A little later, when they had supped with the household, and tucked up Alaric, and retired to the privacy of their bed, Kenneth at last dared to reveal something of what had gone on privately concerning the new king.
«I’m not certain how much he’s aware of, regarding whatever it was that Donal did to prepare him», Kenneth told her in private, as they lay curled together in sleepy contentment. «I did what I was ordered to do, but I have no idea why; and I certainly couldn’t tell him what I didn’t know». He cocked his head at her in the light of the candle burning beside the bed. «It isn’t at all usual, to confide any of this to a human, is it?»
She smiled dreamily, as baffled as he.
«Dearest heart, I have no idea what is usual, especially when it concerns Haldanes», she replied. «None of this was supposed to happen the way it is now unfolding. Krispin should not have died, Donal should have lived many more years, and we should never have been involved in any of this».
«But we are», Kenneth said. Sighing, he splayed a hand across her belly, smiling as he felt the baby kick. «We’re going to have another warrior», he said, grinning. «Or a warrior-princess», he amended. «Have you any idea when he or she will arrive?»
«She will arrive when she’s good and ready», Alyce retorted, smiling smugly, for she had already been able to touch the tiny mind with hers. «I had thought to name her Bronwyn Rhetice. Do you approve?»
«Aye, a noble name for a noble lass», he agreed. «There was a Bronwyn among her Morgan ancestors, sister to Charlan Kai, who was the faithful companion of King Javan, and died at his side».
«And there was a Rhetice who was wife to Corwyn’s second duke», said Alyce. «That’s why I chose those names. Our little lady will have a high heritage to live up to».
«I am certain she shall rise to the challenge», Kenneth said languidly, laying his head on her breast as one hand slid along the bulge of her belly to stroke the softness of her thighs. «And I think we should do our best to encourage her arrival as soon as possible, don’t you?» he whispered, as his caresses began to send delicious shivers through her belly.
* * *
Her contractions began early the next morning, sending a tizzy through all of Morganhall as Kenneth’s sisters sent for the midwife and began organizing the birthing chamber, and Vera hovered anxiously. The midwife came, but judged that her services would not be needed until much later in the day, possibly even well into the night.
In fact, she was unneeded even then, for Alyce’s labor slowed dramatically, not resuming until well into the next day. When it did resume, her pains were long and hard. Vera and the two Morgan sisters stayed with her every minute, seeing to her every need, though they asked Kenneth to leave before the actual birth. By the time Alyce delivered, it was early on the morning of the twelfth of December, and she had lost a good deal of blood.
But the predicted girl-child was strong, with a lusty set of lungs, and soon was nursing vigorously. Kenneth inspected the new arrival soon after the women had cleaned up mother and child, and pronounced his daughter perfect in every way. Later in the afternoon, after Alyce had napped, Kenneth brought in their son to see his new sister. The boy approached in wonder, eyes wide with curiosity, tiptoeing to the side of the bed where his mother cradled the new babe in her arms.
«Is that my sister?» he whispered.
Smiling, Alyce tilted the babe so that he could see, and Kenneth lifted him higher, to sit on the edge of the great bed.
«Alaric, this is your sister, Bronwyn», he said.
«She’s so little», the boy breathed. «If I touch her, will she wake up?»
«I don’t think so», Alyce replied. «She’s had a very hard birthday. Just be very gentle».
As she nodded encouragement, Alaric reached out a tentative finger to stroke the baby’s downy head.
«She’s got soft hair», he said, grinning.
«She has hair just like you had, when you were a wee baby», Alyce replied.
«Can I hold her?» came the next question.
«Well…» Alyce began.
«Oh, I think we can arrange that», Kenneth said, glancing at Alyce’s maid as he helped the boy down to the floor. «Melissa, could you bring some pillows over here?» he asked, pulling a heavy chair with arms closer to the bed.
Lifting Alaric up to sit on it, he then arranged several pillows on his lap. The boy craned his neck to watch as his father gathered up the swaddled infant and brought her over to the chair, carefully setting her in her big brother’s arms, resting on the pillows, and knelt down beside them.
«Papa, she’s so little», the boy breathed, his eyes wide as he glanced up at his father. As he gently touched one of the little hands, the baby’s fingers closed around one of his, producing an excited grin.
«I think she likes me!» he whispered.
«She’s your sister», Kenneth replied, smiling. «And because you’re the big brother, you must always take care of her, and keep her safe».
«I will, Papa, I will!» Alaric said. «When will she get bigger?»
«Every day», Kenneth answered. «And you must help Mama and Melissa take care of her, so that she’ll grow strong and healthy. You’ll do that won’t you?»
The boy’s grinning nod left no doubt that he was more than willing to assume his fraternal responsibilities.
* * *
Two more days Kenneth remained at Morganhall, before making a quick trip to Rhemuth to check on the king and report the birth. Though he returned in time to celebrate Bronwyn’s first Christmas, he found his wife less recovered from her confinement than he had hoped.
«I’m fine», she insisted, as she met him in the hall, though her color was poor, and she had engaged a wet nurse from the village.
«Is she fine?» Kenneth asked his sisters later in the afternoon, when Alyce had retired for a nap.
Delphine, solid and dependable and slightly older than he, drew him closer to the fire, where Claara was playing with one of her grandchildren. Vera had stayed to read in the chamber where Alyce slept, and Llion had taken Alaric and Duncan outside for a run-around in the garden with Alaric’s hound-puppy.
«I don’t know», Delphine said in a low voice, drawing Kenneth to a seat a little apart from her sister. «Claara says it is nothing, but I am frankly worried. I fear it may be the milk fever, though she denies she has any of the symptoms. She did lose a lot of blood. She does not rest enough. She pushes herself too fast, but she is determined that she must be strong enough to travel to the coronation. Can you not make her see some sense?»
Kenneth sighed, leaning his forearms on his thighs to interlace his fingers.
«She can be a very stubborn woman, Delphine», he said. «And seeing the new king crowned is very important to her». And to him, he added in his own mind. «But there is time yet».
But time was running out for Alyce de Corwyn Morgan. She had been feverish for the first Mass of Christmas, which she insisted on attending, and was worse the following day. She spent most of St. Stephen’s Day in bed even as she directed the packing of her gowns for the trip to Rhemuth and the coronation. By Childermas, two days later, even she was forced to admit that her illness was serious. And Kenneth, himself poised to head back to the capital, was torn between loyalty to his new young king and devotion to his wife.
«You will not be able to go with me to the coronation», he told her sternly, when Claara had gone out of the sickroom to fetch clean compresses. «You must rest, regain your strength».
«But Prince Brion needs me», she whispered desperately, clinging to his hand.
«No, your children need you!» came Kenneth’s retort. «I need you!»
«He needs his powers awakened», she choked out, tears streaming down her face. «Without them, he is likely to perish the first time some Torenthi interloper faces him down in a magical challenge. What if that Torenthi prince and princess show up at his crowning?»
«Darling, they won’t», he began.
«No, l
isten to me! Alaric was to have been the instrument of that awakening, but he is too young by many years. Donal knew that. It means that I must do it, though it cost me my life».
«No! That is too high a price to pay!» Kenneth blurted, seizing her hand and pressing it to his lips.
«It is the price I agreed to pay», Alyce countered. «Kenneth, I gave my word!»
«But you are ill», he protested. «It can wait until you are well. Surely he will be safe at his own coronation. He will be surrounded by guards».
«Would he be safe from someone like me?» she demanded, flaring her shields around her head in an emerald aura; and then, at his tight-lipped resistance, raising her free hand in a fist that opened to release a column of green flame that gushed briefly upward, so powerful that it left a scorch-mark on the ceiling.
He flinched from it, turning his face away until it had subsided, then dared to look at her again.
«I do not know», he admitted. «But there has been no challenge by Deryni in many years. Surely he can be protected for another week or two, until you are well».
«Then, perhaps you could bring him to me», she said quietly, exhausted by her exertion. «It would ease my mind. If I need not expend the energy to go to him, perhaps I can marshal it to do what must be done here».
«No», Kenneth said flatly. «I will not leave you. And he would not come merely on my written word. Not so close to his coronation. He is of age, Alyce, but he is still a boy; and I left him in the care of Duke Richard and the crown council. They would not let him come».
«Then I must go to him as planned», she said, «and pray that God will give me the strength to carry out what I have promised».
Kenneth summoned up a deep sigh, shaking his head, but it was more in resignation than any further attempt at fruitless resistance. If anyone knew the cost of duty, it was he.
«Very well. I shall go. I cannot fight you indefinitely».
«Thank you», she mouthed, drawing his hand nearer to kiss it. «I promise that I shall rest while you are gone».
«See that you do!» he said sternly, though he managed a faint smile as he bent to kiss her burning forehead.
Chapter 23
«For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie».[24]
Kenneth rode out alone within the hour and returned with the following dawn — and with the king posing as his squire. The early morning light stained the snow with rose as the pair passed through the gates of Morganhall, giving lie to the somber atmosphere within the manor walls.
Delphine and Vera met them just inside the door, both of them grey with fatigue and pinched with worry. Delphine did not speak as Kenneth embraced her, and Vera choked back a sob. Neither seemed to notice the crimson-clad squire standing quietly at Kenneth’s back, face averted.
«How is she?» he murmured, drawing back to search their eyes.
Grim-lipped, Delphine shook her head. «Not good, brother. She is very weak, and her fever has not abated. I called the priest shortly after you left — just in case. She was lucid while she received the Sacrament, but now she is drifting. I think you should prepare yourself for the worst».
«No!» he said firmly, though he kept his voice down. «I cannot accept that! We’ll think of something — we must! I’ll go to her now».
He started forward, Brion starting to follow like the dutiful squire he pretended to be, but Delphine put out an arm to stop him.
«You won’t be needed in my lady’s chamber, sir squire», she said somewhat imperiously. «The kitchen lies down a level, through that arch. Go warm yourself by the fire, and ask Cook to give you something to eat».
«No, I need him with me», Kenneth retorted, reaching back to seize Brion’s shoulder and urge him along, before the king could think of a suitable response that would also preserve his anonymity. «He has a message from the king, which hopefully will cheer my dear wife».
«Oh. Very well, then».
Somehow Kenneth managed to keep his expression neutral as he drew the king with him up the turnpike stair. Brion easily stayed in character as a squire, for until a few weeks before, he had served ably as a squire in his father’s service — and would retain that rank until he earned the accolade of knighthood at age eighteen, even though he now was king. As they reached the level of the upper solar and moved along a narrow corridor toward the principal sleeping chamber, Kenneth glanced at the king appraisingly.
«I don’t know how much you caught of what my sister told me», he said softly, «but the outlook apparently is not good. I have no idea whether this has been a wasted trip».
«I understand», Brion said, inclining his head. «What I don’t understand is why she insisted she had to see me before the coronation, when her health is in jeopardy».
Kenneth sighed, pausing before a tiny window just outside a heavy oak door. «Brion, I don’t know how much your father told you about your Haldane inheritance, and I am not personally involved in securing that for you. But I do know what was done in my presence, to make the appropriate preparations, and I have an inkling what further must be done — though I am not able to speak of that, even to you. I…can’t even tell you why I am not able to speak of it». He allowed himself another heavy sigh to brace himself. «I just pray to God that she knows what she’s doing».
With that, he knocked lightly on the door and entered. Inside, his sister Claara was bent over Alyce’s supine form, wringing out a wet cloth over a ceramic basin.
«How is she?» he asked, coming to the opposite side of the bed to take one of his wife’s slack hands in his. Brion prudently remained by the door, trying to be unobtrusive, waiting until Kenneth should dismiss his sister and leave them in privacy.
«Oh, Kenneth, Kenneth», his younger sister murmured, gently shaking her head as she reapplied the wet cloth to Alyce’s forehead. «I’m so glad you got here in time. She’s burning up with fever».
«I can feel it», Kenneth replied, touching the back of his hand to her forehead, then bringing the hand he held to his lips. «Claara, I need a few minutes alone with her. Could you please leave us for a little while?»
«Of course», Claara said quietly. «Perhaps your squire would like something to eat. Lads that age usually do».
«He’ll wait», Kenneth said curtly, though Brion was already shaking his head. «He’s brought a message from the king. Come over here, lad. And Claara, why don’t you have something to eat yourself? I’ll keep watch».
Not speaking, Claara inclined her head and slipped past Brion, who closed the door behind her.
«Latch it», Kenneth said quietly, «then come over here».
Silently Brion obeyed, coming to stand at the other side of the great bed, opposite Kenneth. Alyce’s eyelids had fluttered open during their converse, and she managed a weak smile for her husband, but then she turned her burning gaze on the new king.
«Brion!» she whispered. «Thank God! And thank you for coming, Sire». She paused to swallow. «Needless to say, I should rather have been able to come to you».
«And I, my lady, for it would have meant that you were not ill».
Alyce smiled again, briefly closing her eyes. «Courtly like your father. And like your father, you must have the means to defend yourself». She looked up at him again. «Did you bring the Haldane brooch, and the silver bracelet he gave you?»
Eager now, Brion pushed back his right sleeve to show her the wide bracelet cuff, engraved with a pattern of running lions. «I pinned the brooch inside my cloak», he added. «It wouldn’t have done for anyone to have seen it and recognized me».
«Please let me hold the bracelet», she whispered, holding out her free hand, «and come around to sit here beside me».
Without demur, the king removed the bracelet and put it in her hand, then came around to sit on the stool Kenneth had pushed closer with one booted toe.
«Help me sit», she murmured to Kenneth, who eased her more upright and inserted several pillows at her bac
k to support her. After a moment to compose herself, she turned the bracelet to gaze at the three runes engraved inside, then set her forefinger over the first one and whispered, «One!»
The word triggered an immediate reaction. As she gasped, her eyelids flickering, her entire body went rigid for a long moment. Then she exhaled in a long-drawn sigh and relaxed. With a second breath she opened her eyes, very calm now, but Kenneth could see the rapid pulse in her throat, and the quickening of her breath.
«Dear God, I had not known what would be required», she whispered, very deliberately setting the bracelet aside. «So much to do, so little time. My prince, it may be that I shall not be able to complete the entire sequence just now. I may not have the strength. But some, at least, I think I can awaken in you. Please give me your hands», she invited, offering the king her palms.
Without hesitation, the king leaned forward to set his hands on hers, though the heat of her flesh caused his glance to dart downward in alarm.
«Pay no mind to that», she ordered, as she closed her thumbs over the backs of his hands. «Steady him, Kenneth», she said to her husband.
Deftly, Kenneth moved behind the king’s stool to set his hands on the royal shoulders, bracing Brion’s back against his chest. Alyce closed her eyes, her lips moving slightly. Though Kenneth could sense nothing of what then began to pass between her and the king, he felt Brion’s long, shuddering gasp just before his body stiffened and the raven head snapped back against his shoulder.
He could not guess what the effort was costing his wife, but it was hard enough on the king. For a long moment Brion ceased breathing altogether, balanced on a long-drawn breath — long enough for Kenneth to begin worrying.
But then, with a gentle sigh, the tension drained from Brion’s body and he began breathing again: great, gasping gulps that gradually eased as the process slackened off, though he remained a dead weight in Kenneth’s arms.
A gasp from Alyce shifted his focus back to her as she, too, stirred, head moving groggily from side to side as she opened her eyes.
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