"Nay, princess, I can think of none who..." he started, then realized what she had asked of him. He paused for a moment. "What do ye imply, princess," he asked, cautiously.

"Unfortunately, I have naught of proof against ye, priest, but in me heart, I know that ye had something to do with Valyrae's death." She stated it evenly, without emotion, but a chill went up Theobold's spine.

"Ye would accuse me of murder, princess?" he asked, quietly, trying to keep his teeth from chattering. She stared at him in silence for several moments.

"I accuse ye of naught at this time," she finally told him, "save stupidity and greed. Regardless, I can no longer have ye near me court."

Sidestepping the insults she flung at him, Theobold tried to save something of this, yet another disaster. "Princess, yer father, the king, appointed me advisor to the realm in his absence."

"Me father be not here!" she shouted, coming up out of the throne to tower over the now terrified priest. "I am here and 'I' am the one seated upon the throne of Stanyshaul. Therefore, 'me own' word is law and none other," she told him. She eased herself back down onto the throne and gave Theobold a look of pure hatred. "Ye have until midday on the morrow to be out of this castle, ye and every priest of yer faith."

"Princess, I must protest--" Theobold began, but was cut short.

"This be 'not' a debate, priest!" Irayan stormed, pointing her dagger at him. "If me warriors find ye or any of yer cohorts within the walls of this castle one moment past midday on the morrow, they have orders to kill ye on the spot. This be not a threat, it be a certainty! Do ye grasp me meaning, priest?"

He could no longer find his voice, so he merely nodded acknowledgement.

Calming, somewhat, she added, "Ye and yer followers have a fortnight from the morrow to completely vacate this realm. Ye are all hereby banished from Stanyshaul, forever."

"Banished!?" Theobold cried out in anguish. He could not believe his ears.

"Banishment is better than the death ye deserve," Irayan told him with bitterness in her voice. "A fortnight from the morrow, any priest of the One Faith who be found within the boundaries of Stanyshaul will be beheaded without question. Be 'that' understood?"