King Javan’s Year by Katherine Kurtz Page A

have both,” Javan replied quietly. “But in conscience, I could not refuse my duty to my House.”
    As Oriel quietly drew the sheet over Alroy’s face, trying to be invisible, Hubert heaved a heavy sigh and gestured toward the door.
    â€œVery well, then,” he said, resignation in his voice. “Come with me, and I shall—announce your accession to the lords assembled outside—Sire. And may God have mercy on us all.”

C HAPTER F IVE
    For thou hast maintained my right and cause .
    â€”Psalms 9:4
    The close oppressiveness of the summer morning was all around Javan as he and Rhys Michael followed Hubert toward the door. Beyond that door lay the first of the great lords who, henceforth, would demand all Javan’s attention. His palms were sweating, his pulse pounding in his ears. He made himself take a deep breath as Hubert swung the door wide.
    Conversation ceased. The room beyond now held more than a score of black-clad figures, half again the number who had been there before. Robert Oriss, the Archbishop of Rhemuth, had joined the secular lords, along with Constable Udaut and several other officers of the royal household. They stood back as Hubert moved into the room, but their eyes were for the two Haldane princes, one of them now surely their king.
    Javan had his hands clasped behind him as he and a very shaken-looking Rhys Michael followed Hubert in, so no one could see that Javan now wore the Ring of Fire—or that his hands were clasped to keep them from trembling—but Charlan noticed the Eye of Rom right away. He would have gone to his knees then and there, but Javan caught his eye and gave him a minute shake of his head, deeming it better to let Hubert make the announcement.
    â€œMy lords,” Hubert said quietly, folding his hands across his ample waist, “I ask you, of your charity, to pray for the soul of our late sovereign lord, King Alroy.” He crossed himself heavily as he said, “ Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine. ”
    â€œ Et lux perpetua luceat ei ,” the others murmured brokenly, dropping to their knees in twos and threes to follow the lead of Javan and Rhys Michael.
    â€œ Offerentes eam in conspectu Altissimi. Kyrie eleison. ”
    â€œ Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. ”
    Hubert led them in a Pater Noster then, followed by another exchange invoking eternal rest and perpetual light upon the soul of the departed king.
    â€œ Requiescat in pace ,” he concluded. May he rest in peace.
    To which all of them answered, “Amen.”
    As they all got to their feet again, all attention returned to the two princes—and then shifted to a dark, hook-nosed man in burgundy, wearing a baron’s coronet and a chain of minor office, who moved suddenly forward several steps, thumbs hooked in his sword belt, looking predatory.
    â€œDoes my Lord Archbishop have a statement regarding the succession?” he said bluntly.
    Hubert looked uncomfortable and cleared his throat nervously several times. “Regarding the passing of our late sovereign lord, the High and Mighty Prince Alroy Bearand Brion Haldane, lately our king. It—was his will, and that of his father before him, that if he died without issue, his brother should succeed him.”
    â€œThat his brother Javan should succeed him,” the baron corrected, turning to Tammaron. “Is that not so, my Lord Chancellor? Or do the laws of primogeniture no longer prevail within this realm?”
    â€œNow, see here!” Iver MacInnis objected. “Rhys Michael was to be the next king!”
    â€œI do not recall asking your opinion, my lord!” the baron said, rounding briefly on Iver, hand moving to the hilt of his sword. “I have asked the Lord Chancellor, whose place it is to know the laws of this land. I pray you answer, my Lord Tammaron. Do the laws of primogeniture still apply in Gwynedd or do they not?”
    Tammaron, obviously wishing anyone else