Alaric Morgan

Alaric Morgan (right) and Duncan McLain (left) on the cover of the revised edition of Deryni Checkmate (2005).

Alaric Morgan is a fictional character in the Deryni series of historical fantasy novels by Katherine Kurtz.

Character introduction

Alaric Anthony Morgan is the seventh Duke of Corwyn and Lord General of the Royal Armies of Gwynedd. He is a close advisor and friend of both King Brion Haldane and King Kelson Haldane. In addition, he is the maternal cousin of Monsignor Duncan McLain.

Explanation of the character's name

Although the name Alaric has no established significance in the series of novels, the name Anthony honors ancestors on both sides of the character's family. On his father's side, Sean Morgan's great-great-grandfather was named Anthony Morgan, and the name was carried by Anthony's son (Richard Anthony Morgan) and grandson (Kai III Anthony Morgan). In addition, Anthony was also the middle name of his maternal great-great-grandfather, Stiofan Anthony de Corwyn, the sixth Duke of Corwyn.

Character sketch

Motivation

Morgan's primary motivation is his dedication and loyalty to the House of Haldane, specifically Brion and Kelson. While almost every other part of the character's personality is secondary to his determination to protect and defend the Haldane line, he is also driven by his love for the various members of his family.

Goals

The character's recurring goal is the security of the Haldane line, which includes both the physical safety of the king and safeguarding the legacy of Haldane magic that is entrusted to him as a young boy. He also seeks to return Saint Camber to a place of honor in Gwynedd, and to see an end to the political and religious restrictions placed on Deryni.

Conflicts

Morgan has a variety of conflicts throughout the series, some of which are resolved relatively quickly and some of which stretch across several novels or throughout the series. The Festillic Pretender Charissa Furstána-Festila (Deryni Rising), Warin de Grey (Deryni Checkmate), King Wencit Furstán (High Deryni), and Prince Ithel of Meara (The King's Justice) are all antagonists who plague Morgan for relatively short durations, usually one or two novels. Three of the four seek to kill Morgan because of his loyalty to Gwynedd, while it is Warin's anti-Deryni feelings that set him against Morgan. In fact, it is Morgan's Deryni heritage that creates his longest-lasting conflicts. Brion's wife, Queen Jehana, clashes with Morgan for years over his magic, as does the Holy Church of Gwynedd, as represented by Archbishop Edmund Loris. On the other hand, the fact that he is only half-Deryni leads to an ongoing conflict with the Camberian Council, who view him with pity and contempt.

Biographical summary

Actions in In the King's Service

Morgan only appears at the conclusion of the novel, being born on September 29, 1091. He inherits the titles of Duke of Corwyn and Earl of Lendour from his mother at birth, but he cannot be confirmed in either title until he attains his legal majority. Despite speculation by some members of the Camberian Council regarding Morgan's parentage, Lord Seisyll Arilan covertly confirms that King Donal Blaine Haldane is not Morgan's father. Nonetheless, Morgan's parents have already pledged their infant son to the service of the King of Gwynedd.

Actions in Childe Morgan

Morgan is a two-year-old boy at the beginning of the novel, though he is acknowledged by King Donal Blaine as the rightful heir to the Duchy of Corwyn. Over the next year and a half, Morgan travels with his parents as they traverse Gwynedd, including visits to Corwyn, Lendour, Rhemuth, and Culdi. Shortly after Morgan's fourth birthday, he and his cousin Duncan McLain undergo a Deryni ritual in which their mothers bestow a secret magical name upon them. Although Duncan's ritual proceeds normally, Morgan's is interrupted by the arrival of King Donal Blaine. Donal takes an active role in the ritual, not only choosing the name Airleas for Morgan, but also using his own Haldane powers to set his will in the young boy's mind. Several months later, Donal makes another unexpected visit, during which time he provides both Alyce and her son with the ability to activate the Haldane potential of Donal's son and heir, Prince Brion. However, both Donal and Alyce die within the next two months, leaving young Morgan as the only person capable of fully activating Brion's magical legacy. Following Brion's coronation in March 1096, Kenneth once again dedicates his son to the protection of the Haldane line.

Actions in Deryni Rising

In November 1120, the twenty-nine-year-old Morgan is Duke of Corwyn and Earl of Lendour in his own right, as well as serving as Lord General of the Royal Armies. However, despite his close friendship with King Brion Haldane, many members of both the Church and royal court, including Queen Jehana, fear and distrust Morgan because of his Deryni heritage. Morgan first appears in the novel as he is returning to Rhemuth with his aide Sean Lord Derry, having been summoned by Prince Kelson following Brion's untimely murder. Morgan suspects that the Festillic Pretender Charissa Furstána-Festila is responsible for Brion's death, and he knows he must activate Kelson's Haldane potential if the young prince is to stand against the Deryni sorceress. Shortly after his return, Morgan is arrested when Jehana brings charges of heresy and treason against him, but Kelson manages to outwit his mother and free Morgan. During the course of the night, Morgan and his cousin Duncan McLain work to piece together the clues left by Brion, a quest which forces them to open Brion's tomb and leads to a tense confrontation between Morgan and Charissa in the castle library. The night's events culminate in an unsuccessful assassination attempt, after which Morgan cures Derry's wounds by re-discovering the lost Deryni talent of Healing.

The following morning, Morgan is appointed King's Champion by Kelson. During Kelson's coronation ceremony, Charissa arrives and challenges the young king to a duel. Morgan accepts the challenge and easily defeats Charissa's champion, but he is sorely wounded in the conflict. Despite the injury, he and Duncan succeed in saving Jehana from the full force of Charissa's magic when the queen reveals herself as a Deryni. While Kelson eventually decodes the last of Brion's clues and engages Charissa in magical combat, Morgan and Duncan succeed in healing Morgan's wound. After Charissa is defeated, Kelson's coronation is completed, and Morgan swears fealty to the new King of Gwynedd.

Actions in Deryni Checkmate

Morgan begins the novel in his capital city of Coroth, where he is tending to his ducal duties. Duncan soon arrives and informs him that Archbishop Edmund Loris is threatening to excommunicate Morgan unless he recants his Deryni abilities. If the Morgan refuses, his entire duchy faces the threat of interdict. The cousins spend the next several days in Coroth as they mull their options, but an assassination attempt on Morgan finally forces him to take action. They decide to plead their innocence directly to the Curia of Bishops in the city of Dhassa, and they depart Coroth the next day. However, en route to Dhassa, Morgan is drugged and taken prisoner by Warin de Grey, an anti-Deryni zealot who has been trying to raise a rebellion in Corwyn. Warin plans to burn Morgan at the stake, and, although Duncan manages to rescue his cousin, their escape results in the revelation of Duncan's Deryni heritage and the destruction of a religious shrine. Realizing that they can expect no mercy from the Curia, the cousins travel to Culdi for the marriage of Morgan's sister and Duncan's half-brother. However, when they arrive in Culdi, Kelson informs them that their siblings have died in a tragic accident. Morgan is left despondent after this latest turn of events, but Kelson eventually succeeds in pulling the Deryni duke out of his depression.

Actions in High Deryni

As Kelson gathers the Gwyneddan army in anticipation of the expected invasion of King Wencit of Torenth, Morgan and Duncan once again make a journey to Dhassa. Although the cousins have been excommunicated, the Curia of Bishops has split over the proposed Interdict of Corwyn. They surrender themselves to Bishops Thomas Cardiel and Denis Arilan, and they succeed in securing the rebel bishops' support for Kelson. However, Morgan's unsuccessful attempt to contact Derry results in the surprising revelation that Arilan is also Deryni. Shortly thereafter, the army marches to Coroth, where Archbishop Loris and Warin de Grey have captured Morgan's capital. Morgan, Duncan, Kelson, and Cardiel infiltrate the castle, where Duncan allows Warin to wound him to demonstrate Morgan's Healing ability. After seeing Morgan heal Duncan, Warin joins with the royal forces, and Loris and his supporters are arrested. The army then moves to meet the Torenthi invasion, and Wencit challenges Kelson to a Duel Arcane to determine the outcome of the war. After Arilan takes Morgan, Duncan, and Kelson to meet the Camberian Council, which agrees to mediate the upcoming battle, Morgan spends the rest of the night struggling with Derry's unwitting betrayal and his own growing feelings for the wife of the treasonous Earl of Marley. The following morning, Morgan, Duncan, Kelson, and Arilan prepare to do battle with Wencit and his supporters. However, before the battle can begin, Wencit is struck down by the betrayal of one of his own men. Although Morgan offers to execute Wencit, Kelson takes that responsibility upon himself and kills the King of Torenth, winning the day for Gwynedd.

Actions in The Bishop's Heir

In November 1123, Morgan, Duncan, and Kelson are in Culdi for the election of the new Bishop of Meara. After Kelson's departure, Morgan is left dealing with not only the political and ecclesiastical ramifications of the election, but he must also heal Duncan after a young boy attempts to murder the Deryni priest. Morgan recalls Kelson to Culdi once the election is made, and the royal party eventually returns to Rhemuth. Shortly thereafter, Kelson learns that Archbishop Loris has escaped his imprisonment and taken Earl Dhugal MacArdry of Transha prisoner. Morgan accompanies the king's lightning raid on Mearan city of Ratharkin, and they succeed in rescuing Dhugal and capturing two of the Mearan Pretender's children. As the political situation with Meara continues to worsen, Kelson eventually proposes marriage to the Pretender's daughter, Princess Sidana. On the morning of the wedding, Morgan uses his powers to confirm that Dhugal is actually Duncan's son, and later attempts to calm Kelson's pre-wedding jitters. The Deryni duke stands at Kelson's side during the wedding, but the ceremony is interrupted when Sidana's brother slashes her throat to prevent the marriage. Morgan and Duncan desperately try to save her, but Sidana soon dies in Kelson's arms.

Actions in The King's Justice

In preparation for an upcoming military campaign to put down a rebellion in Meara, Kelson plans to activate the Haldane potential of his uncle and heir, Prince Nigel Haldane. Although distracted by the return of his mother and Morgan's nemesis, Queen Jehana, Kelson performs the ritual with assistance of Duncan, Arilan, Morgan, and Morgan's wife Richenda. Several days later, Kelson and Morgan depart Rhemuth at the head of the royal army and invade Meara from the south. Over the next several weeks, they attempt to track down the forces of the Pretender's eldest son, Prince Ithel, and Morgan helps Kelson deal with some of the harsh realities of war. Even after Ithel is eventually captured and executed, Morgan uses his greater maturity and experience to attempt to temper Kelson's righteous anger. That night, they are contacted by Dhugal, who informs them that the northern Gwyneddan army has been defeated and Duncan captured. After a forced march through the night, Kelson's army attacks the main Mearan force. As the battle rages, Morgan and Kelson both use their powers to save Duncan from a barrage of arrows, protecting the tortured bishop long enough for Dhugal to rescue him. The Mearan army is defeated, and Morgan and Dhugal immediately begin tending to Duncan's injuries, though Morgan must wait until the following morning to use his Healing powers on his cousin. Several days later, the Gwyneddan army arrives at the Mearan city of Laas, where the Mearan Pretender finally surrenders to Kelson, bringing the war to an end.

Actions in The Quest for Saint Camber

Morgan begins the novel in Rhemuth, where he briefly testifies at an ecclesiastical tribunal before taking part in a knighting ceremony several days later. Although Duncan surprises almost everyone by revealing his Deryni heritage at the ceremony, Morgan supports his cousin and stands by him during the turmoil that follows the revelation. Shortly thereafter, Kelson and Dhugal depart on a religious quest, and Morgan returns to Corwyn, where he deals his ducal and domestic issues. Duncan arrives two weeks later and informs Morgan that Kelson and Dhugal are presumed dead after a tragic accident. The cousins return to Rhemuth, where they discover that Prince Nigel has collapsed into a coma, leaving Nigel's eldest son, Prince Conall, as acting regent and heir to the throne. Arilan convinces them to activate Conall's Haldane potential, but they leave Rhemuth shortly thereafter and travel to the site of the accident, searching for any signs of Kelson or Dhugal. A week later, they discover the missing pair in a hidden community in the mountains. The king's party travels first to Valoret and then to Rhemuth, where Morgan, Duncan, and Dhugal succeed in restoring Nigel to health. Nigel immediately reveals his son's treason, and Kelson orders Conall's arrest. After Conall's trial and execution, Kelson, Duncan, and Dhugal travel to Coroth for the birth of Morgan and Richenda's first son, Kelric Alain Morgan.

Actions in King Kelson's Bride

In June 1128, Kelson is preparing to travel to Torenth, where King Liam Lajos II will take the crown in his own right and acknowledge Kelson as Overlord of Torenth. Kelson departs Rhemuth in the company of Morgan, Dhugal, and Arilan, and they travel first to Morgan's capital of Coroth. During the visit, they discuss the wisdom of taking Derry to Torenth, and Morgan and Richenda urge the king to stop pursuing Rothana and choose a new bride. The royal party then travels to the court of the Hort of Orsal, where Kelson and Liam survive an assassination attempt. That night, Morgan and Dhugal accompany Kelson to his meeting with Princess Araxie, and they later bear witness to Kelson and Araxie's secret betrothal. They eventually arrive in Torenth for Liam's ascension, and Morgan and Dhugal rarely leave Kelson's side. Although Morgan often offers his advice and counsel to the king, it is Kelson himself who must ultimately deal with the intrigues of the Torenthi court, especially the plans of Liam's three uncles, Mahael, Teymuraz, and Mátyás. During Liam's ceremony, Morgan can only watch as Kelson, Liam, and Mátyás defeat the treachery of Mahael and Teymuraz, emerging victorious from the ceremony. Although Mahael is killed, Teymuraz escapes, prompting the royal party to make a quick return to Rhemuth. Over the next several weeks, Morgan continues to advise Kelson on a variety of domestic matters, though his only direct personal action is those matters is his presence during the dedication of a new Saint Camber chapel. After a pair of royal weddings shortly thereafter, Teymuraz forces Derry to attack Mátyás, then flees through a Transfer Portal. Although sorely wounded by the assault, Morgan and Dhugal succeed in saving Mátyás' life. One week later, Morgan and Richenda attend Kelson and Araxie's wedding.

Actions in other Deryni works

Morgan appears in four of the short stories that were published in the book The Deryni Archives. In "Bethane", set in the year 1100, the nine-year-old Morgan is playing with his sister and cousins when an accident leads to a meeting with an old witch woman. In "Legacy", set in 1105, Charissa relates the tale of her father's defeat by King Brion, and the role played by Morgan in those events. (The same events are also described from a different point of view in the short story "Swords Against the Marluk".) "The Knighting of Derry", set in 1115, describes the first meeting between Morgan and the 18-year-old Sean Lord Derry, explaining how the young border lord became Morgan's friend and aide. In "Trial", set three years later, Morgan uses his Deryni powers to solve a crime and save an innocent man.

Family

Major themes

As a character, Morgan's primary role is as the protector of the House of Haldane. Even before he is born, his parents dedicate their son to the service and protection of the Haldane line, and that theme is the most recurring element of the character's personality. His fierce loyalty to the Haldane kings stems not just the common fealty of a noble to his liege lord, but also the personal affection he bears toward both Brion and Kelson. Just as Brion serves as an older brother, friend, and mentor to Morgan during his youth, Morgan fills those same roles for Kelson, protecting and guiding the young king into adulthood in the same way that Brion once did for him. Even after Kelson matures into a strong and confident king, he still relies on Morgan's advice more than anyone else's, rarely disagreeing with the Deryni duke's counsel.

A secondary theme is Morgan's own maturation process. During the Chronicles of the Deryni trilogy, he is somewhat brazen and cocky, deliberately cultivating a sinister aura and mysterious reputation that elicits feelings of fear and distrust from those who do not know him. Although he does not flaunt his powers, he never hides what he is, almost daring people to challenge him. However, as the series progresses into the Histories of King Kelson trilogy, a slightly older and wiser Morgan has begun to modify his methods slightly. He is no longer quite so quick to draw a sword, having become more experienced and facile in the methods of diplomacy. He is calmer and more patient, rarely letting his emotions get the better of him, and he has stopped intentionally developing an enigmatic reputation. In addition, Morgan gets married and starts a family of his own, which adds more facets to his growing maturity. Nevertheless, his dedication to the Haldane line remains strong and undiminished.

Sources

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