Read Online The Quest for Saint Camber by Katherine Kurtz - Free Book Online Page A

think I understand what you’re really asking. I’d intended to start with new wine, but we can use what’s in there, if you wish.”
    â€œIs that safe?” Morgan asked, before Kelson could reply.
    Arilan nodded. “As safe as merasha ever is. What’s in there is nearly spent—exactly how much, is difficult to determine—so I’ll still have to add some from what I’ve brought.” He gestured toward the green vial. “But I wanted a higher dosage anyway. Even new, the original was too subtle for our purposes. I believe, however, that His Majesty means this trial partially as a remembrance of his father. For that purpose, I’m willing to sacrifice strict accuracy of dose in favor of spiritual resolution. And I’ve brought a sedative, for afterward, to take the edge off.”
    He handed a small parchment packet to the reluctant Duncan, who went immediately to fetch a cup of water. Meanwhile, as the others watched in taut fascination, Arilan matter-of-factly unstoppered the leather flask and sniffed at the contents, wrinkling his nose at the smell. A distracted snap of his fingers brought two empty goblets floating over from the dishes cleared away after supper, one of which he filled from the flask. After adding most of the contents of the glass vial, he poured the mixture back and forth several times between the first and second goblets, ending with half the mixture in each. These he set on the table before the king and Dhugal without ceremony. Beside him, Duncan had returned and was stirring a cup of water with a little horn spoon.
    â€œThat’s the sedative?” Morgan asked.
    Duncan nodded. “Aye, nothing unexpected. A good, stiff dose, but they’ll need that. Dhugal, I think you’re familiar with this one.”
    Dhugal, trained as a battle-surgeon, sniffed at the cup Duncan held out to him, frowned, then gingerly touched a fingertip to the liquid and then to his tongue, grimacing at the taste.
    â€œAye, I know it. We won’t wake before morning, and that’s for sure. Next to a Deryni, it’s the best thing I know to knock out a patient so you can work on him. They don’t feel much.”
    â€œAnd neither will you,” Arilan said, taking the cup from Duncan and setting it back in the center of the table. “Nor will you want to.”
    He glanced at Kelson, then at Morgan and Duncan, finally sparing a look and a smile for Nigel, who bit back a grimace of apprehension and clasped his arms across his chest, one nervous hand massaging the opposite bicep.
    â€œWhenever you’re ready, then, gentlemen,” Arilan said quietly. “Actually, why don’t you go first, Kelson, so we don’t have to watch both of you at once? I know you don’t much trust me right now, so Alaric can monitor. I’d recommend you have a very modest taste first, so you can experience the subtler effects, and then toss it off as neatly as you can. In this concentration, it has a particularly nasty aftertaste, as I’m sure Duncan can attest. I suspect this is similar to the strength Loris and Gorony used on him.”
    If Arilan had intended his words to be reassuring, he failed utterly, for Kelson had seen the end result of Duncan’s ordeal—and of his father’s. Picking up the merasha -drugged goblet of his own volition was one of the most difficult things he had ever done.
    This is what killed your father! his fear screeched at him, even though he knew it was not true. You will taste his death again!
    His hand trembled as he brought the cup to his lips, and he had to steady it with his other hand. Try as he might to prevent it, images of his father’s death began crowding into memory—the well-loved face contorted with pain and bewilderment, the chest heaving for breath—and sometimes the face was his own. Sternly he told himself that he was not his father, but dread continued to scurry just at the edges