by Katherine Kurtz
The Childe Morgan Trilogy - Book 1
Published: 2003
I didn't start this note taking thing for books until I was over halfway through this book so this is all I've got in the way of notes for this book
Started: 10/16/17
Finished: 03/07/18
Chapter 23
Ahern is dying. Sir Kenneth Morgan is sent to bring Zoe Morgan (his daughter and Ahern’s unofficial fiancée) and Lady Alyce de Corwyn (Ahern’s sister) to the dying Earl of Lendour’s side. They arrive in time to say their final farewells before he succumbs to the illness that has stricken him. Hours before he dies he and Zoe are married.
The chapter ends with an unsuccessful attempt on the King’s life during a hunting expedition.
Chapter 24
Sir Kenneth Morgan recovers from the arrow wound he received during the attempt on the king’s life. His survival is thanks in part to Deryni abilities of Alyce de Corwyn. She calms his horse which was also injured by the arrow and helps him to rest until the arrow can be removed.
Back at the royal palace Sir Ken finds himself spending time with his daughter’s friend and falling for her. She is above his station but he has trouble ignoring her charms. Things start to come to a head when the Donal asks him about the prospect of marrying Alyce.
Chapter 25
The king makes his decision about Sir Kenneth Morgan and Lady Alyce de Corwyn. He wants them to be wed. He informs Morgan of his decision first. Soon thereafter the king let’s Lady Alyce know about his decision. A little bit of time passes as Morgan goes to visit his daughters to let them know of the decision.
One possible complication is that Zoe, Morgan’s oldest daughter, is also Alyce’s good friend and was married to her brother just before he died. It is a personal complication which turns out to be nothing to worry about Zoe is happy to learn that Alyce will be wedded to her father.
Sir Kenneth does not need to ask Alyce for her hand in marriage but he does so anyway. She is fully aware that she doesn’t have a real choice but still seems very pleased that he has done what he can to make it seem like she does.
Chapter 26
At the Twelfth Night Court of 1090 Sir Kenneth Morgan and Lady Alyce de Corwyn are formally engaged. Jared Earl of Kierney and Vera Howard (Alyce’s secret twin sister) are also engaged. Kristin MacAthan (the secret son of King Donal) is invested as a page.
That evening after the festivities Kenneth and Alyce share a moment together. They kiss for the first time but go their separate ways before their passions get the better of them.
Alyce and Zoe and awoke in the early morning and brought to the stable. Krispin MacAthan is dead. His body is pulled out of a well. The King wants answers and calls on Alyce to do a death reading. He wants to know who did it and how it was done. Kenneth and Zoe Morgan assist Alyce.
The killers turns out to have been a couple of men in the employ of Lord Deldour. They raped young Krispin but the final blow was dealt by a priest, Septimus de Nore, who pushed him down the well. Alyce and Zoe know Septimus de Nore from their time at L’arc-en-Ciel convent where they were students and he was one of the teachers. He is known, as is Lord Deldour, to be ferociously anti-Deryni.
Chapter 27
The killers of Krispin MacAthan are captured and brought to justice. Lord Deldour and his men, who left before the body of young Krispin was found, are brought back to court. They are interrogated. Alyce de Corwyn uses her truth-reading ability to determine which of Lord Deldour’s men raped the young page. The two men who raped young Krispin are gelded and then hanged. Father Septimus de Nore, who threw the boy down the well is dealt with in a different manner. He dies in a manner similar to that which his victim did.
The Cambrian Council discusses the possible repercussions of the execution of Septimus de Nore. He was a priest and the brother of a bishop. The church has a very negative view of Deryni and places little to no value on the lives or souls of Deryni.
The council also discusses the betrothal of Alyce to Kenneth. They aren’t happy that she is marrying a human. Alternatives are discussed which would preserve the Deryni bloodline but ultimately they decide to let matters be. Sir Kenneth Morgan is judged by them to be a good man even if he is human.
Chapter 28
The church responds to the King’s actions by demanding he do penance for killing Septimus de Nore. The king refuses. He and Alyce de Corwyn are excommunicated and the kingdom is placed under interdict. After a few weeks the king comes around and during Holy Week agrees to do penance, which includes 30 lashes.
The king talks to Jessamy MacAthan before he receives the lashes. He wants another son, another champion, to protect his recognized sons. He wants Jessamy’s help to make that happen with Alyce de Corwyn. Alyce father entrusted Jessamy with knowledge that will allow her to take control of Alyce and make it happen with out her knowledge. I had forgotten how monstrous I thought Donal was at the beginning of the book. Those memories were re
Cambrian council meeting
The king refuses to make peace with the chu
Chapter 29
Alyce appeals to the Archbishop for forgiveness and with some help from Father Paschal she is readmitted into the Church. Alyce de Corwyn and Sir Kenneth Morgan are married.
King Donal continues to plot to impregnate Alyce without her knowledge. Father Paschal discovers the controls set by her father that the king is planning to use to take control of Alyce. He modifies the controls so that Jessamy or anyone else won’t be able to use them.
Jessamy dies but before her last breath she calls for Seisyll Arilan. She shares with him the true story of her husband’s death. She shares with him that her son’s father was Donal and that he plans to repress the process with Alyce de Corwyn. Seisyll shares this information with the Camberian Council. Who are both shocked and impressed by Donal’s boldness.
The ending of the chapter is s bit anticlimactic as it is revealed the Alyce is already pregnant when the king comes to do the deed. He explains his reasons. Alyce and Kenneth forgive him and pledge their son to his cause.
Epilogue
Alaric Morgan is born. The Council learns through Seisyll that he is not the King’s son.
Notes
Camberian Council
- Sief MacAthan - dead; killed by Donal Haldane
- Seisyll Arilan
- Michon de Courcy
- Dominy de Laney
- Vivienne de Jourdanet
- Oisín Adair
No comments:
Post a Comment