〃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 bloody shields！〃
Duncan returned to the table； undoing the strings of a small leather bag； and withdrew a wad of age…yellowed silk As he carefully unwrapped it and Dhugal craned his neck to see what was inside； loops of a fine leather thong sprang free； strung through the center of a honey…colored lump the size of an almond。
〃I've had this since I was younger than Dhugal；〃 Duncan said； holding it to the light by its thongs as he tossed bag and silk on the table。 〃It isn't the clearest of crystals； but it's always been sufficient for my purposes。〃
As Dhugal stared； half afraid and half intrigued； Arilan caught the dangling stone against his sleeve and peered at it more closely； quenching his handfire with a gesture； then released it and sat back； giving Duncan a nod。
〃I'd hoped for better； but it will do。 Go ahead and test him。 You know what's involved。〃
〃But I don't know what's involved；〃 Dhugal protested； as Duncan moved back behind his chair and extended the crystal over his shoulder。
〃I assure you； there's even less chance of disfort from this than there was from what we just did；〃 Duncan murmured。 〃Just hold the stone in your hand…either hand。 Physically； it won't feel different from any other stone。〃
Hesitantly； Dhugal reached up； flinching when the stone first touched his skin。 But then he closed it resolutely in his palm and dared another questioning glance at Duncan。
〃What next？〃
〃Close your eyes and try to ignore what's in your hand；〃 Duncan said with a smile； slipping his hands to Dhugal's shoulders and bearing him back in the chair again。 〃I'm not going to do anything different from what I did before； so there isn't a thing to be anxious about。 Take a deep breath and let it out slowly。 This won't take long。〃
With a nervous nod； Dhugal obeyed； gradually calming again as Duncan droned on； soothing and reassuring。 When Arilan at length reached across the table to touch the boy's closed fist lightly； the hand relaxed enough for all present to see golden light streaming from the crystal clutched inside。 Arilan pursed his lips as he glanced at Morgan and Kelson； then nodded for Duncan to bring the test to an ^d。 The light in Dhugal's hand flickered and died； but not before Dhugal's eyes fluttered open and he caught just a glimpse。
〃It was glowing！ I saw it！〃
As his hand jerked open in reflex； Duncan leaned down to snatch the crystal before it could be spilled onto the table。 Kelson nodded； a grin creasing his face。
〃We saw it； too。 You're not going mad。 Guess what it means。〃
〃It means that he's probably another rogue Deryni like the rest of you；〃 Arilan muttered； pushing back his chair with a jarring scrape of wood on stone floor before Dhugal could reply。 〃And where does his power e from？〃
As he stood and turned to face the fire。 Kelson laid a protective hand on the awed Dhugal's shoulder。
〃I can't answer that； Arilan； but I don't think I really care right now；〃 the king said pointedly。 〃Nor do I think we should pursue this more right now。 He's been through enough for one day。〃
〃I agree； my prince；〃 Morgan said； following Kelson's lead。 〃Not only that； I seem to recall we're supposed to be celebrating the creation of a new bishop this evening。〃
〃The feast； I think； does not begin until well after sunset；〃 Arilan answered curtly。 〃We still have time to … 〃
〃We still have time for Dhugal to have some rest before the feast； if he wishes；〃 Kelson said as he rose。 〃Right now； that takes precedence。〃
〃But the Council will want … 〃
〃What the Council wants is not at issue here；〃 Kelson replied sharply； eliciting a near…gasp from Arilan and an exchange of stunned glances between Morgan and Duncan。 〃Nor do I think this is the time or the place to discuss it further； do you？〃
Arilan could have no answer to that； with the others in the room。 As the king drew Dhugal to his feet and they started toward the door； Arilan made a sparse bow。
〃I apologize if I seemed to press the issue。 Sire。〃
Kelson paused with Dhugal in the open doorway to look back at all three of them。
〃Apology accepted。 And Father Duncan； I suspect you could also use some rest。 This has been a long day for you as well。〃
Duncan shrugged。 〃I have no plaints。 Sire。〃
〃I see。 Nonetheless； we'll all plan to meet again at the feast。 Morgan； Arilan； are you ing？〃
Morgan would have stayed； for his curiosity about the afternoon's varied events was far stronger than any real need for rest； but if he had； Arilan also might have wanted to … and if Arilan stayed； conversation was sure to e round eventually to the old disagreements about half…Deryni and the Camberian Council。 Besides； the king's tone put the question almost in the form of a mand。 Both Morgan and Arilan went； the Deryni bishop all but muttering under his breath。
When they had gone； Duncan sat back in the chair Dhugal had just vacated and closed the shiral crystal in his hand； letting his mind wander back to boyhood and the giver of the stone。 The memories were sweet； and he sat dreaming into the firelight until the shadows lengthened and the golden light died from behind the amber glass at his back。
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
He that justifieth the wicked； and he that condemneth the just； even they both are abominations to the Lord。
Proverbs 17：15
The news of Duncan's consecration to the episcopate came as no great surprise to the would…be Mearan court in Ratharkin。 Creoda had warned them to expect that。 It was merely another justification for war； so far as Caitrin and Sicard were concerned； though it vexed Loris and Judhael greatly。 Equally anticipated was Kelson's renewed demand for Caitrin's submission by Christmas； with its hints of dire consequences to his hostages if Caitrin did not ply or if further harm came to Istelyn。
But Archbishop Bradene's writ of exmunication； read aloud with increasing disbelief and horror by an appalled Judhael； came as a total shock。 So enraged was Loris that he overturned his chair in his haste to get to Judhael and snatch the offending document。
〃How dare they？〃 he gasped； his breath ing in sharp； rasping wheezes as he scanned the signatures and seals appended at the bottom； little droplets of spittle spattering the parchment and his purple casssock。 〃Who do they think they are？〃
Brandishing the writ as if he wished it were a physical weapon； Loris stalked across the room to where Caitrin and Sicard stood staring blindly out an oriel window； arms around one another's waists for fort； devastated by the treble blow。 Back a few paces； a pasty…faced Ithel divided his attention between watching his parents； Loris； and Judhael； and nervously twisting the end of one of his cloak strings。
〃How dare they？〃 Lons repeated。 〃Exmunicated； by God！ Me！ And by my own former subordinates！ I am outraged！ I am speechless！〃
〃Hardly that；〃 Sicard muttered； though Loris did not hear him； caught up as he was in further diatribes against the bishops in Rhemuth and the Haldane royal house。
But Sicard shared the tight…lipped anxiety of his wife and liege lady； and the helpless confusion of his son。 When Loris at last ran out of expletives and holy oaths； Sicard let fall the drapery he had withdrawn to gaze out at the morning snowfall and turned back into the room； taking Caitrin's elbow to guide her back to the chairs before the fireplace。 At his gesture； Ithel hurried to upend the chair Loris had overturned。
〃Enough of self…indulgence … on all our parts；〃 Sicard said； glancing pointedly at Loris and signing for Judhael to join them。 〃We have heard the response from Gwynedd。 Now we must decide what to do about it。 Sit here； my dear。〃
posing herself deliberately； Caitrin sat； carefully spreading her fur…lined skirts around her feet and arranging her hands just so in her lap。 When she looked up； Sicard had dropped to one knee beside her； one hand resting on her chair arm； and Judhael stood expectantly behind him。 Ithel waited at her right。 Loris； with ill…disguised resentment at Sicard's tone； came to stand in front of the chair Ithel had just set back in place … though something in the family