The Alton Gift by Marion Z. Bradley Read Free Book Online Page B

must give him the chance to make a new place among us, if that is what he truly intends. It will not help if we throw his past actions in his face, or turn everyone against him."
    If all men were judged by their past, without any possibility of redeeming themselves, then we should all freeze in Zandru's coldest hell , Lew thought grimly. And I, most of all
    Why Mikhail had allowed Francisco to return to the family estate at Serrais after the assassination attempt, Lew could never understand. A generation ago, old Dyan Ardais would have run Francisco through without a second thought. Maybe Mikhail thought there was still some good in Francisco, something worth redeeming, or perhaps he was simply less bloody-minded than other Comyn.
    Mikhail did, however, remove Francisco as head of the Ridenow Domain, or rather, forced the Council to do so. Much of that, Lew suspected, was due to his very angry and determined daughter. Francisco's son had assumed control, a post for which his training as City Guards Captain prepared him well.
    Was Mikhail wise in agreeing to Francisco's request? Rightly or not, traditions died hard. The Ridenow Domain was ancient and honorable, and Francisco was entitled to full Domain-right. For this reason, if no other, he would have supporters on the Council. If Mikhail denied such a request he would hand Francisco a powerful weapon of diplomacy. Lew knew the temper of the Council only too well. Javanne had forged a variety of alliances in her crusade against Mikhail, and his enemies would be only too happy to paint him as power-hungry and vengeful.
    "I think you had no choice," Lew said slowly. "Despite all he has done, Francisco is still Comyn."
    "Grandfather Lew is right," Domenic spoke up. "It would be difficult to justify a refusal."
    "I see you are all ranged against me," Marguerida said with a wan smile. "I understand your reasons, even if I do not agree with them. Mik, if you have given your word, then I must make the best of it and stand by you. I do not think, however, that I will draw a single easy breath until that man is back on his own estates."
    Relief passed over Mikhail's fair features. "It may all turn out for the best. We have friends on the Council—your father and the Elhalyn-Hasturs, and others who seek a peaceful, united Darkover. We will have time to prepare."
    Mikhail took Marguerida's gloved hand in his, and for an instant, the jewel of his ring glowed with the light of their joined powers.
    Watching them together, Lew thought that as long as these two people were together, nothing could dim their happiness. But if anything should happen to Mikhail, if Marguerida's premonition turned out to be right, what then?
    What then?
     
     
     
     
    I hat night, after the formal dinner following Javanne's funeral, Domenic went to Alanna's room. He was more than a little drunk, so he had an excuse to disregard his conscience and all his mother's rules of propriety.
    The day had been the longest, most emotionally exhausting he could remember. The funeral cortege had departed early, in a drizzle of half-frozen rain, traveling the Old North Road from Thendara to Hali. Cisco Ridenow, as Captain of the City Guards, had taken charge of security arrangements with ruthless efficiency. Even so, memories of the ambush three years ago lingered in everyone's memory.
    The younger Gabriel Lanart-Alton, as the deceased woman's eldest son, led the procession. His name, like his father's, had originally been Lanart-Hastur, but when he assumed control of the Alton Domain, he had taken that name as well. Mikhail and Marguerida followed him, along with Grandfather Lew, then Domenic himself and Rory, who had been released from his duties in the Guards to attend. Ylanna rode in a carriage further back, along with her aunt Ariel and Ariel's husband Piedro Alar. Miralys Elhalyn rode beside her husband, Dani Hastur, and his namesake, Danilo Syrtis-Ardais. Kennard-Dyan Ardais had not
    returned to Thendara for the