disapproval。
〃Why wasn't I told you'd found another Deryni？〃 he said through his teeth； drawing Morgan aside。 〃And what the devil was he trying to do out there？〃
Morgan sighed and picked up his cloak； far more concerned for Dhugal； deep in whispered conversation with Kelson and Duncan； than with an opinion of Arilan。
〃First of all。 Bishop； we don't know that he's necessarily Deryni … only that he has shields that we can't breach and he can't control；〃 Morgan murmured； slinging his cloak around his shoulders and fastening the clasp。 〃As for what he was trying to do； I can only guess that he was trying to shut out the psychic overflow from Duncan's consecration。 Surely you're aware that such a ritual generates a great deal of energy； especially if the central participant is Deryni。〃
〃Don't be impertinent；〃 Arilan muttered。 〃And what do you mean； you don't know that he's Deryni？〃
〃Just that； Bishop。 There's nothing in his family to account for any of this … unless you can count that rather undefinable talent the border folk refer to as the Second Sight。 Dhugal does have shields； though； and he doesn't have the first clue what to do with them。 As Duncan's consecration gathered momentum； it must have seemed like an enormous pressure beating against those shields he only recently learned he had； and which he doesn't know how to lower。〃
〃You say 'recently；' How recently？〃
Morgan tried to curb his impatience。 〃Three weeks ago； while we were in Culdi for the convocation。 It happened the night you asked me to try to contact Kelson and let him know about the attack on Duncan。 Kelson put him in the link to augment his power； but Dhugal felt something that frightened him enough to kick both of them right out of the link。 Then he nearly went into convulsions when Kelson tried to read him。〃
〃Has anyone tried since； or anyone besides Kelson？〃 Arilan asked； a little subdued after listening to Morgan's account。
〃I tried；〃 Duncan said as he joined them。 〃He didn't seem to mind my probe as much as Kelson's； but nor was I any more successful at getting through。 It was like going up against an obsidian wall。 The harder I pushed； the stronger it got。 And when Kelson joined in； thinking he might be of help； Dhugal had another violent reaction。〃
〃I see。〃 Arilan sighed resignedly。 〃And you； Alaric？〃
〃I wasn't able to bring him through the Portal without roughing him up physically；〃 Morgan replied。 〃My touch seems to fall somewhere between Kelson's and Duncan's on a fort scale。 I was able to get around his shields enough to heal his injuries； but only while he was unconscious。 I wouldn't have wanted to try it otherwise。〃
Arilan glanced at Dhugal； letting Kelson help him to a seat at the table set back from the fireplace； then shepherded Morgan and Duncan with him as he moved purposefully to join them。 Dhugal started to rise； courteous even in his confusion and apprehension； but Arilan stayed him with a gesture and pulled out a chair for Kelson to sit； only then taking a seat himself。 At Duncan's sign； Morgan took the remaining chair to Dhugal's right； across from the king。
〃With your permission。 Sire；〃 Arilan said； nodding to Kelson； 〃I should like to get right to the heart of this matter。 Dhugal；〃 he conjured handfire in a softly glowing blue…white sphere which he set in the center of the table； 〃I think this should answer any question about what I am and why I presume to take charge in this matter。 Will you trust me？〃
Dhugal had jerked back as the fire materialized； new apprehension flaring around the still pulsing shields； but a glance at Kelson lent him sufficient courage to push his anxiety to a lower level。 Morgan was amazed。 As Dhugal drew a deep； steadying breath； he folded his shaking hands in deliberate mimicry of Kelson's； setting them but a hand…span from the handfire glowing in the center of the table； and made himself look squarely into the eyes of the Deryni bishop。
〃I'd be lying if I said I'm not afraid。 Excellency； but my … friend Duke Alaric has taught me a great deal in the last little while。 And Kelson told me of you before。 I'll try to do as you ask。〃
Arilan's mouth quirked upward in grudging response…even he could not deny the boy had pluck … but Morgan caught his disapproval of Kelson's indiscretion quite clearly。 He was glad it was directed at the king instead of himself。
〃Very well。 We shall see just how much you have learned；〃 Arilan said。 〃I assume I shan't have to go into long； involved explanations of what I should like to do。〃
〃N…no； sir。〃
With a sigh and a glance at the rest of them which bespoke impatience only barely held in check； Arilan flexed his fingers and lifted one hand toward Dhugal's forehead。 The startled Dhugal started to draw back in reflex avoidance； but then he took another deep breath and leaned closer so that Arilan could touch him。 He flinched at the contact； but he did not draw away even when Arilan began to probe； though the process obviously caused him some disfort。 After a moment； Arilan dropped his hand and sat back； sighing again。
〃Well； there's no question of the shields。 Given time and the right support； I could probably breach them； but it might do permanent damage。 I see no need to risk that。 Duncan； you said he didn't seem to mind your touch as much。 Are you willing to give it another try？〃
Duncan； standing between Arilan and Morgan； looked at Dhugal in question。 〃That depends。 Are you willing； Dhugal？ I'll stop whenever you want； if it gets too bad。〃
Licking his lips nervously； Dhugal swallowed and gave a nod。 Without further ado； Duncan came around to stand behind his chair； resting his hands lightly on Dhugal's shoulders。
〃Has Kelson taught you how to relax by using deep breathing？〃 he asked； easing Dhugal's shoulders back against his chest and sliding his thumbs up to rest on the pulse points in his throat。
〃A little。〃
〃Good。 That will make things much easier for both of us。 Take a deep breath； then； and let it out； and try to concentrate on your heartbeat。 You should be able to feel it against my thumbs。 Do you？〃
〃Aye。〃
〃Excellent。 Take another breath； then … that's good … and now close your eyes and let all your muscles go limp。 And another deep breath。 Good。。。〃
Morgan dared not follow Duncan's probe for fear of spilling over into the precarious balance he was building； but he could see physical signs of Dhugal ceasing his resistance。 The boy did not tense or even seem to notice as Duncan shifted his fingertips up to overlap temples and forehead。 He relaxed even more as Duncan bowed his head to rest his lips against the reddish hair。 They stayed that way for most of a minute； still and balanced； until finally Duncan slowly raised his head and opened his eyes； ing back to normal consciousness with a blink。 Dhugal； too； looked up and blinked as Duncan slipped his hands back to Dhugal's shoulders。
〃Well？〃 Arilan asked。
Duncan shook his head。 〃No clash…and no pain； I don't think； was there Dhugal？〃
Dhugal shook his head； twisting around to stare up at Duncan in awe。 〃What did you do？〃
〃Well； I didn't get through；〃 Duncan replied。 〃I just went round and round。 Any suggestions； anyone？〃
With a perplexed sigh； Arilan sat back and folded his arms across his chest。 〃Fascinating。 He's either one of us or another damned Warin de Grey。 I don't suppose one of you has a shiral at hand？〃
As Duncan nodded and went across the room to rummage in a desk drawer； Dhugal whispered； 〃What…what's a shiral？
〃It won't hurt you；〃 Kelson said quickly。 〃It's a clear amber stone。 One finds them in streambeds…and sometimes along the seashore。〃
〃Well； wh…what does it do？〃
Morgan smiled。 〃It's sensitive to the kind of power that Deryni can draw upon。 That's all。 Remember how we talked earlier about power not being good or evil of itself； but only the use being good or evil？〃
Dhugal's nod was still very apprehensive。
〃Well； all a shiral crystal does is serve as a focus；〃 Morgan continued。 〃If you have the ability； or even the potential ability； to wield the kind of power we do； the crystal will gtow。〃
〃But；。 I'm not D…〃
〃Dhugal； you don't know what you are right now；〃 Kelson muttered under his breath。 〃All we know for sure is that you've got those