Katherine Kurtz - In the King's Service

«I have promised that I shall not touch her before her husband has her», he told Jessamy peevishly, that night before Alyce was to leave, «but I cannot afford to delay overlong. Nor can you».

«My preparations are under way», she replied, «but my strength is not what it once was. I have taken opportunity to examine her old training triggers, and they are intact. I shall give you access closer to your need for them. For now, however, she will be safe enough at Arc-en-Ciel — from Kenneth and from you. When she returns, a married woman, we shall need a few more months to refine the timing of the deed. And you might begin amassing a set of errands for her husband, to keep him from her during the times she is most likely to conceive».

Donal shook his head in both disbelief and resignation.

«How casually I make plans to cuckold my friend», he murmured. «But it must be done». He looked away briefly. «You will attend the wedding? The queen and I shall be present — and it will be I who give away the bride».

«You will not truly have given her until all of this is over, Sire», she said, «but at least your participation sets a seal on their marriage, in the eyes of the court. Think carefully whether you really intend to do this thing — for once it is set in motion, you know the deception you will have to maintain thereafter».

«It is, indeed, my intention», he murmured. «For the sake of my son, and out of loving memory of the one who was lost, I must do it».

«Then, God help us both».

Alyce's return to Arc-en-Ciel was more an occasion of joy than of penitential gloom. Zoë went with her, to help her prepare for her upcoming nuptials, and Paschal took up residence with the other chaplains for the duration, to be available for the pastoral counseling that accompanied the ostensible reason for Alyce's presence there again. Her only sadness was that she would be missing Vera's wedding, which was to occur while she was on retreat.

Mother Judiana received both girls with open arms, installing them in the room they had shared before, and the other sisters and the students eagerly fell to work on the stitchery for a bridal trousseau. Though Alyce did spend time with Father Paschal every day, in obedience to the archbishop's instruction that this was to be a time of penitence regarding her Deryni nature, the priest geared these sessions more toward the meditations proper to a more traditional pre-nuptial retreat, though without the presence of the groom.

In light of what she had been obliged to do in the wake of Krispin's murder, Paschal also gave her regular sessions of advanced training in the more subtle use of her powers. After one such session, when she had emerged from trance, he looked at her oddly, as if considering whether to share some facet of what had just occurred.

«Are you aware that the old triggers your father set are still in place?» he asked.

«Of course», she replied. «Don't you use them regularly, in our sessions?»

«I do». He paused, again considering. «Lady Jessamy was given access to those triggers as well», he said then. «Has she used them much?»

She shook her head. «Very rarely. I suppose Father's original intention was that she might be able to augment our training. That would have been before he decided to have you come to us regularly».

«That's very interesting», he murmured. «When would you say was the last time she used the triggers?»

«Oh, ages ago. Probably after Father was killed — or it might have been when I brought Ahern's body back through Rhemuth, on my way to take him home to Cynfyn. I was exhausted, and she made me sleep».

«Nothing more recently?»

«No. Why are you asking?»

«Because she appears to have been poking around in the last week or so before you came here», Paschal said baldly. «Have you any idea why she might have done that?»

«None at all… no».

«I did not think you did», Paschal replied. «And that is very curious — and disturbing».

«But — why would she do such a thing?»

«I don't know. And it is possible there may be some benign explanation — though, by rights, she should have released the triggers years ago, when I resumed responsibility for your training. Were it not for the hidden trace of her most recent contact, I would have attributed the omission to oversight…».

«Paschal, you're frightening me… «, she began, eyes wide.

«No need, child», he assured her, patting her hand. «I've taken care of it. I've left the triggers partially engaged, so that you'll give the external responses she expects, if she should try this again; but I've also given you discretion, to override any commands she might try to set. Unless you choose to let her know, she shouldn't realize that anything has changed. I don't know what game she may be playing — but I do know that I want you to be the winner, if she insists upon including you in that game, without your knowledge and very possibly against your will».

Alyce gave a shiver, shaking her head.

«It makes no sense. What possible motive could she have?»

«I wish I knew», Paschal replied. «But, put it from your mind for now. You will soon be a bride, and much in your life will change. For one thing, you shall be in your husband's keeping — not Jessamy's, not mine, or even the king's or queen's. You are coming well into your inheritance, dear Alyce, and I am very proud of you».

She came back to his embrace again, basking in the warmth of his affection and praise, and did resolve to put it from her mind.

The wedding day of Alyce de Corwyn and Sir Kenneth Morgan dawned clear and sunny. Alyce stirred and stretched in the bed she had shared so long with Zoë, opening her eyes to see Zoë gazing at her from the other pillow and smiling.

«What?» Alyce murmured.

Zoë giggled and also stretched. «Just think. In a few hours, you're going to be my mother».

Alyce shook her head, also giggling. «Mother to your sisters, maybe — in time. To me, you shall always be my sister».

«Oh, Alyce, you are like a sister to me — far more than my sisters of blood. Promise that you won't forget me, when you're a proper married lady».

«Did you forget me, when you became a proper married lady?» Alyce said lightly.

«Well, I never was really a proper married lady», Zoë said with a touch of wistfulness. «Sometimes I dream about Ahern, and what it might have been like — you know».

«No, I don't know!» Alyce replied. «At least not yet». She sat up in bed to take Zoë's hand. «Oh, Zoë, just think. A day from now, I shall no longer be a maid — and I shan't even be able to tell you what it was like, because he's your father, for goodness' sake!»

«Well, it wouldn't be right, would it?» Zoë said matter-of-factly. «On the other hand…» She looked at Alyce slyly. «I’ll bet he's a very good lover. He's ever so kind and gentle. Though not so gentle, I'm sure, that he will not give you pleasure! I mean — oh, dear. This is going to be complicated, isn't it?»

Alyce laughed aloud at that and tumbled out of bed, rummaging for a robe.

«Get up, you! You must help me make myself beautiful for your father. This is my wedding day!»

The nuptial Mass was to begin at noon, following on the last stroke of the Angelus. By eleven, the convent chapel was prepared, bedecked with flowers and flooded with summer sunlight. The few invited guests had begun to arrive.

The king and queen had come the night before, taking over part of the guest quarters with the three young princes and Princess Xenia, who was bouncing with the excitement of being allowed to serve as Alyce's flower girl. Also in the royal party were Lady Jessamy and her two daughters still at home, Jesiana and Seffira, along with the king's two principal aides besides Kenneth: Sir Tiarnán MacRae and Sir Jiri Redfearn. Duke Richard was on assignment in the field, and sent his regrets, but Sir Seisyll Arilan had deputed in his place.