He nodded toward the left side of the dais, where Jamyl Arilan was carefully topping up Bishop Corrigan’s wine from a pewter ewer, a towel over one shoulder of his Haldane squire’s livery, though his gaze roved continually, always returning to the king. Farther along the table, Sir Kenneth was chatting companionably with Sir Trevor Udaut, though he, too, turned his glance often in the king’s direction.
«I still don’t like it», Seisyll muttered. «What can we do?»
«We tell the Council, once the king has retired for the night», Michon said, «and meanwhile, we keep a sharp eye. And I would say that we bring Jamyl with us later, except that I’ll feel more certain of the king’s safety if we leave him here while we’re away. We can brief him afterward».
Others voiced similar concerns much later that night, in the Camberian Council’s secret meeting chamber.
«The gall of the man!» said Vivienne de Jordanet. «Rhydon, did you know he was planning this?»
Rhydon Sasillion, the youngest of their number, sat back in his chair with a tiny sigh.
«If I had known, I would have told you», he said patiently. «Please remember that I am not an intimate of Zachris Pomeroy; I cannot be and still keep my oaths to the Council. Nor am I any longer a student of Camille Furstána — again, because I cannot be. I am good at what I do, brethren, else you would not have invited me to join your number, but I am not good enough to hide such shields as I possess from the likes of her. I do still have a casual relationship with Pomeroy, but I have given him to understand that I have not the nerve to become involved in his political ambitions».
Across the table, Michon lifted a hand in acceptance of Rhydon’s declaration. «Peace, Rhydon. We are well aware of what a difficult position we have asked you to function in. What is your assessment of the reason for Pomeroy’s appearance at the king’s first Twelfth Night Court?»
Rhydon inclined his head in appreciation of Michon’s gesture of conciliation. «He is ambitious, as we all know. His support for Prince Hogan grows with each passing week, for he knows that a Festillic return to power would mean titles and lands as his reward, if he assists it.
«Having said that», he went on, «I would guess that tonight’s excursion into forbidden waters was intended simply to observe the new Haldane king and ascertain his weaknesses — besides his obvious youth. After all, Pomeroy made no hostile move toward the king».
«Not directly, no», Seisyll muttered, «or not that we know of. But we have no way to know whether he perhaps subverted some of those around the king, laying his web of treachery in preparation for more serious assaults».
«Well, whatever the cost, we must at least get the boy safely crowned», Michon said, «and try to learn what part of the Haldane legacy he may have at his beckoning. Rhydon, can we rely on you to track down Pomeroy, to monitor his movements? For if he comes near the king again, I will have his life!»
Rhydon nodded. «I have three or four men I can call upon, who know him by sight and are also reliable and discreet».
«Deryni?» Oisín asked.
«Of course», Rhydon replied, «though I would hope not to compromise them. We are, all of us in the eastern borders, wary of what is happening, in general, to those of our blood».
«As are we, farther west», Oisín agreed. «I shall certainly put out the word in my area, though I doubt Pomeroy has business that would bring him there».
«He had no business in Rhemuth», Barrett said darkly, «yet he chose to go there».
«And it cannot be for any good purpose», Vivienne agreed.
«It seems to me», said Khoren, speaking for the first time, «that it might behoove us to neutralize this particular threat before it can become more focused».
«I tend to agree», Vivienne said. «Even his continued existence represents a grave danger to the king».
«If you are saying what I think I am hearing», Barrett said softly, «that is a cold assessment».
«Cold or not, let me make it perfectly clear, then», Vivienne replied. «If he is found again in the king’s vicinity, I say take him out — before it is too late!»
It was Rhydon who was designated to spearhead the effort, for his prior acquaintance with the renegade Deyrni was most likely to give him access. They had reckoned it most probable that Pomeroy would make his move at the coronation, at the earliest, the exact date of which now depended upon the election of a new Archbishop of Valoret. Even then, he might not show — it was possible that his intentions had been misinterpreted — but they could not take that chance.
Accordingly, while Rhydon went on the hunt, confident that he could carry out his mission — or at least set it up — those members of the Council also having legitimate reason to stay close to the king’s household did so, in those days and weeks following Twelfth Night Court. Rhydon, in particular, made certain to keep in touch with his Deryni contacts at the borders; but of Zachris Pomeroy there was no sign for many weeks.
Meanwhile, the Gwynedd Curia ground through their deliberations regarding who should succeed to the See of Valoret. Competition was spirited, for the office carried considerable secular power in addition to being the highest ecclesiastical office in the land. Archbishop Desmond presided over the deliberations, being senior in rank, though he could not have been said to be neutral in his outlook. Other serious candidates for the office were several, and evaluated as much by their hard line against Deryni as their spiritual soundness and administrative ability. Of the fifteen bishops attending, perhaps three could be considered as serious contenders.
At the top of the list was Desmond MacCartney himself, Archbishop of Rhemuth for the past four years and its auxiliary bishop for several years before that. O’Beirne of Dhassa might have been a good choice, but at sixty-five and in failing health, he was perhaps too old. Paul Tollendal, the energetic Bishop of Marbury, seemed a far better choice, at fifty-two, with a solid reputation as a bulwark against Deryni incursions from the east, and already fifteen years’ experience in his episcopate.
Also in the running, at least on paper, was Cosmo Murray, the aged Bishop of Nyford, whose adamant stance against Deryni was echoed in his far younger auxiliary, Oliver de Nore. But at seventy-four, Murray was adjudged too old, and de Nore too young at forty-five. Sadly, the assessment regarding Murray proved correct before the synod even settled down to serious deliberations, for the old man passed away during one of the sessions, simply nodding off and falling off his bench.
Bishop Murray’s death occasioned a recess of several days to see to his funeral obsequies, after which Oliver de Nore was confirmed to the See of Nyford by acclamation before leaving for Nyford to bury his predecessor, which really could not be delayed. It also took de Nore out of the running for the slot in Valoret, having just been elected to Nyford — an event that gave several royal observers cause for relief.
The deliberations ground on, with balloting finally narrowing to two candidates: Paul Tollendal and Desmond MacCartney. In the end, perhaps it was Archbishop Desmond’s relatively shorter tenure in Rhemuth that became the deciding factor for many of the delegates — hardly ten years a bishop, against Tollendal’s fifteen. On the second day of March, in the year 1096, the Curia of Gwynedd elected Bishop Paul Tollendal of Marbury to be Archbishop of Valoret and Primate of All Gwynedd. For his successor in Marbury, the curia chose the itinerant Bishop Fisken Cromarty.
Word was sent to Rhemuth at once by fast courier, that Archbishop Paul’s elevation and enthronement would take place in Valoret’s All Saints’ Cathedral in five days’ time, to allow clergy from the surrounding areas to attend. The curia and archbishop-elect also recommended that the king’s coronation date be set for the twenty-fourth of March. On hearing this news, the new king announced his intention to ride at once for Valoret to see the new archbishop installed. It was not a popular decision.