But Cardiel's touch on his shoulder conveyed genuine passion and even understanding as he guided Morgan to one of the cushioned chairs beside the fireplace。 Morgan guessed that the archbishop was remembering his own part in the later aftermath of that ordeal； when Morgan and Duncan had e to him and Arilan in Dhassa and disclosed all in desperate confession； seeking to make peace with the Church which had declared them exmunicate for what they had done to escape。
Morgan sat and sipped silently at his wine for several minutes； staring blindly into the fire and feeling himself gradually unwind； then laid his head against the back of the chair and closed his eyes until Arilan returned。 The fatigue…banishing spell did not seem to have worked very well； even though he tried it several times。
〃I've been questioning some of the guards；〃 the Deryni bishop said； sitting beside Morgan after he had looked in on their patient。 〃Apparently the boy came from Ballymar； up on the north coast。 He was trained in Duke Jared's household and page to one of the local barons for a while； but was dismissed。 One of my informants seemed to think it had to do with Mearan sympathies。〃
〃Mearan sympathies？〃 Cardiel murmured。 〃How old is the lad？〃
〃Older than he looked；〃 Arilan replied； 〃and old enough to risk paying for his actions with his life。 What puzzles me is why he tried to kill Duncan。 It can't be over the Mearan bishopric。 Everyone knows that Duncan was not a candidate。〃
Duncan and Meara。 Suddenly Morgan sat up straighter； remembering the conversation he and Duncan had observed between Judhael and old Creoda。 They had assumed that Judhael was campaigning for his coveted bishopric。 What came to Morgan now was an oblique approach to Judhael getting what he wanted； but its further potential was yet more chilling。
〃No； it wasn't about the bishopric … at least not directly；〃 he said softly； reviewing the genealogical relationships in his mind just to make sure。 〃But Duncan is Duke of Cassan and Earl of Kierney。 That makes him almost a prince in his own right … and his lands have not always gone by their present names。〃
Arilan's deep blue…violet eyes lit in sudden prehension。 〃The other half of ancient Meara；〃 he said with a nod。 〃Now； wouldn't that be a power base； if one wanted to break away from one's overlord and establish an independent holding？ The two Mearas reunited！〃
〃And Duncan has no direct heir；〃 Cardiel added； catching the gist of what they were suggesting。 〃Who is his heir…at…law； Alaric？ You？ You're cousins； aren't you？〃
Morgan grimaced。 〃Not in the right degree for this； I fear … and I say that not out of any greed to amass more titles and land； but out of concern about who es ahead of me。 There are three； actually … though I'd only thought about the first two until today。 Neither Duncan's father or his grandfather had any brothers； but his grandfather had two sisters。 The younger； my paternal grandmother； produced one son： my father。 The elder sister also produced a son； however； and he married the Princess Annalind of Meara。〃
〃Queen Roisian's twin sister；〃 Cardiel whispered。 〃Then； Caitrin's eldest son is Duncan's heir！〃
Morgan nodded。 〃Ithel； and after him； his brother Llewell。 The girl isn't in the succession； though any eventual son others would be； if her brothers failed to produce heirs。〃 He paused to moisten his lips as the two bishops stared at him expectantly。
〃You're still wondering who the third heir is； then。 I'm surprised you haven't guessed。〃 He paused。 〃Caitrin also had a sister； and that sister had a son。 Who else could he be but your good Father Judhael of Meara？〃
As Cardiel's jaw dropped in disbelief； Arilan slapped an open palm against the arm of his chair and swore softly。
〃I'm not saying he had anything to do with the attack on Duncan； mind you；〃 Morgan went on。 〃I simply point out that if it had succeeded； Judhael and his kin certainly stood to gain。 All we really know about his politics at this point is that he wants very badly to be Bishop of Meara。 If one of his Mearan cousins were Duke of Cassan and Earl of Kierney； that might make the whole thing fall together。 The Bishop of Ballymar would have no choice but to support the candidate of his new duke's choice： Cousin Judhael。 And with Judhael in the bishopric； that's added leverage to put his aunt on the throne of Meara … a united Meara； once she's gone and her son succeeds her in the south。 It's ingenious； really。〃
〃Its diabolical； if you ask me；〃 Cardiel muttered； 〃not to mention treasonous。 Denis； there must be something we can do。 Perhaps we ought to call Judhael in and question him。〃
Arilan considered the suggestion； running his pectoral cross back and forth distractedly on its chain； then lowered his gaze。
〃On what grounds； Thomas？ We've been interviewing the man all week。 Other than the fact that he's ambitious； he almost shimmers； he's so pure。 What Duke Alaric has just outlined is a theory only … an incredibly brilliant one； if we were Mearan … but we have no proof it has occurred to Judhael。〃
〃Well； use your powers to find out； then！〃 Cardiel blurted。 〃What good are they； if you don't use them？〃
As Arilan sighed patiently； preparing to go into the argument he had used so often when trying to explain things Deryni to Cardiel； Morgan forced himself to put the temptation from his own mind。 He had wrestled with this particular ethical problem before； not always successfully。
〃Ultimately； it's a matter of ethics；〃 Arilan finally said； echoing Morgan's rationale。 〃I have used my powers all this week； Thomas … to gauge whether our candidates were lying about their qualifications。 That I could do without their knowledge； and without revealing myself as Deryni。〃 He smiled； 〃Besides； they suspected Duncan was Deryni； and that helped to keep them honest： wondering whether he could read their minds … which he couldn't； of course； under those conditions； but they didn't know that。〃
〃Then； let Duncan be present； if you feel you need a decoy；〃 Cardiel insisted。 〃Or Alaric； since Duncan is temporarily out of action。 Between the two of you； you should be able to get at the truth。〃
〃And if he really is just a godly man； with ecclesiastical ambition but no interest in politics？〃 Arilan asked。 〃Then we've made another enemy for Deryni。〃
'Then； make him forget； afterward； if he's innocent！〃
〃And that begins to enter really hazy areas of conscience；〃 Arilan replied。 〃Truth…Reading is one thing。 Using our powers to detect whether a man is lying can be justified； since it doesn't force action against a person's will。 To make someone tell the truth； however … well； I think that requires more than just a vague suspicion that he may be hiding something。 So does making him forget。 Sometimes such measures can be justified in a life and death situation； or where the subject is willing； but where does one draw the line？〃
〃Are you so unsure of that line； then？〃 Cardiel snapped。
〃Of course not。 At least I pray to God that I'll never be tempted to cross over and misuse my powers。 But it was abuse of power that gave us the atmosphere of the past two hundred years。 It's what the Camberian Council was created to prevent。〃
Morgan looked up sharply at that； for Arilan had scrupulously avoided discussion of the mysterious Camberian Council for the past two years。 His reaction apparently reminded Arilan that he was beginning to speak of things best left unsaid to humans； even one as close as Cardiel。 The Deryni bishop paused to regroup； shaking his head as he laid a hand on Cardiel's arm。
〃Listen to me； Thomas。 I'm flattered at your confidence in me； but you mustn't think all Deryni are like me； or Alaric； or Duncan； or you may get hurt one day。 We've tried to be very careful not to do anything which might frighten you unduly； but you have to admit that we've made you more than a little nervous on more than one occasion … and you know and trust us。 Think about the ones who don't have a strict moral code like the one we follow。 How many feet in the door does it take to produce a Charissa or a Wencit of Torenth？ Or an Interregnum？ Alaric knows what I'm talking about； don't you； Alaric？〃
Grudgingly； Morgan had to agree； though sometimes Arilan's