Issue8

1. Katherine Lazo asks: “Several years ago, you sent me a family tree explaining how it was possible for Cardiel and Richenda to be related. This tree also showed that Richenda has two brothers—or at least had them at one time. One was named Murdo, and the other showed as simply Wm. (William?) Is this still the case, or have you reconsidered their names, and indeed their existence?”

KK replies: “The brothers do, indeed, exist, and Wm. is, indeed, William. I expect that we may meet him and his elder brother Murdo, in passing, in the later Childe books. They are several years younger than Richenda, and would have been squired to some noble lord’s house in their youth, but it’s likely that, if Morgan met them before meeting Richenda, they either didn’t make much of an impression or she wasn’t present. In any case, we know that he had not met her before that encounter in the carriage. (You see how skillfully I have left myself wiggle-room? The truth is, I don’t yet know how or whether they’ll fit into Morgan’s earlier story.)”

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2. Lori Hayes says: “I love the Adept and Templar series, and after reading and re-reading them all over the years I've been trying to figure out the chronology of them all. I was wondering if Katherine would give me a brief chronological order (not publication date, but chronology of the events in the books) in which to read the books.

For example, I'd like to start with Adam Sinclair's past life, move to Gray and Philippa in the war (which books) and then finish with the Adept series? Is that accurate?”

Katherine replies: “There is, indeed, a nebulous thread that ties these books together. Chronologically, I’d say they line up as follows:

THE TEMPLE AND THE STONE THE TEMPLE AND THE CROWN LAMMAS NIGHT The 5 Adept books

“The next Adept book, when we get the go-ahead to write it, will pick up not only as Adept VI, but will also show action in flash-back that covers Philippa’s work with John Graham, thus falling between LAMMAS NIGHT and THE ADEPT.

“In addition, I believe that Richard of Kilsaren, who appears in SAINT PATRICK’S GARGOYLE, is also mentioned in THE TEMPLE AND THE CROWN.”

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3. Bruce Alan Wilson asks about the MacRories: “In KKB, there was a Torenthi noble with the surname Makro'ry. This is a sound-alike to MacRorie; are we to assume that he is descended from a branch of the family who fled eastward after Ramos?”

Katherine replies: “Excellently spotted, Bruce, but you didn’t go back far enough. The MacRorie line springs from Rhori Mor, younger son of a Prince of Kheldour, who was fostered to the Torenthi court in around 700, took a Torenthi bride, and stayed. His eldest son adopted the Torenthi spelling of the name, Makrory, and became the first Count Cullanan or Kulnan—and direct ancestor of Amaury, who appears in KKB.

“Two generations later, when Prince Festil of Torenth went into Gwynedd to overthrow the Haldanes, two of Rhori’s great-grandsons went with him—though the eldest, Siebert, remained behind and became the fourth Count Cullanan. Of the two who supported Prince Festil, the elder of the pair, Ballard, became the first Earl of Culdi, but died unmarried, after which his younger brother, Angus, became the second earl and changed the family name back to the original MacRorie spelling—and Angus was the great-grandfather of Camber.”

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4. Thomas Wofford writes: “I am an amateur choral musician (a tenor) and have just begun doing some of my own arranging of music. I was wondering if anyone has ever set the Adsum Domine to music. If not, are the complete words contained in the story "Healer's Song" from Deryni Archives (the book)? It would probably take me a VERY long time (as I have never composed my own music before), but I would love to try to set the Adsum Domine to music. Given how intricate the chords and harmonies are supposed to be (as evidenced by Camber's reaction to it when he hears it sung by a full choir), I would probably try do it in the style of a sacred rennaissance multi-part counterpoint (such as Jacob Clemens' "Ascendens Christus"), rather than a medieval plainsong. Any suggestions?”

To which Katherine replies: “I am not aware of anyone having done a musical setting for the Adsum Domine, but it would certainly get my attention. I wrote it in English, of course, and later made a poor attempt at translating it into Latin. A proper Latin scholar has since done a better translation, which I’ll append to this.

“As for musical style—renaissance multi-part counterpoint might well work. There would definitely be minor keys and harmonics in same. Or, I have become increasingly fond of orthodox chant-forms, especially as John Tavener has worked with them of late. In particular, I love his “Song for Athena,” which came to popular attention when it was used for the recessional at the funeral of Diana Princess of Wales, as they carried her coffin out of Westminister Abbey. This piece was definitely in my mind as I wrote the funeral scene for Marie de Corwyn, the younger sister of Alyce (the future mother of Alaric Morgan) in IN THE KING’S SERVICE. Of you aren’t familiar with this piece, and with the work of John Tavener in particular, you have a treat in store!”

Here follows the current Latin version of the Adsum Domine. An earlier version was based on a faulty manuscript tradition which has since been subjected to critical analysis and emendation. This variation reflects the language of the Latin Psalter and other elements of the Divine Office. With special thanks to Father Michael Cotone, O.S.C., the Crosier Community, Onamia, Minnesota.

ADSUM DOMINE (Revised)

Adsum, Domime:

     gratiam mihi concessisti ut corpora hominum sanem.

Adsum, Domine:

     visum mihi donasti ut animas hominum videam.

Adsum, Domine:

     potentiam mihi dedisti ut voluntates aliorum convertam.

Da, Domine, vires et sapientiam

     ut haec omnia dona tantum ad ministerium dirigam, 
     secundum voluntatem tuam.

Dominus lucis dixit: Ecce,

tu puer delectus meus es et hominibus donum meum.

Antequam lucifer splenduit,

antequam tu fuisti in ventre matris tuae,

iam consecrata est mihi anima tua ad omnia saecula.

Tu es hunc super mundum manus sanationis meae,

tu es vitae instrumentum meum et potentia sanationis meae.

Tibi spiritum potentem ad sanandum dono;

tibi omnia mirifica quae abscondunt silvae et luci et terrae dono;

tibi haec omnia dono, ut caritatem meam cognoscas.

His omnibus bene utere, ut dolores hominum et animantium levas:

ignis esto purgationis ad corruptionem purgandam,

solatium esto somnii ad dolorem leniendum.

Omnia secreta tibi commissa tene in pectore tuo

tam sacrosancta quam in confessione dicta:

noli petere aliquid perspicere ad patificiendum

nisi mens alia sua sponte offertur.

Manibus consecratis fractum fac sanum,

Anima consecrata pacem meam extende.

Adsum, Domine:

     me totumque ingenium meum pedibus tuis proicio.

Adsum, Domine:

     tu Creator solus rerum omnium,
     tu Omnipotens lucem et obscuritatem regnans,
     tu ipse vitae Donator et Donum vitae.

Adsum, Domine:

     totus voluntati tuae dedicatus.

Adsum, Domine:

     ministerio tuo consecratus,
     potentia sanandi aut sauciandi cinctus.

Dirige, Domone, servum tuum et ab omni malo illum protege, ut honor intactus et donum purum maneat.

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