gin winding the linen into a roll as he saw that Dhugal was capable of sitting on his own。
Dhugal blinked and glanced down stupidly at his bare chest inside his shirt； touching tentative fingertips to the once…bruised ribs； then shivered as he looked up again； his face pinched and still。
〃Did you … heal me？〃 he whispered。
Morgan finished winding up the bandage and tossed it onto a chair behind him； not taking his eyes from Dhugal's。
〃I did。 Would you rather I'd left you in pain？〃
Confusion played on Dhugal's face for an instant； old fear warring with new curiosity； and then the boy warily lay back on his makeshift pillow； gaze shifting deliberately to the fireplace。
〃You used your magic on me； didn't you？ And on that monk。〃
〃Brother Jerome？〃 Morgan shrugged。 〃I don't know that I'd really call that magic。 It's one of the things I can do as a Deryni； but … 〃 He shrugged again and managed a tentative smile。
〃As for the healing； I don't think that's magic … but I suppose I'd be hard…pressed to tell you what I do think it is。 So far as Duncan and I can figure out； it's a rare talent even among Deryni。 Other than ourselves； we haven't found anyone else who can do it … except for a human named Warm de Grey。 And he thinks that his gift es from God。 Maybe it does。 Maybe that's the source of our healing as well。〃
〃And that's what makes you say it isn't magic？〃 Dhugal asked。 〃Because someone who isn't Deryni can do it； too？〃
Morgan cocked his head tentatively。 〃I don't know that I've ever given it much thought。 I consider most of what I do as a talent … that's all。 Magic is mostly … oh； something that Charissa did to kill King Brion； or what Wencit of Torenth did。 You've at least heard rumors about those； I'm sure。〃
〃But those were evil things；〃 Dhugal objected。 〃Are you saying that if powers are used for good； they're talents； but if they're used for evil； they're magic？〃
Morgan could not help chuckling at the simple logic。
〃I suppose I have e off sounding as if that's what I meant；〃 he admitted； shifting to a sitting position on the carpet to ease his cramped knees。 〃Actually； I suppose I was reacting to your negative view of magic … the negative view most people have； for that matter。 Magic simply has to do with harnessing power which is not accessible to most people。 The power itself … Let me try to put it to you another way。 Power exists。 Correct？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃I think you'll even grant me that many kinds of power exist … that power can e from many sources。 Yes？〃
Dhugal nodded。
〃Good。 Let's take fire as just one example of power； then；〃 Morgan went on； rubbing his hands together briskly and holding them toward the cold hearth as he glanced back at Dhugal。 〃Fire can be used for many beneficial purposes。 It can give us light； like those torches on the walls；〃 he gestured vaguely with his chin； 〃and it can warm a room。〃
A mental nudge sent flames springing up bright from the kindling already laid； and Dhugal scrambled to a sitting position to stare。
〃How did you do that？〃
〃I think it's sufficient for now to acknowledge that I did it；〃 Morgan replied； 〃and that providing light or heating a cold room are good things。 But fire can also be destructive when out of control or when turned to evil use。 It can bum down a house … or heat hot irons to take a man's sight。〃
His expression hardened as the memory surfaced of a Deryni lord who； half a century before； had allowed himself to be blinded to ransom captive Deryni children： Barrett de Laney； one of the most venerable members of the Camberian Council … the same Camberian Council that scorned Morgan and Duncan for being only half Deryni； even though the two 〃half…breeds〃 could heal。
As Morgan's old bitterness welled to the surface； Dhugal suddenly became very still and stared at him； the rigid shields blurring just a little for the first time since Morgan had bee aware of them。 Clear as sunlight； passion surged across the intervening space： pure； clean； untainted by fear or mistrust。
〃Did you see someone blinded that way？〃 Dhugal asked softly。
As Morgan glanced at him in surprise； the shields tightened down immediately； but Morgan thought he saw a new note of acceptance in the tawny eyes which continued to meet his bravely … perhaps an echo of Dhugal's own interest in healing； if only from the limited sphere of his training as a battle surgeon。 Suddenly Morgan wondered whether Dhugal was Deryni； and perhaps a potential healer； at that。
〃No； I never saw it done；〃 he said hesitantly； 〃and thank God for that … but it's been a mon enough practice through the centuries。 I have a … an acquaintance who lost his sight that way。〃 He blinked。 〃But this is not the time to digress。 I've pointed out some of the things that fire does。 Does that make the fire good or evil？〃
〃It isn't either；〃 Dhugal replied carefully。 〃It's how the fire's used。 The same hot iron that cost your friend his sight also could have been used to cauterize a wound。〃
Morgan nodded； pleased。 〃So it could。 And what does that tell you about power in general？〃
〃That it isn't the power … it's how the power's used that makes it constructive or destructive。〃 Dhugal paused for just an instant。 〃Are you saying that magic is the same？〃
〃Precisely the same。〃
〃But the priests say … 〃
〃The priests say what they have been told to say for the last two hundred years；〃 Morgan returned briskly。 〃Deryni have not always been persecuted； and not all 'magic' has been anathema until fairly recently。 Black magic … extraordinary power applied to destructive or selfish ends … has always been condemned by the righteous。 But those who could harness extraordinary power for the aid of man … for healing and for defending against the abuse of power … traditionally have been called miracle workers and saints。 They were also once called Deryni。〃
〃But there were evil Deryni！〃 Dhugal objected。 〃And there still are。 What about Charissa and Wencit？〃
〃They were Deryni who used their gifts for evil。 The gifts themselves。。。〃 Morgan sighed。 〃Do you think I'm an evil person？〃
Dhugal's face went very still。 〃No。 But they say … 〃
〃They say what； Dhugal？ Morgan whispered。 〃And who are they？ And do they ever give an accounting of what I've done； or is it all because of what I am？〃
〃I。。。 never thought about it that way before。〃
〃No； I don't suppose you did。〃 Morgan glanced at the Haldane signet on his right hand； balanced by the Corwyn Siphon on his left。 〃I'll make you a bargain； Dhugal。 I can't speak for Duncan or Kelson； but if you can name one specific instance in which you think that I've misused my powers； I'll submit to whatever justice you think is appropriate。 Should I not have helped Kelson defeat the woman who killed his father and would have killed him to seize his throne？ Should I have let the former archbishops continue the lie and bring down Gwynedd by undermining her rightful king？ Should I not have healed you？〃
Dhugal shook his head； unwilling to meet Morgan's eyes。
〃Dhugal； I may have access to more and other kinds of power than most men；〃 Morgan continued softly； 〃but I must answer for the use of that power to the same God and king that you do … or that any of the priests and bishops do … and to my own conscience as well； which can be a far sterner taskmaster。 Because I've been given far greater abilities； I've had to contend with far greater responsibilities。 I didn't ask for either … but I have them。 All I can do is serve the best way I know how。 〃Kelson's father taught me honor and chivalry； and I've tried never to betray the trust he put in me。 I hope I've not been too unsuccessful … despite the fact that I'm Deryni。〃
But he was to be given no chance to hear Dhugal's judgment； for at that moment a fumbling at the door latch announced visitors。 As Morgan came to his feet； already aware of their identities； the door opened and Duncan peered around the edge and entered； standing aside to admit Kelson and Bishop Arilan。 Dhugal got to his feet more slowly as Kelson came to give him a hand up and search his face questioningly。 Arilan came straight to Morgan； his lean face set in tight…checked disapproval。
〃Why wasn't I told you'd found another Deryni？〃 he said through his teeth； drawing Mo