which should have been his when approaching episcopal consecration。 He kept his eyes averted as he backed against the curtain to make the opening larger； flinching when Morgan brushed past him to enter。
〃What's wrong？〃 Morgan whispered； stunned。
Duncan shook his head； his voice almost inaudible as he answered。
〃I'm sorry to bother you； Alaric。 I'm … afraid I've taken on more than I realized。 I thought I could deal with it myself； but I was wrong。 I … can't even pray。〃
〃What in the world are you talking about？〃 Morgan said。 He set his hands on Duncan's shoulders and tried to get him to raise his eyes。 〃Look at me！ Isn't this what you want？ You're going to be a bishop … the first known Deryni bishop in … what？ … two hundred years？ What's the matter with you？〃
Duncan kept his head bowed and turned half away。 〃I don't think I can pay the price； Alaric；〃 he whispered。 〃It's because I am Deryni that makes it so difficult； don't you see？ When they put that ring on my finger； how can I ever hope to measure up to him？〃
Only as he gestured blindly toward the altar behind him did Morgan see the small wooden box resting at the foot of the standing crucifix。 Suddenly Morgan thought he knew what was terrifying Duncan。
〃Good God； don't tell me you've still got Istelyn's finger！〃 he muttered； crossing the few short steps to snatch it up before Duncan could stop him。 〃What kind of morbid nonsense is this？ He'd beat you about the head and shoulders if he knew you were behaving this way。〃
〃If he's still alive。〃 Duncan crossed his arms on his chest and studied one slipper…shod toe morosely。 〃Maybe I shouldn't bee a bishop； Alaric。 Every time a messenger arrives at court now； I wonder what Loris will send us next。 A hand？ An eye？ Or maybe a head； next time。〃
〃And not accepting consecration will keep him alive？〃 Morgan countered。 〃You know it won't。 As for messengers； I'm afraid I'd wele delivery of a head。〃
〃What？〃
〃At least it would mean he was beyond Loris' ability to hurt him anymore。 You don't really think Loris means to let him live； do you？ Not after he's gone this far。〃
Duncan bit at his lip and sighed heavily。 〃You're right。 I know you're right。 I suppose that's why I asked for Istelyn's ring in the first place。 I knew he'd never wear it again。 But it was different three days ago。 Now； taking the ring from a martyr's hand seems … well … presumptuous； to say the least。〃
〃Not presumptuous。 An act of homage to a brave man who would not succumb to the enemy。〃
When Duncan did not respond； Morgan opened the box and extracted the ring； carefully avoiding contact with Istelyn's shriveled finger。 The gold seemed to tingle as he closed it in his palm。 That confirmed what he had guessed Duncan feared … and that the fear would have to be faced before Duncan left for the cathedral。 Tight…lipped； Morgan closed the box and replaced it gingerly on the altar。
〃I know what's bothering you as much as anything。〃 he said after a slight pause。
〃No； you don't。〃
〃Duncan； I can't not know … and neither can you。 We're Deryni。 Just holding this is enough for me to sense that it isn't just any ring。〃
〃Of course not。 It's a bishop's ring。〃
〃And it's Istelyn's ring； taking from him in a most brutal fashion；〃 Morgan countered。 〃Some of that is bound to be clinging to it。 And you're going to have to face what's on it … if not now； then later today； in front of all those people in the cathedral； when you'll be far more vulnerable than you are now。〃
〃I'll keep my shields up；〃 Duncan whispered。
〃Is that really the way you want to experience your consecration as a bishop？〃 Morgan asked quietly。 〃You remember your ordination to the priesthood … God knows； I'll never forget it。 Do you really want to shut yourself away from that kind of magic； Duncan？〃
He watched the tonsured head jerk up； the white…clad shoulders stiffen； though Duncan did not turn around。
〃That's what you'd have to do； you know；〃 Morgan went on。 〃And I don't think that's really what you want。 Give me your hand and let's be done with it。〃
Slowly； stiffly； Duncan turned； his face nearly as white as his vestments； emotions pletely shuttered save through the light blue eyes； where fear and reason warred for precedence。 When reason won out at last； Duncan let out a long…held breath with an audible sigh。 All at once； the eyes which met Morgan's were the mirrors of the soul which Duncan bared now to the man closer than any other living being。
〃You're right；〃 he whispered。 〃If I don't face it； I'm no bishop and no true Deryni。 Stay with me； though。〃
〃I shouldn't think you'd even need to ask；〃 Morgan answered softly； smiling。
Taking Duncan's slack right hand in his； he held Istelyn's ring poised at the tip of the ring finger； bracing for both of them as Duncan； without further hesitation； thrust his finger into the band of gold。 A little shudder went through Duncan's body as the cold metal slid across the skin； but he only shook his head and closed his eyes at Morgan's sound of question； bringing his clenched fist to his lips to touch the cold amethyst in oath confirmed。 As he shuddered again； Morgan slid his hands up Duncan's arms to rest on his shoulders again and pushed himself quickly into trance； reaching out for rapport。 He joined Duncan just as memory began to course； pulsing from the metal and amethyst on Duncan's hand。
Fire and ice； golden and violet … intimations of the forge which had shaped the ring and the setting of the stone which marked its sacred purpose。 It had been crafted especially for Istelyn and worn by no other until this instant。 Recollection stirred of its sacring by water and incense at Istelyn's consecration … words of blessing pronounced above it as it lay on a silver salver： holy ritual binding it to the service of a servant of the servants； binding the servant himself to the service of a higher Lord。
Nor had the servant disgraced the ring； through all the years it had graced his hand。 The lips of the great and the lowly had brushed it in salute； most with honest respect； some perfunctorily； a few with duplicity in their hearts … but the man and his function remained true to the higher Lord。 Only at the end was other than respect shown to the servant of the servant。
Honest human fear； resignation … and then the echo of sharp； burning pain as a bright blade flashed； severing the ring from its owner。 Even though Morgan was prepared for it； he gasped at the shock； holding Duncan tightly in support as the new wearer of the ring shivered in more direct recollection of the deed； even crying out a little at the transmitted pain。
But then； with a shudder； Duncan was sinking even deeper into trance as the ring continued to beckon； Morgan following hesitantly to brush even earlier images of the gold itself； before the ring was forged。 It had been something besides a ring in the beginning； when first it took form from virgin nuggets purified in the flames … an impression of unearthly radiance and a warmth which was not physical。 Consecrated hands had lifted it toward an even greater Glory … two pairs； the one merely priestly； the other something more。 A flash of an old； familiar presence intervened for just an instant … and then nothing。
Roughly Morgan yanked himself back to normal consciousness as the contact ended； staggering as Duncan became a dead weight in his arms for just an instant。 But before he could react； Duncan stirred and got his feet under him； allaying his concern with a weak grin and a wave of the hand with the ring。
〃What in the world … ？〃 Morgan began。
Duncan shook his head and smiled more sedately； propping himself against the edge of the altar while he slipped the ring from his hand to lay it reverently beside the box。
〃Not entirely this world；〃 he managed to whisper； glancing back at Morgan。 〃I assume you caught the part about it being made for Istelyn？〃
Morgan nodded。 〃And about him losing it。〃
〃I think that's the least important part of what we saw。〃 Duncan gave the ring another long； respectful look。 〃How about before it was a ring？〃
〃Something else was melted down to make it；〃 Morgan ventured。 〃Do you know what it was？〃
Duncan nodded wistfully。 〃A piece of altar plate； I think。 Maybe a chalice or a pate