Pawns and Queens--A 15th Century Gwynedd Story--Chapter Twenty-Nine

[Evie]

Previous chapter: https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php/topic,3256.0.html


Chapter Twenty-Nine

September 14, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
The Undercroft
Midnight

The Empowerment Ritual was originally meant to take place in the Royal Chapel, but in the final hours prior to its start, the location was changed to the Great Hall's undercroft, that being the location where there was the least danger of the ritual suddenly being disrupted by another aerial bombardment.

Queen Soraya and Healer James, Princess Catalina, and the Duke of Corwyn were the four Deryni tasked with serving at the four quarters of the ritual circle, Lord Geoffrey being given charge of guarding the entrance to the chamber, which would serve the dual purpose of providing them with protection while they worked while also allowing him to conserve his own energies so he could summon the Camberian Council to report on the results of the Empowerment once it was completed. The five had arrived early to prepare the space, lighting the candles and cleansing the chamber for the work ahead. Catalina had been selected to participate in the night's work not merely due to her marriage into the Haldane line or the strength of her Deryni power and training, but also because it was she who had originally suggested that both Princes could hold shares of the Haldane power together, and those princes now wished to return their shares of that power to the King. As her Andelonian training in such matters gave her more experience with performing that particular permutation of the ritual, the brothers had deferred to her expertise when creating the ritual. If done correctly, then upon Cinhil's death, Colin would not need to be re-Empowered, for the full force of Cinhil's Haldane powers would immediately transfer to his heir. Colin could then decide at some later date whether to transfer some smaller portion of that power back to Camber, or simply retain it until his own blood heir was of an age to receive it. The Healer had been brought into the working to ensure that the ritual would proceed as safely as could be managed given the King's special health needs. Queen Soraya was present as the widow of the King that was, the mother of the present King, and of the King Who Would Be, for all present were very conscious that this night's work was as much a symbolic funerary rite as a ritual of Empowerment, for it was Cinhil's intent that he offer up his remaining days of life in this final act of service to his Kingdom, in order to help ensure the future wellbeing of his people. And Joscelin Morgan, in his capacity as the King's Champion, had been selected to be the Master of the rite.

The space having been prepared, Cinhil's brothers, along with his squires, brought the King into the undercroft, carried on a litter bed. At the center of the undercroft a bier covered with snowy white linen had been placed, and upon this bier they placed the King's litter, the supine King facing towards the East. That task accomplished, the King's Champion moved a small cloth-covered table to the foot of the bier, placing on and around it the items that would be essential to the night's work. Cinhil lay quietly, resplendent in his royal mantle of Haldane crimson clasped with the Crimson Lion, his arms folded across his chest holding the Sword of State, as his brothers took up stations on either side of him.

Those others who would be standing in the ritual circle took their places: Master James the Healer positioning himself to the East, the King's Champion standing in the South, Princess Catalina to the West, and Queen Soraya to the North, each of these stations marked with a candle of the appropriate color for that quarter.

The King's Champion spoke. "I ask you as designated Master of this ritual whether you, Cinhil Alroy Nigel Jashan, Rex Gwyneddae, are willing to place yourself into our hands, body and soul, without reservation, that we may restore the fullness of the Haldane powers unto you."

"I am willing," said the King. He kissed the hilt of the Sword of State, handing it to Prince Nicholas to hand over to Duke Joscelin, who held it tip downwards, his hands resting lightly on the quillons.

Prince Camber crossed over to the small table, taking up the aspergillum and sprinkling holy water as he started at the East to cast the first circle. Following after him, Colin took up the thurible, adding a pinch of incense from the incense boat onto the glowing coals within, and began to cense the circle, following in his brother's footsteps. After Colin had passed him, moving towards the West, Joss stepped into the center of the circle with the sword, using it to salute the East and then casting the third circle with the tip of it until the circle was complete.

Returning the Sword of State to the King, Joss picked up a parchment that lay on the small table and began to read. "Whereas our beloved lord King Uthyr Michael Kelson Rhys, by the Grace of God King of Gwynedd, Prince of Meara, and Lord of the Purple March, did depart this realm and did designate his beloved son the Prince Cinhil Alroy Nigel Jashan as heir both in law and in magic,

"And whereas said Prince Cinhil, now our undoubted King, before he could be crowned or his Haldane powers confirmed, was deemed unable to fully assume them without grave danger to his person by virtue of his physical illness,

"And that therefore since King Cinhil was at the time unable to take on the mantle of his magical heritage without endangerment to his person, his brothers Prince Nicholas Richard Brion Alexander and Prince Camber Malcolm Blaine Uthyr did assume as the King's designated executors of his Haldane powers a portion of this birthright given to each in order to aid the King in his sworn duty as protector of the Kingdom,

"And whereas our Sovereign King Cinhil is now prepared to assume the fullness of his birthright and power in order to defend said Kingdom against foreign aggression and threats both physical and magical,

"So, therefore, do said executors agree that inasmuch as Gwynedd has urgent need of a ruler with the full faculties of the Haldane legacy intact and functioning,

"Therefore, the spiritual and magical authority of that office should be vested in our late King Uthyr's eldest son and heir,

"To which purpose, the aforementioned Prince Nicholas and Prince Camber have gathered together in the presence of the King's Champion, Joscelin Alaric Morgan Duke of Corwyn; and Queen Soraya Ilseveta Amalia, Dowager Queen of Gwynedd; and Princess Catalina Sofiana Richenda Maria, the Duchess of Carthmoor; and Master James Bannatyne, Royal Healer to the Crown of Gwynedd, to see the transfer of such authority to its original and rightful heir His Majesty King Cinhil Alroy Nigel Jashan.

"Attest: Soraya R; Nicholas P.; Camberus P.; Catalina P; Morgan, D. Corv.; et Jacobus Bannatinus, Medicus."

Joss dipped a quill on the table in ink as the King handed the sword to Prince Nicholas, allowing Prince Camber to assist him into a more upright position so he could sign the parchment. Handing the quill back to Joss afterward, he took the stiletto his Champion offered in exchange for it, pricking his thumb with the tip and setting his thumbprint in blood on the parchment, his brothers both taking the stiletto in turn to do the same, Camber first assisting the King down into his former supine position before adding his thumbprint, while Nicholas returned the Sword of State to the King before adding his own. While the King's thumb still bled, Queen Soraya stepped forward, removing the Eye of Rom briefly to prime it by touching a drop of his royal blood to the ruby, the King's Champion handing her the Ring of Fire to blood with the Eye as well before she gently reinserted it into her son's earlobe. The Healer then came forward to dab a cleansing liquid on the wounds and Heal them while the Dowager Queen resumed her place in the circle and Joss set the ring aside on the table for later use, the Healer returning to his place in the East afterwards.

Facing the King again, the King's Champion continued, ""I now charge and require you, Cinhil Alroy Nigel Jashan, as the lawful King of Gwynedd, to witness the lawful withdrawing of the Haldane mandate from this Nicholas Richard Brion Alexander and Camber Malcolm Blaine Uthyr. To that end do we now summon, stir, and call up invisible witnesses to approve and ratify this act." He bowed, resuming his place in the southern quarter of the circle.

To the east, Healer James held a hand over the golden candle on the tall candlestick beside him, calling up a golden flame before lifting his hands, palms facing upwards. "May we be protected from all dangers and adversity approaching from the East, in the name of Raphael."

Behind the Healer, a golden shimmering presence, more felt than seen, manifested, swirling slightly as if blown by a gentle breeze.

"Amen," replied the Deryni standing at each quarter.

The King's Champion similarly lit the red candle standing next to his place in the circle. ""So likewise may we be protected from all dangers and adversity approaching from the South, in the name of Michael," he said, as the flame ignited with a ruddy glow and a reddish shimmer manifested behind the Duke with the sound of crackling flames.

"Amen."

Princess Catalina did likewise with her blue candle, the flame forming over her candle glowing an intense blue. With her lightly accented voice, she continued, "May we also be protected from all dangers and adversity approaching from the West, in the name of Jibrail." Behind her, a shimmery blue presence manifested with the gentle scent of rain.

"Amen."

Queen Soraya lit the green candle, an unearthly green flame rising from the wick as she lifted her hands.  "And finally, may we be protected from all dangers and adversity approaching from the North, in the name of Uriel." Behind her, a dark greenish iridescence arose, shimmering darkly and imparting the faint scent of freshly turned soil.

"Amen, Amen, and Amen," said the four standing at the quarters.

Prince Camber made a sign of blessing over the King, who remained in his supine position on his litter bed and bier, holding the Sword of State with his arms folded over it.  "Blessed be the Creator, Yesterday and Today, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega," the young priest said. "His are the seasons and the ages, to Him glory and dominion through all the ages of eternity. Blessed be the Lord. Blessed be His Holy Name."

Moving closer to either side of Cinhil's bed, both Haldane Princes touched the hilt of the Sword.  "Now do we return that which was given, that in this hour of need, all that is encompassed by Haldane blood and right may be vested in our late father's rightful son and heir, Cinhil Alroy Nigel Jashan," said Prince Nicholas.

"So be it," said Prince Camber.

"Amen," said both Princes of the Blood.

The King's Champion stepped forward once more, gloving up to take the Sword of State which Cinhil offered up to him, holding it above the King and parallel to his body as both Princes touched the hilt of it with their right hands, their left hands lying lightly on the King as they entered into rapport with him, visualizing the transfer of their Haldane powers back into the Sword of State that the King's Champion held. The transfer completed, Joss stepped back, as did both Princes, Nicholas and Camber, bowing to their King.

Joss moved towards the table, using a spark of handfire to light a candle on it and touching the blood-sealed parchment to the flame, waiting until it was ablaze to lay it in a clay dish so it could be consumed, turning into ash. While he did this, Camber took up the aspergillum again, casting holy water around the King's bier. Once he had completed this circuit, he blessed Cinhil with the sign of the cross, saying "May this offering blessed by Thee ascend to Thee, O Lord, and my Thy mercy descend upon Thy servants, both present and to come."

Nicholas, taking up the thurible again to cense the space around the bier, completed his round before saying, "Be thou blessed by Him in Whose honor thou shalt be burnt. Welcome as incense smoke, let our prayers rise up before Thee, O Lord. When we lift our hands, may it be acceptable as the evening sacrifice." He placed the thurible back in its resting place.

Joscelin lifted the Sword of State to salute the East, continuing to inscribe the circle with the tip of it, raising a curtain of fire around the King. As the circle closed, the King's Champion held up the sword horizontally, his head thrown back to extend the wards as he lifted the sword aloft before sweeping downwards with both hands to close the dome, ending up with the sword tip pointed downward, grounded at his feet, his gloved hands resting lightly on the quillons.

He looked around at the other participants, then back at his King.  "Now we are met. Now we are One with the Light. Regard the ancient ways. We shall not walk this path again."

"May the working of Thy power, O Lord, be intensified within us," said all within the circle.

"So be it," said the King's Champion. "Amen." He made the Sign of the Cross. "By the grace of Thy coming, light up the darkness of our minds, Thou Who Art." He continued to stand with the Sword of State standing upright before him like a cross.

Prince Camber stepped forward once again, the priest approaching his brother the King with holy oil. "A drug has been added to this to help lower your resistance to the work ahead and to induce relaxation," he whispered to Cinhil. "Due to your condition, it's not as strong as we would normally make it, but Healer James says this dosage of it should be effective enough without being too strong for your body to handle." He loosened the front ties of Cinhil's shirt before beginning to anoint the King with the holy oil, tracing a cross with it on his hands, chest, and forehead.

"Be thy hands anointed with holy oil, that thou mayest achieve glory.  Be thy breast anointed with holy oil, that valor and courage may be ever in thy heart. Be thy head anointed with holy oil, as kings, priests, and prophets were anointed, that you may receive knowledge." Camber stoppered the bottle of oil, returning it to the table and wiping his fingers clean.

Prince Nicholas picked up the clay bowl containing the ashes of the parchment, crossing to the King's bedside as his brother Camber stepped back. He dipped his thumb into the ashes, marking a sign of the cross between Cinhil's eyes.  "Cinhil Alroy Nigel Jashan, I seal thee Haldane and confirm thee King of Gwynedd and heir to the fullness of the Haldane Power." Taking a pinch of the ashes, he placed it on Cinhil's tongue. "Taste of the ashes of mingled Haldane blood, the Sons of Uthyr. By blood art thou consecrated to the Haldane legacy and acknowledged as The Haldane, that the power may come upon thee in its fullness." Wiping the holy oil off Cinhil's hands, he accepted the Ring of Fire from Prince Camber and slipped it onto the King's ring finger before unpinning the Crimson Lion from the King's mantle, handing it to Cinhil and stepping back.

The King's Champion returned to the King's side, touching the tip of the Sword of State to the Crimson Lion, transferring the banked energies within the sword into the brooch before stepping back, ceding his place to Prince Camber.

The priest raised a hand of blessing above his eldest brother. "Cinhil Alroy Nigel Jashan, though the cords of the nether world enmesh thee, though the snares of death surge about thee, thou shalt fear no evil. With His pinions the Lord will cover thee, and under His wings thou shalt take refuge." He made the Sign of the Cross over the King.  "In Nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen."

Joss returned to his place in the circle, both princes following him to stand on either side of him, all of the assembled participants watching the King expectantly.

The King took a deep, steadying breath. "Domine, fiat voluntas tuas," he said.  Lord, let it be done according to Thy will. He centered the point of the Crimson Lion's clasp on his left palm, pausing to center himself before driving it through.

#

Cinhil's mind went dark as his entire universe centered on the explosion of pain in his hand. For the space of several heartbeats, he felt suspended in nothingness. Then a surge of infilling power arose like a gale within his mind, briefly arcing his body as well, bringing with it knowledge, focus, and purpose.

He opened his eyes. With his physical sight, he caught a glimpse of the other ritual participants at the periphery of his vision. With his inner Sight, standing directly before him he saw his father Uthyr, standing before his son with the strength and vitality he'd had in his prime, his keen gray eyes shining down on his heir with approval before the vision faded, only to be replaced by another gray-cowled figure, silver-gilt hair framing features that studied him seriously before being transformed by a slow smile. The gray-clad man lifted a hand in benediction above the supine King before vanishing like mist.

The pain in Cinhil's hand had subsided from white-hot agony, now reduced to a dull throbbing. Steadying himself with his uninjured hand, the King sat up unassisted. Master James entered the circle, gently extricating the clasp from Cinhil's hand while entering into a light link with him to administer relief from the pain. The Healer brought the brooch over to the table, pouring a bit of clear green liquid from a flask onto a clean cloth and wiping the blood off the clasp, then returning to Cinhil's side to clean the wounded hand with the same liquid and cloth before Healing the wound and returning to his place in the ritual circle. Cinhil took the brooch back, using it to secure his mantle around his shoulders again.

Cinhil rose, feeling power and youthful vitality flowing through him. Walking towards his King's Champion, he took back the Sword of State from him, returning to the center of the circle and holding the Sword up like an offering, head thrown back, taking in the excess powers, the residual energies of the night's work swirling in a vortex that was centered on himself, boosting his energies for the Duel Arcane yet to come. Then lifting the sword high, he swept both hands downwards towards the ground, dispersing the wards.

The other Deryni in the circle began to make their farewells to the Quarters, each shimmering presence in turn dissipating while Cinhil dropped to his knees at the center of them, offering up a silent prayer of gratitude to the Divine. As the last archangelic presence departed, Cinhil stood, head still bowed. "We thank Thee for Thy presence and assistance in Our ritual," he addressed the King Above All Kings. "Go if Thou must, stay if Thou wilt. Hail and farewell," he whispered.

"Hail and farewell," the others echoed.

He handed the Sword of State back to his Champion, who used it to cut the circle at the four quarters before handing it back to him. Cinhil sheathed the sword in his scabbard.

"The rite is ended," he said. "Go in peace."

"Amen," the others said in reply.

#

September 14, 1464
Outside the walls of Rhemuth
Bishopsgate
Dawn

Prince Rémy and young King Haakon were looking over the blueprints for the siege tower that their forces had begun to assemble in preparation for storming the walls of Rhemuth. Those walls were high, so the building was likely to take a couple of weeks, but since the timbers for the structure had already been cut and hewn to the right shapes and merely awaited assembly now that they had been transported from Rhendall to Rhemuth, there would not be nearly as much of a delay as would be usual if they'd had to source the wood locally and wait for it to be dry enough to build with.

A loud murmur and flurry of activity outside the pavilion drew both their attention, as did the almost universal feeling of stunned surprise Rémy could feel emanating from all around him. Glancing at Haakon, he strode to the open flap of the large tent, peering outside to see if he could catch a glimpse of the source of this astonishment.

From the sally port at Rhemuth's Bishopsgate, a small entourage was emerging, flag of parley held high as they moved towards the empty ground between the City and the war camp.

Rémy stepped outside, shielding his eyes against the sudden brightness as he studied the figures approaching them. There was a raven-haired man in a wheeled chair, his lap covered with a woven blanket, being pushed by two squires or men-at-arms in Haldane livery, and accompanied by the black-and-emerald clad blond man who had delivered the insulting message on the previous day. Rémy gaped as it occurred to him who the man in the chair must be. Surely not! If Cinhil the Weakling King of Gwynedd was emerging from his sick bed to treat with his enemies on the field of battle, that could only mean one thing–the man had already been thoroughly cowed, even though the siege on Rhemuth had not yet lasted a full week, and he was prepared to surrender.

It must have been the Duke of Claibourne's grisly return that had won the war for them, Rémy thought. He grinned.

"Go find King Torval. Let's go see what our guest wants," he told Haakon.

"I'm certain Móðir will find it entertaining as well," the young Eistenmarcker added, running off to find both.

Rémy strode forth, not waiting for the others to catch up. The watching soldiers parted before him as he took a few steps into the clear area. One man-at-arms hastily offered him a sword, for Rémy was unarmed, but the prince shrugged him off. It was clear that the man approaching was no threat, and besides, he was curious to see what Cinhil wanted.

A flurry at the side of his vision caught his eye, and he saw that Torval and Ingrid had caught up with what was happening. Torval's voice sounded a word of warning in his mind. I'm not sure I like the look of this.

Rémy shot Nördmarcke's King an incredulous look. The man is practically delivering himself to us on a platter! But if you're afraid to walk out there and speak with him, I will.

Suit yourself, said Torval, his Mind-Voice dripping with disgust. Rémy glanced at him, catching a faint smirk on the Nördmarcker's lips. Bloody arrogant know-it-all! Torval seemed to think he was so superior to everyone else, but Rémy would wipe that smirk off his face someday, once he was King of Joux, Tralia, and New Mooryn. Rémy had come to realize that as much as he admired his father, Renier's ambitions were too small. Rémy no longer simply wanted the Forcinn. No, he wanted all the lands encircling the Southern Sea as well. So let Torval unite his Old Torenthi Kingdom if he wished. That would do him little good if Rémy controlled his access to the sea.

Haakon rejoined him, carrying a banner of parley as well. The two strode out into the center of the clearing together to see what the enemy king wanted.

#

The King of Gwynedd took the measure of the young man walking towards him. How someone who so much outwardly resembled his beloved wife could radiate such evil, Cinhil could hardly fathom. The man's psychic signature felt positively slimy. The boy-king walking next to him felt hardly better; if anything, the human lad's unshielded mind was already so corrupted, Cinhil wondered if there was any remaining innocence or capacity for seeking any nobler cause than his own selfish desires that might make the young king still capable of turning back towards the Light. Perhaps, if the lad were ever to want to change badly enough, but Cinhil didn't hold out much hope for such an outcome.

Still, it wasn't the boy Cinhil had come out here to confront this day, but the man, his brother-by-marriage. And also Torval of Nördmarcke, if King Torval would allow himself to be drawn in, but Gwynedd's King suspected that the Nördmarcker was far too canny to fall into Cinhil's trap. Ah well, he supposed he'd need to leave behind a bit of mess for his brothers to mop up after he was gone.

Cinhil raised his hand, hailing his wife's brother. "Rémy of Joux, my brother-by-marriage, what brings you into my neighborhood? Surely this cannot be the armed escort your father promised to send my wife to deliver her back to the kingdom of her birth?" Cinhil mocked with an expansive gesture towards his enemies' armies. "If so, you're far too late. Alixa has already fulfilled the terms of her betrothal contract, plus she's my anointed Queen, so I'm afraid Renier will have to learn to live with disappointment."

Rémy gave him a scathing once-over. "That's clearly impossible. And once you're gone, then yes, she'll be heading straight back home. Father has plans for her, you see."

"Over my dead body," said Cinhil mildly. "Or perhaps yours." He drew a gauntlet out from under the blanket on his lap, tossing it at Rémy's feet. "Preferably over yours."

Rémy stared at the gauntlet incredulously before stooping to pick it up. "Are you challenging me to a duel, you fool?"

"Ah, you do recognize the significance of that!" Cinhil said with a smile. "I had wondered if you would, given how little Renier seems to have spared on educational expenses for his children. Yes, I am challenging you to a duel, or more specifically, to a Duel Arcane. You are capable of performing, oui? Or has Renier neglected your Deryni education as well? He seems to have completely neglected Alixa's." Cinhil's smile didn't quite reach his eyes, which now glowed with a smoldering rage.

"Alixa's?" Rémy looked startled.

"Yes. My wife. Your sister who Renier almost completely neglected, but now seems to want back, God only knows why." Cinhil glanced at the glove Rémy held. "Are you accepting my challenge or not, sirrah?"

Rémy bristled. "Of course I am! Stupid fool, I could beat you in my sleep!"

Cinhil shrugged. "Do you not even wish to hear the terms I'm proposing first, or are you that certain?"

Rémy laughed. "Sure. Go ahead, enlighten me."

Cinhil leaned back in his chair, tugging at his blanket as a light breeze stirred his hair. "Combat to the death. If I win, your body and all enemy troops shall withdraw from the Kingdom of Gwynedd immediately." He favored Rémy with a grim smile. "Save for the tenth who are the worst of the lot. My people demand justice for their crimes."

King Haakon spoke up for the first time. "The Dauphin of Joux is not authorized to speak on behalf of all his allies," he said warily. "He only speaks for himself."

Gwynedd's King afforded the young monarch a glance and nod of agreement. "I thought as much, Your Majesty. At any rate, the Council will only arbitrate in a dispute between Deryni, which I am given to understand that you and your lady mother are not. We shall have to settle our differences separately."

Mollified by Cinhil's respectful treatment of him as an equal, King Haakon stepped back, glancing up at Rémy, who appeared rattled. "The Council?" Rémy asked.

"The Camberian Council," Cinhil stated, gesturing towards the sally port where Rémy noticed four figures in resplendent white and gold raiment mounted on white horses just outside the City walls, having emerged while he was focused on his parley with Gwynedd's King. "As a Deryni King's son, surely you have been made aware of their existence, even if most others have not? After all, didn't your great-grandfather have to answer an arbitrated challenge to a Duel Arcane by the Hort of Orsal just a few generations ago?"

"I...of course I have heard of the Camberian Council!" Rémy said, looking apprehensive.

"As I mentioned, they are here to arbitrate in our dispute and to ensure that our terms are kept by the victor, who shall of course be me, but in the interest of fairness, what are your terms if I should lose, Rémy of Joux?"

Rémy stared at Cinhil. "You think you will win? You can't even stand up! I will pulverize you where you sit, and before the gore has been washed clean from your wooden wheeled chair, I will take that precious unswived Queen of yours and return her to my father's Kingdom where she belongs!"

"Oh, does that mean you'll leave Gwynedd either way?" Cinhil asked with a grin. "Those are the sort of terms it gives me joy to hear."

"When I win this Duel," Rémy yelled, growing red in the face, "I will have the blood of every single Haldane, and I will own this bloody Kingdom!"

Cinhil straightened in his chair. "Oh, will you now?" He glanced at Haakon, who looked up at Rémy with an angry, betrayed expression. "I'm fairly sure your new allies will have a few thoughts of their own about that. And every Haldane? Really? Even the one who is half Buyenne-Furstán?" At Rémy's uncomprehending look, Cinhil gestured upwards towards the City wall. The Jouvian Prince looked up, seeing for the first time his eldest sister Alixa standing there, her belly greatly rounded with child. As he watched, a warning flare of amber light emanated from around her head and shoulders as she met his shocked gaze with a tight-lipped glare of her own.

#

"That's...not.... How is my sister pregnant?!" Rémy demanded with a furious glare at Cinhil. "This is a trick, a last-minute ploy to get out of the contract, isn't it?" He knew it had to be a trick. This puny weakling sitting smugly before him couldn't possibly be capable of fathering a child!  As for the aura he'd just seen, that also had to be a trick of the light, some shaft of sunlight coming down and reflecting off his sister's hair in such a way to create the illusion of an aural flare. Alixa wasn't Deryni anymore, she was a mere human! Rémy had witnessed her Blocking with his own eyes; hell, he had suggested it!

"How is Alixa pregnant?" repeated Cinhil with an amused glint in his eye. "Well, Rémy, when a man and a woman love each other very, very much...."

"You cannot possibly have fathered that child!" Rémy yelled, not caring who heard him, in fact hoping every single curious Gwyneddan peeking out from over those enemy walls heard exactly what he was saying.

"Oh?" said Cinhil with that maddening smile, watching him with a suspicious calmness as Rémy fought to rein in his temper and forced himself to calm his thoughts. "Why do you say that? Are you questioning my ability to, shall we say, rise to the occasion?" He casually handed his lap blanket to one of his retainers and stood. "Perhaps you merely question my potency?" he continued as Haldane crimson light flared around him briefly. The Gwyneddan King took a step towards him, and with a qualm of misgiving, Rémy for the first time wondered if he had misjudged the man, who clearly appeared to be no invalid now. The two retainers bowed towards their king and retreated a short distance, bringing the chair with them, killing Rémy's brief hope that perhaps Cinhil was merely grandstanding and would soon need to sink back into his wheeled conveyance due to fatigue. "Have no worries, I am quite capable of fulfilling my duties as a King, both nine months ago and now. So, as the Challenged, would you like to invite anyone to be your Second before we proceed? I believe only King Torval qualifies, among the leaders of your combined armies, but some other Deryni would also suffice, if you wish to call in someone else to back you up. If you do, I shall have my King's Champion seconding me," Cinhil said, gesturing towards the black and emerald clad Duke behind him, "or if you prefer this to be a bout of single combat, then here I am. We can call in our Council Arbitrators and make a swift end to this."

Rémy glanced at King Torval, who raised his eyebrows at him, having heard Rémy's presumption at wishing to claim the entire Kingdom of Gwynedd for himself. Torval took a few steps forward, offering a shallow yet respectful enough bow towards the Gwyneddan King. "I have no wish to assist Prince Rémy in laying claim to a Kingdom I've already made my own claims on," he said with a chuckle. "That would simply require me to wage war on him if he wins. However, I might be persuaded to change my mind with a slight alteration of the terms."

"And that is?" asked Cinhil.

"If we win," Torval answered, "then the Kingdom of Gwynedd would be divided up as my allies and I originally agreed upon, and I will receive Princess Cécile of Joux."

Rémy gave Torval a sharp glance, though not nearly as sharp as Haakon's, who up to this point had no notion that his young bride was still alive, or as Ingrid's, who had her suspicions but was not best pleased by her husband's request for her return. Cinhil, sensing the sudden animosity between the four allies, suppressed a smile.

"If I am dead, then I suppose it would matter little to me how you intend on carving up my Kingdom, but I am afraid I can't accept those terms. My wife's sister is a person, not a plaything. I will not negotiate any terms that might require her to be a pawn in a game between kings."

Torval bowed again, this time slightly more deeply. "I regret your decision, but I understand it. I withdraw my candidacy as Rémy's Second."

#

The four Council arbitrators present, Lord Alexei Petrovich, Lady Emmanuelle de la Flamme, Lord Da'ud ibn Yussuf al-Quarrah, and the Banoidhre Aoife O'Shiele, had been selected as being the four most likely to be fully objective (or at least as objective as possible) in the present matter being disputed by both Challenger and Challenged. The four urged their horses forward now, approaching the King of Gwynedd and the Dauphin of Joux to begin the Duel Arcane according to the ancient rites of challenge.

Lord Alexei, as the senior member of the group and a coadjutor of the Council, spoke for them all. "Who has called the Camberian Council to this field of honor?"

"I, Cinhil King of Gwynedd, a Deryni of the Blood, claim Council protection and arbitration for a Duel Arcane in challenge against that man," Cinhil said, pointing at Rémy. "I claim the Council's protection against treachery both during this duel and in its aftermath, in the following of the terms and conditions we have set upon this match, that no more blood be spilled between us in war. I stipulate that this shall be a battle to the death and that this circle be not broken until one of us has perished. To this, do I pledge my power and my life."

Lord Alexei nodded, turning then towards Rémy. "Is this likewise thy desire?"

Rémy swallowed hard. "My lord, I, Rémy Dauphin de Joux, also a Deryni of the Blood, do affirm my acceptance of this challenge laid down by Cinhil of Gwynedd. I likewise claim thy protection against treachery. I agree this shall be a battle to the death and that the circle shall be unbroken until Cinhil is dead."

"I think you mean 'until one of us is dead.' If I am the survivor, I hardly wish to be pent up inside a warded dome with your rotting corpse for the rest of my remaining life," Cinhil joked, earning a faintly admonishing glance from the Banoidhre, although a gleam in her eyes hinted at quiet amusement.

Rémy glared at him. "Until one of us is dead, which shall not be me. To this I pledge my power and my life."

Lord Alexei nodded, tapping the end of a tall ivory staff on the ground. "So be it. To the victor, what fruits are proposed, and do each of your armies agree to uphold them?"

Haakon, bewildered by what was happening, yet understanding enough to know that what Rémy had proposed was a betrayal to their agreement, scoffed. "The dauphin only speaks for Joux. Eistenmarcke is outside of this quarrel." With a disgusted look at his former friend, he retreated to the edge of the field.

"Mine has," said Cinhil. "If I am today's victor, then the Prince's army with all but a tenth of his Jouvian troops are to quit the Kingdom of Gwynedd without delay and make no further demands on my Kingdom or on my anointed Queen who bears my child. The tenth who will remain will be selected according to the heinousness of their crimes against my Kingdom and summarily executed.  If I should not prevail, then he and his army may continue on as they see fit, though they might find their allies a bit more unlikely to cooperate with Joux's ambitions than they have been in the past."

"So, just to be clear," Lord Alexei asked, "you are not offering up your Kingdom as a spoil of war if you should lose?"

"To be clear," Cinhil said, "Rémy is most certainly welcome to attempt to win Gwynedd from my brothers if he can. I doubt they will roll over dead on command simply to please him, though. My other distinguished guests," he added, waving a hand towards the Eistenmarcker and Nordmarcker troops with an ironic smile, "would likely be most put out with me if I simply cede my brothers' birthright to Rémy as a result of this duel's outcome. Not that I am planning to lose it, though that would almost tempt me to, if only because I would have the final laugh, imagining their armies immediately turning on Rémy's forces to gain Gwynedd."

Rémy opened his mouth as if to argue, but after thinking the matter through, promptly closed it again.

"And Rémy, Prince of Joux, what are your terms, and will your army agree to uphold them?" asked Lord Alexei.

Rémy considered. He could scale back his demands to those which he and his allies had originally agreed upon. Perhaps he could work himself back into their good graces that way. But no, a glance at his three former allies regarding him, their features stone cold and set, drove home the realization that he had burned his bridges as far as that idea was concerned. No, it was all or nothing now. "If I emerge as the victor, I claim the Kingdom of Gwynedd for my own." Screw them all! He didn't need them anyway.

"And if you lose?" Lord Alexei asked.

"I won't lose. But I suppose if that were to happen, Cinhil can do whatever the hell he wants with my army."

"And who is thine heir, Cinhil of Gwynedd?" asked Lord Alexei.

"Prince Nicholas, the Duke of Carthmoor," answered Cinhil. "After him, his unborn heir by Catalina of Andelon, as yet unnamed."

"Then...that means Alixa's child is just a girl!" Rémy crowed with glee.

Cinhil eyed him with impatient amusement. "Yes, my daughter will be a little Princess rather than a Prince."

Lord Alexei turned to Prince Rémy. "And who is thine heir, Rémy of Joux?"

"My father yet lives," Rémy said. "King Renier of Joux."

Lord Alexei nodded. "And after him, should you predecease your father?"

Rémy blanched. He stood silent for a long moment before admitting, "I suppose that would be my sister Alixa."

"Indeed it would," Cinhil said, his amusement growing. "But have no fear; she has learned much about statecraft in recent years and shall make a formidable Queen for Joux someday, should Renier die with no other male issue."

"Over my dead body!" growled Rémy.

"Why, yes indeed, it would require that," Cinhil assured him.

"And will your heirs agree to uphold the terms of this Duel?" Lord Alexei asked both participants.

"Mine were apprised of my terms beforehand and have agreed to uphold them," said Cinhil.

Rémy stood silent a long moment before answering. "I suppose Father shall have to." Indeed, were he to die, he couldn't imagine Renier of Joux continuing the war on behalf of Alixa, at least not unless he already had a successor in mind to marry her off to. Not that dying to Cinhil Haldane, of all people, was the least bit likely. Surely if all the rumors circulating about his health for years were true, it must be taking every bit of his energy just to remain upright!

"In that case, if all terms have been set and agreed upon, then you may now form the circle of combat," said Lord Alexei. "We perceive that neither of you is wearing steel or weapons, so no further inspection will be necessary on that count. But if either of you has any question on how this duel is to be conducted, let him raise it now before the Council closes the first circle."

"I have one," said Cinhil. "I know in the time of Kelson the Great of blessed memory, in his Duel Arcane against Wencit, there were two warded circles drawn, an outer ward and an inner one. There were Council arbitrators present, yet there was treachery nonetheless, for the inner ward was nearly opaque, so none could easily see what was happening until the victors emerged. While I, for one, am very grateful for the outcome of that battle, for without it I would never have existed, the fact remains that there were questions after the fact as to which side committed the unforeseen act which led to the outcome of that duel. What safeguards have been put in place since then to prevent a combatant from circumventing the Council's oversight?"

Lord Alexei chuckled. "We no longer permit the inner wards to be so nearly opaque, nor can they be soundproof. The Council must be able to see clearly what is happening in the Duel and hear what is said. Although the fact remains that those outside both warded circles will have a somewhat more difficult time perceiving what is happening through both of them once the wards are raised, simply because they will be forced to witness the events through two fields of energy."

"Difficult is not the same as impossible, and it matters more that the four of you can view the battle than that others can. I have no further questions, my lord Councilor," said Cinhil.

The four Council members took their places, marking off a square that was approximately forty feet to each side, with each Council member standing at one of the cardinal compass points. Once they had taken their positions, Cinhil and Rémy took their places at the center of the square, facing off against one another, standing about ten feet apart.

Aoife of Llyr walked into the center of the square, between the challenger and challenged. "Thus saith the Lord Camber of blessed memory, thus saith the Holy One who taught us the Way. Thus it has been written, thus it shall be done. Blessed be the Name of the Most High," she said.

Dropping to one knee, she traced a sign on the ground, turning the grass beneath her finger golden with her touch. "Blessed be the Creator, yesterday and today, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega." The golden sign she traced formed a cross with the Greek letters she had just spoken inscribed at the top and bottom of it. "His are the seasons and the ages, to Him glory and dominion through all the ages of eternity. Blessed be the Lord, blessed be Holy Camber."

She rose, and as she did, the personal sigils of the four Councilors appeared in the corners of the cross she had just inscribed, signifying their personal protection over the ritual circle. Aoife returned to her place, and Lord Alexei continued where she had left off. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, saith the Lord," he said. "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in his name in the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels." He raised his arms skyward.

"Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto HIm that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever," added Lady Emmanuelle de la Flamme, raising her arms heavenward as well. "Let the Lord lend His countenance to the virtuous and defend the cause of the just. Raise the light of Thy favor upon this circle, O Lord, that they who stand within shall know Thy majesty and shrink not from Thy judgment."

Lord Da'ud joined in the chant, raising his arms also. As he closed the link between the four of them, a light began to glow around each Deryni Councilor: green, amber, violet, silver. "Guard Thy servants, O Lord. Strengthen this circle, that nothing may enter from without, that none may aid the two who stand embattled here. Protect those without the circle from the terrible powers soon to be unleashed within, and guard us from Thy wrath." As he spoke, the light from each of the Councilors' quarters spread until the circle was complete.

"As it was in the earliest days of our beginning," the four chanted, "and as it shall be for all time to come, O Lord, so let it be today. So let it be."

There was a loud, thunder-like rumble, and the lights fused into a single dome of pale, blue-violet brilliance around all of them, Councilors and combatants alike. This dome was translucent, though the swirling energies created a slight veiling effect.

"The Outerness is sealed," said Lord Alexei. "The Innerness must follow. Until either the Challenger or the Challenged should die, the Innerness remains. Only the victor will leave that arena."

He paused to allow the two combatants to absorb his statement, then continued. "I charge you, then, to make your peace. Or if you will not, then set forth the inner circle and do what you will. On your honor, and in the Name of the Most High, proceed."

Cinhil eyed Rémy across the short distance between them. "Would you like to start the circle, or shall I?"

Rémy chewed on his lip, looking uncertain, then tossed back with a bravado he fell short of feeling, "Well, go on then! Let's see what you've got."

"All right." Cinhil started to spread out his arms, then stopped, regarding Rémy with a gleam in his eyes. "Did you wish to follow the ancient poetic tradition, or the more modern version of the Duel? If you're a traditionalist, I suppose I could come up with a bit of doggerel. 'There once was a wanker from Joux / who bragged 'til his lips were quite blue....'"

"Just bloody well cast your half of the circle already!" Rémy snarled, his face flaming.

Cinhil obliged, stretching his arms out and mouthing a wordless spell of Intent. Crimson fire leaped from his fingertips, inscribing a semicircle that formed behind him, perhaps five feet from the outer ring created by the Council. Rémy took a deep breath and did the same, creating a semicircle of amber fire, the ends of which joined with Cinhil's to form a red-gold translucent dome around them.

"Shall we drink a toast?" offered Cinhil, pointing to a leather flask on his belt, "Or shall we dispense with that too?"

Rémy was no idiot. He knew enough about history to know how Wencit of Torenth had died in his Duel Arcane. "No, thank you. What kind of fool do you take me for?"

"I am not sure," Cinhil said, taking a calm sip before returning the flask to his belt, "but if you could enumerate the various types of fool for me, I'm certain I could identify which kind you are in time. All right, then, shall we proceed? Do you want to start off the testing spells, or shall I?"

Rémy snorted. "Do your worst," he goaded.

Cinhil laughed. "At the very outset? Well, if you insis–"

"No, wait!" Rémy raised his hands, taking an alarmed step back. "This is where we start out testing each other's skills, right? So, yeah. I've got this." He shot a burst of power towards Cinhil's feet, which the King neatly sidestepped, his shields flaring protectively.

Cinhil nearly felt sorry for the lad. But then he thought of Cécile and Lucie. Of the Harrowing of the Cleyde Valley. Of Alixa's terror at the thought of being returned to the tender mercies of her blood relations. Of the hapless Blocker held as a captive somewhere in Joux, whose location this stripling who wished to steal his Kingdom almost certainly knew. His pity died on the vine.

He took a step forward, crimson lightning flashing towards Rémy, not a killing blast yet, but one that would most certainly hurt. "This is the part where normally I might start to dredge up illusions of things you might most fear, escalating until you babble in terror like the women you so enjoy terrifying and violating, until you soil yourself and I am forced to administer the coup de grace just to rid the world of your vile presence. But I am not a predator who enjoys toying with my prey, Rémy of Joux, and I already know the thing that you most fear."

Cinhil visualized his beautiful Buyenne-Furstán and Haldane Queen dressed in splendor, seated on the throne of Joux. At Rémy's horrified gasp as the illusion rose up before him, larger than life, Cinhil smiled, lifting his hand while driving the full force of his psychic energies past Rémy's weak and highly disorganized shields, forming his intent in his mind before clenching his lifted hand into a fist, crushing Rémy's heart.


Next chapter: https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php/topic,3260.0.html

[DerynifanK]

This was an amazing and powerful piece of writing. I am continually more inspired by the breadth of your imagination. I am most grateful that Remy has been eliminated, just a little sorry that he did not suffer as he made others suffer. Anxious to see what happens next.

[Evie]

This was an amazing and powerful piece of writing. I am continually more inspired by the breadth of your imagination. I am most grateful that Remy has been eliminated, just a little sorry that he did not suffer as he made others suffer. Anxious to see what happens next.

Don't worry, Rémy might not have suffered physically as much as his victims did, but the thought of Alixa inheriting Joux instead of him is literally the most nightmarish thing that could have ever happened to Rémy as far as he's concerned.

If Cécile inherited, Rémy would have died assuming that meant she would get it in name only but Haakon would end up being King by right of his wife, and that once he was King he'd keep Cécile firmly in her place until he'd consolidated his power and bred sons to inherit after him, so that might not have seemed quite so horrible to him. If Marthe inherited his birthright,  she'd likely be under the control of a regency council pre-selected by their father and given in marriage to someone Renier would consider a worthy heir.

But Alixa? Alixa is in no way under Renier's control anymore, and after all these years is much more Haldane now than a proper Buyenne-Furstan daughter. She thinks she has the right to opinions and education. She's not content to just stay in the shadows, shut up, and breed sons. She's too uppity to know her place. She'll likely try to rule Joux as sovereign rather than just as the king-breeder who is available for the convenience of her more fit to rule husband. If she became Queen, she'd likely try to empower other women to follow her example. She stands for the exact opposite of everything he and Renier have tried to establish in Joux.

[JudithR]

Compelling writing.  Waiting with breath held until Thursday (when, I suspect, tissues will be needed).

[Evie]

Compelling writing.  Waiting with breath held until Thursday (when, I suspect, tissues will be needed).

Yeah, go ahead and buy a box now. Or failing that, at least have some kitchen roll on hand like Revanne. 

[JudithR]

"How is Alixa pregnant?" repeated Cinhil with an amused glint in his eye. "Well, Rémy, when a man and a woman love each other very, very much...."

The best line so far?  Go Cinhil

[Evie]

"How is Alixa pregnant?" repeated Cinhil with an amused glint in his eye. "Well, Rémy, when a man and a woman love each other very, very much...."

The best line so far?  Go Cinhil

Cinhil had me giggling as I was writing that entire scene, both because of the actual dialogue and also some of the snarky comments the character was making in my head as I wrote this. Inner Cinhil has a very cheeky and often dark sense of humor. Fortunately, IIRC I happened to be home at the time I wrote this chapter. It's always a little embarrassing if I'm caught sitting there giggling, or worse, trying not to cry, as I'm hunched over my keyboard at the office or at one of the nearby dining spots where I take my lunch breaks. 😅

[Evie]

Thinking back, I can't remember if it was a weekend or a holiday, or if I had taken a day off work, but for some reason I had a couple of days completely alone at home with DH away at the time, so I was able to write this chapter and the next one pretty much back to back and if not exactly in one go, at least with not a lot of time between writing sprints. It turned out that I absolutely needed that solitude to focus exclusively on these scenes, not only for the sake of getting them down in writing, but also for the sake of my own emotional equilibrium as I reached this important point in the narrative.

[DerynifanK]

For some strange reason Chapter 24 is now right after 29. Don't know what happened but thought you should know

[Evie]

For some strange reason Chapter 24 is now right after 29. Don't know what happened but thought you should know

It's because if anyone adds a comment to a chapter, that chapter pops up to the top of the list, even if it's not the most recent chapter. Someone added a comment to chapter 24 this morning (I think it might have been Judith's pictures) before more comments came in for this chapter, so that's why the chapters are out of sequence on the main page. That's why I always add the "Previous chapter" and "Next chapter" links to every chapter, so that even if the chapters on the main page end up out of sequence, it should be easy for someone reading the story later to find each subsequent chapter in the sequence.

[revanne]

Compelling writing.  Waiting with breath held until Thursday (when, I suspect, tissues will be needed).

Yeah, go ahead and buy a box now. Or failing that, at least have some kitchen roll on hand like Revanne. 

I needed some today. Firstly, as Cinhil stood after his empowerment in all the splendour and vitality of the man and King he should have been. And then to mop up my tears of laughter at his wonderfully sardonic putting of Remy in his place. He must have had fun composing that couplet. I don't think he needs to appoint himself Poet Laureate though.

Cinhil reduced Remy to the fool he truly was, to be publicly ridiculed was probably worse than physical pain to him.

[Evie]

Compelling writing.  Waiting with breath held until Thursday (when, I suspect, tissues will be needed).

Yeah, go ahead and buy a box now. Or failing that, at least have some kitchen roll on hand like Revanne. 

I needed some today. Firstly, as Cinhil stood after his empowerment in all the splendour and vitality of the man and King he should have been. And then to mop up my tears of laughter at his wonderfully sardonic putting of Remy in his place. He must have had fun composing that couplet. I don't think he needs to appoint himself Poet Laureate though.

Cinhil reduced Remy to the fool he truly was, to be publicly ridiculed was probably worse than physical pain to him.

Yes, he completely humiliated Remy and made him a laughingstock to everyone witnessing the duel and the challenge that preceded it. Cinhil was trying to keep Remy as off-balance as possible anyway to give himself a greater advantage, but Remy is enough of a fool that he played right into Cinhil's hands.

Cinhil says he is happy to cede the title of Poet Laureate to others more worthy. He only feels particularly inspired when he has an idiot of Remy's caliber to compose poetry about. 

[Evie]

Don't forget that there will be a spin-off story coming out on Saturday. (Though probably not at the crack of dawn like my regular chapters, since it's a Saturday, unless my body clock just automatically decides to wake me up on Workday Time instead of letting me sleep in.)

[Shiral]

If you still plan to have Cinhil die, Evie, I'll have to say he gave his life in a most worthy cause--the verbal and actual destruction of Remy of Joux!   But darn it...I hope Cinhil lives long enough to see his baby daughter, however fleetingly!  
Melissa

[Evie]

If you still plan to have Cinhil die, Evie, I'll have to say he gave his life in a most worthy cause--the verbal and actual destruction of Remy of Joux!   But darn it...I hope Cinhil lives long enough to see his baby daughter, however fleetingly!  
Melissa

Well, you might find out more about that on Thursday, so stay tuned....