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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3119638" data-attributes="member: 3448">Alistair paused and breathed heavily.  “Your grace, we fear that your heir may be more than merely taken.”“You think he may be a willing traitor to the Light?”“Dame Katherine, can you project the image of his son into his mind?”“With your permission, your grace?”“You are a psion.  You’re reading my mind.”Kit detected a wave of terror about it.  She suddenly realized the issue:  his mind had been altered before, and while he could not remember that consciously, it left a subconscious terror of telepaths.  “I am sorry, your grace, but with the threat of assassins, we had to take any step to protect the Archduke.”The Duke of Brightspan leapt up from the table and gestured angrily at Alistair.  “I have never made any bones of my feeling towards the Archducal family.  If I were to move, it would have been openly.  Your… Archduke took care of that himself.  I will never fully accept the right of this house to rule over mine, but my grandchildren will.”“Your grace… please,” said Alistair holding out his hand placatingly.  “I had no idea that she would do such a thing.  I never would have permitted it if I had known of her plan.”  Alistair scowled at Kit.<<I’m sorry!>> sent Kit urgently.<<Don’t be.>> replied Alistair.  <<You were doing what you had to do.  I’m just sorry for having to leave you to take the blame.>><><<That wasn’t your fault.>>The Duke of Brightspan continued to glare at both Alistair and Kit, but as Alistair continued speaking in a soothing tone, he gradually returned to his seat.“I would never have considered the possibility that you might be involved with assassins, your grace, and I hope you won’t hold her poor judgment against Canberry.  I can assure you that she won’t use any of her mental powers on you again.  But we should return to the topic of your son.”Brightspan breathed heavily.  “Very well.  I think I should speak with my chaplain.”“Of course.”  Alistair nodded to Father Waters, who quickly rose.  He returned a few minutes later with a scholarly priest, about the same age as the Duke, who entered with a cursory bow towards Alistair.The Duke of Brightspan stared fixedly at the priest.  “Francois, the things I know you have not dared tell me, by the looks on your face, tell me now.”The priest visibly swallowed.  “Your grace, is this the time?”“If there is a time, it is now.”“The army that your son leads… is in rebellion against you.  But not against him.  He corrupted his commanders years ago.  They are not now far from the edge of the Sunken Lands, and the Seachen have moved a force of riders to try to stop them.  The riders will fail.”The Duke leaned back in his chair heavily.  “So he is corrupt.”“Yes, your grace.”Misery wracked the Duke’s face.  “It is the evil of the catacombs.  My grandfather said that you should raze the city to the ground for the glory of Glor’diadel and for the sake of its people, but once you become duke, you never do.  It’s like a miasma rising out from the catacombs, but I had no interest.  I should have moved my children.”“You did as you thought best, your grace.  Glor’diadel can ask no more.”</blockquote>

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