Read Online Hearts in Cups by Candace Gylgayton - Free Book Online

Pentarchy. You are far too important," Percamber said with
mild reproof.
    "I beg to remind
you, as I surely will them, that I am an independent sovereign and am subject
to none other. I will not take the throne in my own name, regardless of my ties
to it, and neither will my cousins Gervase or Genvra be placed there. Only one
person can and should legitimately be Duke of Sandovar and High King of the
Pentarchy: Prince Brian ap Gryffyd. If it is necessary for me to leave in order
for him to return, then that is what I shall do."
    "Bravo!"
Dinea exclaimed spontaneously, clapping her hands. "She is absolutely
right, Percamber. The important thing is to bring Brian back here as soon as possible
and squash any further pretensions to the throne." She turned a serious
face to Hollin. "If we can effect the transference from the crystal to the
ring, can you control and sway the Council? That is the next question."
    "If Lord Percamber
assents and supports me, then I can handle my fellow Houses," Hollin
replied confidently.
    "And you, my
husband? What say you to the duchess' proposal?"
    Hollin found herself
being favoured with a singularly appraising look from Lord de Chantalcalm. She
returned his stare with one of her own and was met by a warm smile she had not
yet seen. "I am in agreement with Lady Hollin. She is the best answer that
I can see to our dilemma. If you are willing to do this, we will offer you
whatever aid we can."
    "Lord
Percamber?" Hollin turned her eyes to the regent, and grandfather of the
missing prince.
    His nod was abrupt, as
if drawn from deep within himself. "I wish to lay down my trust and to
place it in my grandson's hands. I do not like the idea of putting you in
danger, but if it is your will to do this thing, and if Colin and Dinea are
ready to support and aid you, then I will also do what I can for you."
Hollin accepted his compliance with a gracious nod.
    "Time grows late.
Let us put into effect the transference now and discuss council strategies
tomorrow. If you will join me at the table?" Colin ushered them to the
table, where Percamber returned the Heartstone to Hollin. "Have you ever
been in an arcane trance before?" Hollin nodded. "Good. What I want
you to do is to put yourself into a light trance, with the jewel as your focus.
Percamber, Dinea and I will work with the crystal, controlling the energies
until we can build a bridge from the crystal into the jewel. You will feel the
energies from the crystal in your mind as we begin to let them flow into the
jewel. I need you to control the receptivity of the jewel. Visualize an opening
in the jewel allowing the energy from the crystal to flow in and be absorbed.
Do you think you can manage that?"
    "Yes." Hollin
took a steadying breath and then, focusing on the red gem on her hand, began
the special breathing pattern that was the first step to entering an arcane
trance. Before her eyes the light refracting from the jewel's exterior
gradually changed until it was a light pulsing from within. Vaguely, she saw
Colin, Dinea and Percamber bent over the crystal and heard their combined
breathing. She brought her own attention back to the ring and lightly felt it
within her own mind. She strove to maintain her balance with the jewel and to
resist exploring it. The ring was warm in her hand.
    Suddenly she was aware
of a brightness aimed at the ring. She tried to discern whether the brightness
was physical or mental and failed. The brightness grew in intensity and she
prepared her visualization. The image of an opening appeared in her mind and
then was wrenched from it by the jewel itself, which sent out its own energy to
retrieve what was being aimed at it. The intensity of the ring's reaction
startled Hollin and threw her out of the trance. As she put her hand on the
table to steady herself, she saw Colin and Dinea trying to balance themselves
as well. The red light in the ring pulsed brilliantly and slowly subsided. The
crystal had turned cloudy with