The King’s Justice by Katherine Kurtz

response.
    He started to turn again to the east, but Morgan pulled him back a step instead. Kelson also took a step away from him before turning, so that all at once everyone was facing toward the center. Richenda, her loose-fitting shift a luminous white by circle-light, spread both palms before her at waist level and closed her eyes.
    â€œAt our center and foundation is Spirit—that which endures.”
    As she moved her hands slightly apart and tilted them toward one another, a five-pointed star appeared in the air between them, etched in violet light. It floated to the floor as she parted them still farther, pulsing against the stone as she threw back her head and stretched her palms heavenward this time.
    â€œAbove us, the circled cross: defining and containing, unity of all contained within One.”
    As the symbol appeared, green fire hanging above their heads, she swept her arms to either side and held, eyes closing, but it was Arilan who spoke.
    â€œNow we are met. Now we are One with the Light. Regard the ancient ways. We shall not walk this path again.
    â€œAugeatur in nobis, quaesumus, Domine, tuae virtutis operatio .…” May the working of Thy power, O Lord, be intensified within us.…
    â€œSo be it. Selah. Amen,” Richenda responded.
    And as she lowered her arms, bowing her head over hands joined palm-to-palm in an attitude of prayer, the ribbon of light around the room quickly broadened and extended upward and downward until its edges met in the symbols above their heads and beneath their feet. Then all six symbols vanished. Glancing surreptitiously toward the doorway, Nigel could no longer see Dhugal except as a vague, shadowy form.
    â€œLumen Christi gloriose resurgentis sissipet tenebras cordis et mentis,” Kelson intoned steadily, signing himself in ritual gesture as the others did the same. May the light of Christ rising in glory scatter the darkness of our heart and mind.…
    The motion seemed to release them from a former immobility. Suddenly Kelson was smiling at him, Arilan and Richenda withdrawing slightly to stand against the northern and western walls. Morgan took his elbow.
    â€œWell, that’s done,” Kelson said softly. “The warding was drawn partly from the tradition that Richenda grew up in. Other than the Moorish elements that have crept in over the years, it’s supposed to be fairly close to the form Camber might have used. Not that we’ll ever know for certain, I suppose.” He glanced at Morgan, at Duncan, who had moved to the altar, then back at Nigel.
    â€œAre you ready?”
    Nigel only inclined his head, afraid to speak.
    â€œWe’ll get on with it, then. Come with me, please.”
    Three steps brought them to the altar. Duncan’s small surgical kit lay open there, Duncan doing something with a wad of cotton wool and a small flask. As Morgan assisted Nigel to kneel, Kelson reached to his right ear and removed the great ruby fastened there. For the first time, Nigel noticed that Kelson also wore the Ring of Fire, the garnet-studded seal of Brion’s power, great central cabochon surrounded by a dozen lesser, brilliant-cut stones that fractured the cold light of the circle like summer lightning. He did not think he had seen it since Kelson’s coronation.
    â€œSo far as we know, the Eye of Rom has always played a part in the setting of the Haldane potential in Haldane heirs,” Kelson said, handing the earring to Duncan for cleansing. “It and a ring seem to be important and constant elements in the power rituals of all Haldane kings. Because you aren’t my heir in the usual sense, we’ll only involve the ring marginally tonight, since it usually seals the ritual after the old king is dead, but I do want you to wear the Eye. I’ll leave both in a place of safety here at Rhemuth before I go to Meara—just in case you should need them.”
    Nigel swallowed and managed a faint nod,