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Camber medal； if I may。 It gives me fort。 And the earring that you took from me is a potent symbol of my kingship。 I should like to wear that。 too。〃
〃That cannot be permitted；〃 Michael said firmly。
〃Then； give them into the keeping of my brother；〃 Kelson reasoned； raising Dhugal up。 〃At least grant him that solace； since you will not allow him to share my ordeal。〃
〃He may have the medals；〃 the girl Rhidian said； 〃since they are of the Blessed Camber。 The earring is Haldane； and abhorrent to him； until and unless you prove yourself his servant in truth。〃
It was also a far more potent link with himself than the medals； but Kelson was not about to dispute the point and lose what had been won。 The medals； whether around both their necks or solely in Dhugal's charge； were still links and better than nothing at all。
He watched silently as the medals were brought and laid in Dhugal's cupped hands； a shining mass of silver medals and tangled chains； and sent a cautious probe for the one that had been his。 Dhugal pleted the link； golden eyes pale as sunlight as their gaze met； then dipped his head to kiss the medals； as if quaffing from cupped spring water。
Then the doors were opening； and Brother Michael was leading them into the church； though not before pausing to step out of his sandals。
〃Take off thy shoes；〃 Michael manded； glancing at Kelson and Dhugal as the others around them also left their footgear by the doors； 〃for thou art about to walk upon holy ground。〃
Kelson and Dhugal obeyed； and the villagers followed quenching their torches at the door as they left their shoes and singing a solemn hymn as they came。
It was dim inside； though the whitewashed side walls intensified what light there was。 The east wall was grey and blank； and seemed at first simply to disappear in distance behind the altar； before Kelson realized it was the natural rock of the mountainside。 Candles on the altar and a crucifix above it gave at least some reference point on which to focus as they moved in slow procession toward it。 The roof was open…beamed like the hall； but Kelson dared not spare it more than a brief upward glance。 It was too deep in shadow for him to tell whether it was also thatched。
Woven straw mats covered the wooden floor to either side of the center aisle； rather than benches or pews…though that； in itself； was not unusual； especially in a small village church。 To these the villagers scattered； around and ahead of the procession； standing in their places to turn and watch the progress。 Brother Michael had picked up a processional cross as they entered； beautifully carved of a local wood； and he held it like a shepherd's staff or crozier as he led them。 Bened and Jilyan flanked Kelson； and Dhugal and the rest of the Quorial followed； all in grey cloaks like his own。 Kelson sensed Dhugal quietly untangling the chains of the Camber medals as they walked； and slipping them around his neck； his link with Dhugal strengthened； wele fort。
Straight to the altar rail Michael led them and paused before it expectantly。 A handclap sounded behind them…signal for all to genuflect…and Kelson and Dhugal were only a hair's breadth behind in dipping a knee to the floor in respect。 They stood then； and Michael went forward to kiss the altar stone。 When he had done； he shifted the processional cross to his left hand and turned to face them。 His right hand traced a cross as he intoned an opening blessing。
〃In nomine Palris； et Filius； et Spiritus Sanctus。〃
〃Amen；〃 the villagers responded。
〃Dominus vobiscum。''
〃Et spirit u tuo。〃
〃Sursum corda。〃
〃Habemus ad dominum。〃
〃Laudamus Dominum Deum nostrum 〃
〃Dignum et justum est。〃
Lift up your hearts。 We have lifted them up unto the Lord。 Let us praise the Lord our God。 It is meet and just。。。
Brother Michael turned and knelt again then； facing the altar and Kelson sank down on the bottom step as everyone around him also knelt； the whisper of movement sighing through the dim church。 Then a solo voice far behind him began to sing a versicle in an odd minor key that gradually was picked up and repeated； expanded； and embellished by scores of voices in antiphon。
〃Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus etflevimus； cum recordaremur Sion 。。。〃
By the rivers of Babylon； there we sat down； yea； we wept when we remembered Sion 。。。。
It was the song of the Israelites in captivity； but it was also； Kelson realized； a poignant reminder of these people's self…imposed exile and the reasons for it。 And he was one of the reasons…or his forefathers； who had allowed the persecution of Deryni to continue for nearly two centuries。 The harmonies evoked feelings he had never felt before…of the brotherhood he shared with these people and all the others like them who； down through the ages； had suffered and persevered that their heritage might survive。
The Psalmist's words ended； and the voices made a segue into another mode； whose harmonics sent unexpected shivers down Kelson's spine； wringing at something else deep inside him； for the new words spoke of another exile of another people； far more recent。 Helpless to prevent it…nor did he wish to…Kelson found himself being caught up in the new lament； mourning with these people as Deryni； for all the lost years and lost lives。 Tears were streaming openly down his cheeks by the time the song shifted yet again to a more joyful； hopeful note。
〃Duce el regere servum tui； Domine 。。。 Adsum Domine。 Adsum Domine。 Adsum Domine 。。。 。〃
Guide and guard Thy servant； Lord； from all temptation； that honor may be spotless and my gift unstained。 Here am I； Lord。 Here am I； Lord 。。。。
But as the song faded softly to a close。 Kelson made no move to wipe the tears away。 They were his offering to the injustice his Deryni people had endured at the hands of his Haldane ancestors； and he vowed again； as he had so often in the past four years； that he would dedicate his life to righting that injustice； to restoring equity to all his people； human and Deryni。
Profound silence surrounded him when the song was done。 In the stillness； Kelson could sense Dhugal also striving to master his emotions； though he had not actually cried； and as the entire pany continued to kneel for several minutes。 Kelson could hear the occasional snuffle of others collecting their wits in the peace that permeated the place after the purging song。
After a few minutes more。 Brother Michael rose and turned to face him； folding his hands around the staff of his cross。 Those around Kelson rose； too； and the people behind him； but Bened and Jilyan set their hands on his shoulders to keep him kneeling when he； too； would have risen。 Behind him； Dhugal's guardians escorted the young border lord to a mat set in the front row； just left of the aisle。 The girl Rhidian moved closer to stand directly behind Kelson； at Michael's gesture； everyone else sat； leaving the king kneeling alone before Michael and the altar。 In that instant； Kelson realized that all four of those surrounding him were Deryni… not just Michael and Rhidian…their odd shields wrapping him like a cocoon； muffling any extended perception beyond the normal five senses； including the link with Dhugal。
〃What next transpires will seem