-ago childhood happiness, and reached her other hand to clasp a handful of his scarlet silk, drawing him into her embrace.

  “I do believe that’s what’s required,” he said huskily, happy contentment swelling in his breast as he brushed fingertips along the line of her cheek. “Gwynedd expects—”

  “—every man to do his duty!” she finished for him, laughing, just before he hushed all further commentary, at least with words, with the sweet questing of his lips to hers, tasting and then drinking deeply of her yielding in a heady union of duty with growing desire, as Kelson of Gwynedd at last came into his full kingship with his true queen.

  Appendix I

  INDEX OF CHARACTERS

  ALARIC Anthony Morgan, Lord—Deryni Duke of Corwyn and King’s Champion, age thirty-six; husband of Lady Richenda, father of Briony and Kelric; cousin of Bishop Duncan McLain.

  ALBIN Haldane, Prince—posthumous son and heir of the late Prince Conall and Princess Rothana, age two-and-a-half.

  ALPHEIOS, Archbishop—Patriarch of All Torenth and head of the Orthodox Church of Torenth.

  ALROY, King—late ruler of Torenth (1121–1123), Deryni; eldest son of Lionel Duke d’Arjenol and Wencit’s sister, the Princess Morag; succeeded by his brother, King Liam-Lajos II. Many in Torenth believe Alroy’s “accidental” death was contrived by Kelson to eliminate a rival who had come of age.

  AMAURY Makróry, Lord—son and heir of Róry Makróry, reigning Count Kulnán in Torenth, age twenty-nine; Deryni.

  AMBROS, Father—chaplain to Queen Jehana.

  ANGUS MacEwan, Sir—newly knighted son and heir of Graham Earl of Kheldour, age eighteen.

  ARAXIE Léan Haldane, Princess—younger daughter of the late Prince Richard, Duke of Carthmoor and Princess Sivorn; sister of Richelle and niece of the Hort of Orsal; age eighteen.

  ARKADY II, King—Deryni ruler of Torenth (1025–1080), grandfather of King Wencit and Princess Morag, brother of Prince Nikola.

  AYNBETH—a daughter of Létald Hort of Orsal, age six.

  AZIM, Prince—a younger brother of the Emir of Nur Hallaj, uncle of Princess Rothana, and an accomplished Deryni master; member of the Camberian Council.

  BAHADUR KHAN, King—ruler of the desert kingdom of R’Kassi.

  BARRETT de Laney, Lord—elderly blind Deryni; coadjutor of the Camberian Council.

  BERRHONES, Count—Torenthi courtier and master of ceremonies of the killijálay; Deryni.

  BRADENE, Archbishop—scholarly Archbishop of Valoret and Primate of All Gwynedd, age sixty.

  BRAN Coris, Lord—traitor Earl of Marley and first husband of Richenda; father of Brendan; killed by Kelson in 1121.

  BRANYNG, Count—a Deryni master and Count of Sostra in Torenth, age thirty.

  BRECON Ramsay-Quinnell, Sir—son of Sir Jolyon Ramsay and Lady Oksana, and titular heir to the Throne of Meara; brother of Noelie and Christophle; age twenty-four.

  BRENDAN Coris, Lord—Earl of Marley, son of Richenda and the late Bran Coris; age eleven; a page to his stepfather, Alaric Morgan.

  BRION Donal Cinhil Urien Haldane, King—ruler of Gwynedd (1095–1120) and late father of Kelson.

  BRIONY Bronwyn de Morgan, Lady—daughter of Alaric Morgan Duke of Corwyn and Lady Richenda, age five.

  CAMBER Kyriell MacRorie, Saint—Deryni former Earl of Culdi and restorer of the Haldane monarchy in 904; patron of magic, whose status as a saint was revoked by the Statutes of Ramos, and then restored by King Kelson and the Church of Gwynedd in the year 1125.

  CARDIEL—see THOMAS Cardiel.

  CECILE, Sister—companion to Queen Jehana.

  CENTULE, Prince—younger son of Centule V Grand Duc du Vézaire, and a representative of his father to the Court of Torenth.

  CHARISSA, Princess—late Festillic Pretender to the Throne of Gwynedd, killed by King Kelson in a duel arcane in 1120, when her pretensions passed to King Wencit.

  CHRISTOPHLE, Brother—younger son of Sir Jolyon Ramsay of Meara and Lady Oksana, age eighteen.

  CINHIL I Donal Ifor Haldane, King—first ruler of Gwynedd of the restored Haldane Dynasty (904–917), and ancestor of all the later kings of Gwynedd.

  COLMAN, King—ruler of the United Kingdoms of Howicce and Llannedd, age thirty-five; formerly betrothed to Janniver Princess of Pardiac; his heirs are his half-sister, Princess Gwenlian (in Llannedd) and his cousin, Prince Cuan (in Howicce).

  CONALL Haldane, Prince—late eldest son of Duke Nigel and Lady Meraude, husband of Princess Rothana, father of Prince Albin and Conalline; executed by Kelson for treason in 1125.

  (CONALLINE) AMELIA—natural daughter of Prince Conall by his mistress, Vanissa; age three.

  CUAN, Prince—a cousin of Colman II King of Howicce and Llannedd, and his Heir Presumptive to the Throne of Howicce, age eighteen; presumed suitor for the hand of Princess Araxie Haldane.

  CYRIC von Horthy, Prince—eldest son and heir of Létald Hort of Orsal and Prince of Tralia; age twenty-two.

  DAVORAN—a squire to King Kelson, age sixteen.

  DENIS Michael Arilan, Bishop—Deryni Bishop of Dhassa, and a member of the Camberian Council; age forty-four.

  DERRY—see SÉAN Seamus O’Flynn.

  DHUGAL Ardry MacArdry McLain, Lord—foster brother to King Kelson and member of the Privy Council of Gwynedd, age twenty; Duke of Cassan, Earl of Kierney and Transha, Chief of Clan MacArdry; son of Duncan McLain by Maryse MacArdry; Deryni.

  DOLFIN—Kelson’s senior squire, age eighteen; only survivor of accident at High Greldour Pass that nearly claimed the lives of Kelson and Dhugal in 1125.

  DONAL BLAINE II Aidan Cinhil Haldane, King—former ruler of Gwynedd (1074–1095) and father of King Brion and Duke Nigel.

  DUNCAN Howard McLain, Bishop—Deryni Auxiliary Bishop of Rhemuth, age thirty-six; former Duke of Cassan and Earl of Kierney, which titles he resigned to his son, Dhugal MacArdry McLain.

  EDWARD Ramsay, Lord—a younger son of the Earl of Cloome in Meara and ancestor of the current representatives of the House of Quinnell through his marriage with Princess Magrette of Meara; died 1078.

  EIRIAN Elspeth Sidana Haldane, Princess—daughter of Nigel Duke of Carthmoor and Lady Meraude, age four.

  EKATERINA, Princess—daughter of Rotrou, Hereditary Prince of Jáca, age seventeen.

  ERDÖDY, Duke—Deryni Duke of Jándrich in Torenth, age thirty-three.

  EWAN III MacEwan, Duke—Duke of Claibourne and Hereditary Earl Marshal of Gwynedd; father of Earl Graham, grandfather of Sir Angus; age sixty-one.

  FURSTÁN I von Furstán, King of Torenth—Deryni founder of the House of Furstán, and first King of Torenth (537–566).

  GAETAN—a servant at Horthánthy.

  GRAHAM MacEwan, Lord—son and heir of Duke Ewan (and Earl of Kheldour by courtesy), father of Sir Angus, age thirty-nine.

  GRON, Duke—Grand Duke of Calam in the Connait, and representative to the Court of Torenth from the Connaiti Council of Sovereign Princes.

  GWENLIAN, Princess—half-sister of Colman II King of Howicce and Llannedd and his heir presumptive for Llannedd; age nineteen.

  HALDANE—surname of the ruling House of Gwynedd.

  HUSNIYYA (Niyya), Princess—wife of Létald Hort of Orsal and Prince of Tralia, mother of Prince Cyric, Rezza Elisabet, Rogan, Marcel and Marcelline, Aynbeth, and Oswin.

  IDDIN de Vesca—an officer of the guard in the service of the Hort of Orsal.

  IMRE I, King—last King of Gwynedd of the House of Furstán-Festil (900–904), who sired an incestuous son on his si
ster, Princess Ariella; killed in 904 by King Cinhil I.

  IRENAEUS, Father—Orthodox Torenthi chaplain to young King Liam-Lajos.

  ISARN, Prince—sovereign ruler of Logréine, one of the Forcinn States.

  ITHEL Quinnell, Prince—late Hereditary Prince of Meara, son of Caitrin Pretender of Meara and Lord Sicard MacArdry, brother of Queen Sidana and Prince Llewell, executed by King Kelson in 1124.

  IVO Hepburn—a squire to King Kelson, age fifteen.

  JAMYL Arilan, Sir—late brother of Denis Arilan; Deryni; died 1107 from injuries incurred in service to King Brion.

  JANNIVER, Princess—daughter of Pons Prince of Pardiac in the Connait; formerly betrothed to Colman II King of Llannedd and Howicce; age twenty-three.

  JÁNOS Sokrat—blind Deryni advisor to the Court of Torenth; a master of the Moving Ward.

  JATHAM Kilshane, Sir—former squire to King Kelson, enamored of the Princess Janniver; age twenty.

  JEHANA, Queen—Dowager Queen of Gwynedd, mother of Kelson and widow of King Brion; Deryni, age thirty-nine.

  JILYAN, Mother—ban-aba (i.e., abbess) of the hill folk of Saint Kyriell’s.

  JOHN Nivard, Father—Deryni priest ordained by Bishop Denis Arilan, age twenty-five.

  JOKAL of Tyndour—early Deryni Healer, scholar, and poet.

  JOLYON Ramsay-Quinnell, Sir—titular Prince of Meara, husband of Oksana, father of Brecon, Noelie, and Christophle, age fifty.

  JOWAN—late squire to Prince Conall.

  JUDHAEL Quinnell, Bishop—late Prince of Meara, illegal Bishop of Ratharkin, nephew of Caitrin Pretender of Meara, executed by King Kelson in 1124.

  KAMIL, Prince—eldest son and heir of Princess Sofiana of Andelon and Lord Reyhan, age thirty-one.

  KÁROLY, Father—Torenthi Orthodox priest.

  KÁSPÁR, Duke—Deryni Duke of Truvorsk in Torenth.

  KELRIC Alain Morgan—son and heir of Alaric Morgan, Duke of Corwyn and Lady Richenda, Deryni, age three.

  KELSON Cinhil Rhys Anthony Haldane, King—ruler of Gwynedd (1120–) and Overlord of Torenth, son of King Brion and Queen Jehana, formerly married to Sidana (died 1124); Deryni; age twenty-one.

  KITRON—early Deryni scholar, author of Principia Magica.

  KYRI, Lady—a former member of the Camberian Council.

  LARAN ap Pardyce, Lord—Deryni physician and member of the Camberian Council, age sixty-three.

  LÁSZLÓ, Count—Deryni Count of Czalsky in Torenth, age twenty-seven.

  LÉTALD, Hort of Orsal and Prince of Tralia—sovereign ruler of Orsal and Tralia (1101–), Overlord of the Forcinn States, husband of Princess Husniyya, father of Cyric, Rezza Elisabet, Rogan, Marcel and Marcelline, Aynbeth, and Oswin; brother of Sivorn and uncle of Princesses Araxie and Richelle; age fifty.

  LIAM-LAJOS II Lionel László Furstán d’Arjenol, King (called “Laje”)—Deryni ruler of Torenth (1123–), middle son of Lionel Duke d’Arjenol and Princess Morag, brother of King Alroy Arion II, whom he succeeded; hostage of King Kelson; age fourteen.

  LIONEL, Duke—late Deryni Duke d’Arjenol in Torenth (1100–1121); husband of Princess Morag and father of the late King Alroy Arion II, King Liam-Lajos II, Prince Ronal Rurik, and Princess Stanisha; half-brother of Mahael II Duke d’Arjenol (his successor), Count Teymuraz, and Count Mátyás; killed by King Kelson in 1121.

  LLEWELL Quinnell, Prince—late second son of Caitrin Pretender of Meara and Sicard MacArdry; brother of Prince Ithel and Queen Sidana; executed by King Kelson in 1124 for the murder of his sister.

  LÓRÁNT, Duke—late Duke of Truvorsk in Torenth (1105–1122), a Deryni master who trained Count Mátyás; father of Duke Káspár.

  LURIC—a soldier of the guard in the service of the Hort of Orsal.

  MCLAIN—see DHUGAL, DUNCAN.

  MAGRETTE, Princess—third daughter of Prince Jolyon II, last sovereign Prince of Meara; wife of Lord Edward Ramsay, a younger son of the Earl of Cloome; her descendants include the last representatives of the princely House of Quinnell.

  MAHAEL Furstán d’Arjenol, Duke—Deryni co-regent of Torenth with his sister-in-law, Princess Morag; half-brother of Lionel late Duke d’Arjenol (whom he succeeded), full brother of Count Teymuraz and Count Mátyás, uncle of the late King Alroy Arion II, King Liam Lajos II, Prince Ronal Rurik, and Princess Stanisha; second in the line to the Torenthi throne, age thirty-seven.

  MARCEL—son of Létald Hort of Orsal and Princess Husniyya, twin to Lady Marcelline, age fourteen.

  MARCELLINE—daughter of Létald Hort of Orsal and Princess Husniyya, twin to Lord Marcel; age fourteen.

  MÁTYÁS Furstán-Komnénë, Count—half-brother of Lionel late Duke d’Arjenol and full brother of Duke Mahael and Count Teymuraz, uncle of the late King Alroy Arion II, King Liam-Lajos II, Prince Ronal Rurik, and Princess Stanisha; Count of Komnénë in Torenth, and fourth in line to the Torenthi throne; Deryni, age twenty-seven.

  MERAUDE de Traherne, Lady—Duchess of Carthmoor, wife of Duke Nigel, mother of the late Prince Conall, Prince Rory, Prince Payne, and Princess Eirian; sister of Lord Saer de Traherne; age thirty-seven.

  MICHAEL, Brother—coisrigte or member of the priestly caste of the hill folk of Saint Kyriell’s.

  MICHON de Courcy, Lord—a former member of the Camberian Council, died 1098; Deryni.

  MORAG Furstána, Princess—Deryni sister of Wencit late King of Torenth and widow of Duke Lionel; titular Festillic Queen of Gwynedd; co-regent of Torenth with her brother-in-law, Duke Mahael; mother of Alroy Arion II late King of Torenth, Liam-Lajos II King of Torenth, Prince Ronal Rurik (the Heir Presumptive), and Princess Stanisha; age forty-eight.

  MORGAN—see ALARIC, BRIONY, KELRIC, RICHENDA.

  NIALL—a page to King Kelson, age eleven.

  NIGEL Cluim Gwydion Rhys Haldane, Prince—Duke of Carthmoor, uncle of King Kelson and Heir Presumptive to the throne of Gwynedd; husband of Lady Meraude and father of the late Prince Conall, Prince Rory, Prince Payne, and Princess Eirian, grandfather of Prince Albin; age forty-one.

  NIKOLA, Prince—late younger brother of Arkady II King of Torenth, whose life he saved at Killingford (1025), at the cost of his own; Deryni.

  NOELIE, Lady—daughter of Sir Jolyon Ramsay and Lady Oksana, sister of Brecon and Christophle, age twenty.

  OKSANA, Lady—wife of Sir Jolyon Ramsay and mother of Brecon, Noelie, and Christophle, age forty-eight.

  ORIN—early Deryni scholar, author of the Codex Orini, who died 675.

  OSWIN—youngest son of Létald Hort of Orsal and Princess Husniyya, age three.

  PAYNE Haldane, Prince—youngest son of Duke Nigel and Lady Meraude, brother to Rory and Eirian; squire to King Kelson, age twelve.

  QUERON Kinevan, Dom—early Deryni Healer and scholar, author of the Annales Queroni, who died after 928.

  RADUSLAV, Lord—Torenthi courtier, grandson of Count Berrhones, Deryni.

  RALF Tolliver, Bishop—Bishop of Coroth in the Duchy of Corwyn.

  AL-RASOUL ibn Tarik, Lord—Moorish Deryni emissary of Torenth to the Court of Gwynedd, a master architect and builder; age forty-seven.

  RATHER de Corbie, Lord—Tralian baron and ambassador to the Duchy of Corwyn in Gwynedd, age sixty-two.

  REYHAN, Lord—consort of Sofiana Sovereign Princess of Andelon, and father of Prince Kamil and Prince Taher.

  (REZZA) ELISABET, Lady—eldest daughter of the Hort of Orsal and Princess Husniyya; age twenty.

  RHIDIAN—young Deryni woman, member of the Quorial of Saint Kyriell’s.

  RICHARD Haldane, Prince—late half-brother of King Donal Blaine Haldane, hence uncle to Brion and Nigel; husband of Lady Sivorn; father of Princesses Richelle and Araxie; died 1114.

  RICHELDIS, Queen—consort of King Donal Blaine II, mother of King Brion and Duke Nigel; died 1118.

  RICHELLE Haldane, Princess—elder daughter of Prince Richard Duke of Carthmoor and Princess Sivorn, sister of Araxie, niece of the Hort of Orsal; age twenty.

  RICHENDA, Duchess—widow of Bran Coris Earl o
f Marley and mother of the current earl, their son Brendan; now wife of Alaric Morgan Duke of Corwyn, mother of Briony and Kelric; Deryni, age twenty-nine.

  ROGAN, Prince—second son of Létald Hort of Orsal and Princess Husniyya; age seventeen.

  RONAL Rurik, Prince—youngest son of the late Lionel Duke d’Arjenol and Princess Morag, brother of Liam-Lajos II King of Torenth and the late Alroy Arion II King of Torenth; Duke of Lorsöl and Heir Presumptive to the Throne of Torenth; Deryni, age ten.

  RORY Haldane, Prince, Sir—second son and designated heir of Nigel Duke of Carthmoor and Lady Meraude, brother of Payne and Eirian; age eighteen.

  ROSANE Haldane, Princess—infant daughter of King Brion and Queen Jehana, who died a few hours after birth in 1108.

  ROTHANA, Princess—widow of Conall Haldane, mother of Prince Albin; Nabila (or Princess) of Nur Hallaj, niece of Prince Azim; cousin by marriage of Lady Richenda; Deryni, age twenty.

  ROTROU, Prince—Hereditary Prince of Jáca, father of Princess Ekaterina.

  SAER de Traherne, Lord—Earl of Rhendall and brother of Meraude Duchess of Carthmoor, age thirty-five.

  SAVILE, Baron—husband of Lady Sivorn, father of Sivney, Sorley, Siany, and Savilla; age forty-seven.

  SAVILLA—daughter of Lord Savile and Lady Sivorn, age eleven.