But six were more than enough to transact informal business; five of the seven would have been sufficient to uphold any serious ruling of the Council, though no capital matter was under discussion on this night. When possible, the Council met fortnightly, to brief one another on affairs in the areas where they lived. In the past three decades — longer than any member's span of service save Sief himself — there had been no truly serious demand on the Council's powers of arbitration. Though all of them were well aware how precariously still stood the plight of Deryni in Gwynedd, slow gains had been made in the past several generations, and the future was beginning to look hopeful.

«We should begin», said Seisyll Arilan, when Michon had led Barrett to his seat between them and taken his own. «Doubtless, Sief will wish to return to his new son. My congratulations», he added, inclining his head in the new father's direction. «Your lady wife is well?»

Sief gave a nod, still looking pleased. «Weakened somewhat, which is to be expected with an older mother, but I am hopeful that the child will show more of its paternal heritage than its maternal. I never forget that she is the daughter of Lewys ap Norfal».

«You did agree to marry her», Michon pointed out.

«It was that, or have her killed», Sief said lightly, though all of them were aware that he meant precisely that. «We could not have trusted Lewys's daughter to a nunnery».

«Yet you have trusted one of her daughters to a nunnery», Dominy de Laney reminded him.

«She is my daughter as well», Sief replied. «And each child is different. «But I would have smothered Jessilde at birth, had she shown the wayward potentials of her grandfather — or her mother».

Vivienne rolled her eyes heavenward, then glanced at Dominy, a mother like herself.

«Let us please have no more talk of smothering babies», she said emphatically. «Especially not Deryni babies. It's bad enough that poisonous priests like Alexander Darby continue to spread lies about us. Have any of you actually seen that scurrilous piece of tripe that he published at Grecotha last year? De Natura Deryniorum, indeed!»

«Scurrilous or not», Sief said, «I hear that it's to become required reading at every seminary in Gwynedd».

Barrett was nodding, fingers steepled before his sightless eyes. «It's been making the rounds at Nur Sayyid. Well written, they say, but utterly lacking in scholarly integrity».

«Lacking in scholarly integrity?» Dominy blurted. «Is that all you can say? Barrett, the man's a monster!»

«Yes, and he's a monster with a growing following», Seisyll said sourly. «And I can understand why. I heard him preach a few months ago. A very persuasive speaker, and a very dangerous man».

«I've heard him, too», Michon said. «It's a pity that a timely accident can't be arranged. A fatal one. Actually, it could. But given the public profile he's already established, I suppose the authorities would quickly draw the right conclusion regarding who was responsible, at least in general terms — and that would spark the very kind of reprisal that we try to avoid».

Seisyll Arilan gave a disgusted snort. «We should have taken care of the problem long ago. Now it's too late for the more obvious solutions».

«It is never too late to stamp out pestiferous vermin», Vivienne said coldly. «I'm sure one of my brothers would be happy to oblige».

«No, we'll not risk losing one of them for the sake of the likes of him», Michon said.

«Sometimes risks are necessary», Sief pointed out. «You are aware, I trust, that the bishops already have an eye on him?»

«For what, chief inquisitor?» Seisyll muttered.

«Actually, for a bishop's miter», Sief replied. «I have that directly from the Archbishop of Rhemuth. Unless Darby puts a foot seriously wrong, it will happen, mark my words».

«But — he was only ordained last year», Dominy said, sounding scandalized.

«True enough», Seisyll said patiently. «But keep in mind that he is hardly your typical green young priest. He's something of a scholar, yes — though he draws all the wrong conclusions. But he also lived in the world before he took holy orders. He trained as a physician, and they say that he has all the arrogance that sometimes comes of both disciplines. That's a dangerous enough combination in a priest who also hates Deryni. In a bishop…»

He shook his head, heaving a sigh, and the two women exchanged troubled glances.

«He isn't a bishop yet», Michon said, in a darkling tone that suggested the matter might not be the foregone conclusion everyone else was assuming.

Sief shot him a sharp glance, but his reply was unexpectedly mild.

«No, he isn't. And it won't happen tomorrow, or even next week. But whatever happens to Alexander Darby, there must be no trail that leads back to any of us. Just keep that in mind».

Michon gave a noncommittal shrug, and Sief went on.

«In the meantime, we have more immediate matters to discuss. I gather that all of you are now acquainted with the recommendation regarding the young Duke of Corwyn?»

He jutted his chin toward the document lying between Seisyll and Vivienne, who both glanced at it with some distaste.

«He isn't the duke yet», the latter said, looking faintly disapproving. «Not until he turns twenty-five, and has proven his loyalty to Donal of Gwynedd». Her fair brow furrowed. «Are we really proposing that he be fostered to the Duc du Joux? And would the king allow him to go?»

«I believe he could be persuaded», Sief replied. «And what better haven for a known Deryni who is destined for a ducal coronet in Gwynedd?»

«It's true», Seisyll agreed. «Besides, Gwynedd has no other Deryni of high rank — and the current Duc du Joux has spent a lifetime cultivating the perception that he is the most harmless of Deryni. He would pass that survival skill to young Ahern — as he did to Morian ap Lewys», he added, with a nod to Sief. «I daresay that your wife's brother would not be where he is today, a trusted officer of the Crown of Gwynedd, if he had not learned to be circumspect regarding what he is».

«Morian also has his father's intelligence and gifts», Michon pointed out. «Say what you like about Lewys ap Norfal, but he was one of our best and brightest — alas, lacking in self-restraint».

«Are you suggesting that young Ahern de Corwyn is similarly gifted?» Sief asked.

Michon shrugged. «I do not know. Stevana de Corwyn was very much cast in the mold of her father and grandfather. Keryell went against our instructions in seizing her, in marrying her by force, but he, too, carries a strong bloodline. Once Ahern has come into his inheritance, I would hope to see him spend some time at Nur Sayyid, perhaps — or even at Rhanamé or at Djellarda with the Knights of the Anvil. But he is only eleven now. Time enough for that».

«Indeed», Barrett said. «Where is he now?»

«Back in Coroth, since Twelfth Night», Michon replied. «Keryell sent him and his sisters to the Orsal's court for several years after their mother died. You'll recall that Sobbon is cousin-kin to Keryell's mother. Among all those von Horthy children, I doubt Sobbon much noticed three extras».

«Was there not a prior marriage», Dominy said thoughtfully, «and a son by that marriage?»

«Cynfyn», Vivienne supplied promptly. «His mother was a daughter of one of the Torenthi dukes. But he died young, leaving Keryell without an heir — a riding mishap, while returning from his knighting».

«Which was what impelled Keryell to go seeking a new bride and a new heir», Michon supplied, shaking his head. «Unfortunately for us, his loss coincided with the passing of Stevana's grandfather, Duke Stiofan — and the rest, as they say, is history».

«What of the daughters?» Vivienne asked, a frown furrowing her fair brow.

Seisyll shrugged. «After Ahern, the eldest — Alyce is her name — is heiress presumptive to Corwyn — though I'm sure that Keryell has set aside dower lands for her, in her own right. Her brother will be the next duke, when he turns twenty-five».