Saint Camber

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Also by Katherine Kurtz

The Deryni Novels

The Chronicles of the Deryni

Deryni Rising

Deryni Checkmate

High Deryni

The Legends of Camber of Culdi

Camber of Culdi

Saint Camber

Camber the Heretic

The Histories of King Kelson

The Bishop's Heir

The King's Justice

The Quest for Saint Camber

The Heirs of Saint Camber

The Harrowing of Gwynedd

King Javan's Year

The Bastard Prince

The Childe Morgan Trilogy

In the King's Service

Childe Morgan

The King's Deryni

Other novels

King Kelson's Bride

Saint Camber

The Legends of Camber of Culdi, Volume Two

Katherine Kurtz

This one is for

JOHN H. KNOBLOCK

who started me on my intellectual love affair

with the medieval world and its church,

and for all the other men and women

of whatever faith

who helped to turn that cerebral fascination

into an affair of the heart,

whether or not they were aware of it.

In our own ways, we all feed our sheep.

C
ONTENTS

P
ROLOGUE

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

—
Isaiah
42:9

I By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

—
Proverbs
25:15

II But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.

—
II Timothy
3:14

III For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces.

—
Jeremiah
9:21

IV For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

—
I Peter
3:17

V Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

—
Galatians
4:16

VI I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

—
II Timothy
4:7

VII And them shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.

—
Isaiah
62:2

VIII Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.

—
Proverbs
24:33

IX As a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

—
I Corinthians
3:10

X The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

—
Proverbs
23:24

XI Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal.

—
Acts
4:29–30

XII I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

—
I Corinthians
9:22

XIII For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order.

—
Colossians
2:5

XIV I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

—
Galatians
4:11

XV I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

—
Psalms
116:14

XVI For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

—
Hebrews
5:1

XVII Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you.

—
I Peter
1:13

XVIII Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.

—
Colossians
1:26

XIX Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.

—
Jeremiah
46:3–4

XX And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.

—
II Timothy
2:24–25

XXI And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

—
Galatians
6:9

XXII For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

—
Acts
22:15

XXIII I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

—
Galatians
4:20

XXIV For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory.

—
I Thessalonians
2:5–6

XXV How is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints!

—
Wisdom of Solomon
5:5

Preview:
Camber the Heretic

Appendix I: Index of Characters

Appendix II: Index to Places

About the Author

P
ROLOGUE

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them
.

—Isaiah 42:9

It was the spring of 905, half a year since the crowning of Cinhil Haldane at Valoret; half a year since the last Deryni king, Imre of Festil, had been deposed and defeated by Cinhil's new-won magic; since Imre's sister Ariella, heavy with his child, had fled the halls of Valoret to seek sanctuary with the hosts of Torenth to the east.

The Deryni Lord Camber MacRorie had been the hero of that day—Camber and his children: Joram and Evaine and Rhys—and Alister Cullen, proud Vicar General of the Order of Saint Michael, which had made the physical fact of the Restoration possible.

Now the Haldane throne was steadying, Cinhil's queen safely delivered of twin sons to replace the one murdered by Imre's agent before Cinhil's emergence. King Cinhil, though reluctant still to set aside his former monkish life, was perhaps beginning to understand his role as monarch.