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ion beyond the normal five senses； including the link with Dhugal。
〃What next transpires will seem alien to you。 Kelson Haldane；〃 Brother Michael said； addressing him directly in a voice that carried in the stillness； though he did not speak loudly。 〃Much has been lost in the years of exile； but we have tried to keep the ancient ways as best we can。 We believe that Saint Camber himself laid down certain of the principles that will be invoked here tonight； but we have no specific instructions to tell you what you must do； other than to offer yourself totally to his service。 His inspiration and your own intuition will be your best guides。 You； for your part； will be best served if； of your own volition； you attempt to put aside all barriers that might keep you from the knowledge that may be offered you； when you meet the Blessed One face to face。 Hearing this。 is there anything you wish to say before you are conducted to his presence？ I might add that your ordeal will not be of the body； but of the soul。〃
There were a hundred things Kelson might have said； but nothing that possibly could have any bearing on what would happen to him； for it was obvious that even these people did not know for certain。 A part of him was relieved that his ordeal would not be a physical one； but the alternative had implications that made him far more apprehensive。
And yet； another part of him had guessed that it might be thus； from the very start…a trial in the sense of an initiation to a higher level of consciousness； as had occurred in some degree for nearly every contact Kelson knew of regarding Saint Camber。 He himself had had little such contact but had that not been his aim all along； in setting out on a quest for the Deryni saint？
Resolutely； then。 Kelson shook his head once； instinctively bowing his head as Brother Michael took two silent steps toward him to rest a hand on his hair。
〃Then； may he vouchsafe to speak to thee； Kelson Haldane；〃 Brother Michael said softly。 〃And when thou hast heard him； thou shalt speak of it and we shall know if thou speakest truth or liest…as thou knowest we can do。 And may the Lord God keep thee in the shadow of His wings as thou facest this test of thy faith。 So be it。 Selah。 And let the people say Amen。〃
〃Amen；〃 the congregation repeated softly。
Michael lifted his hand； and Kelson dared to look up at him。
〃Art ready？〃 Michael asked。
〃I am；〃 Kelson said。
Without further preamble； Bened and Jilyan helped him rise。 But it was Michael and Rhidian who led him to a small； low door set in the wall to the right of the altar。 Their shielding still faintly distorted and blurred his link with Dhugal； but just knowing that Dhugal held and would try to hold it gave Kelson courage。 He dared a final glance over his shoulder as they halted at the door； the bond of his and Dhugal's affection transcending all the magic in one final farewell and Godspeed。
The wall was of living rock； the door of wood； with an iron ring to open it。 Markings that Kelson recognized as sigils of elemental power adorned the door in its four ers； and a fifth incorporating an S and a C intertwined around a cross dominated the center； all carved deeply into the pale； well…oiled wood。 Bowing her head in respect； Rhidian touched fingertips to lips； then twisted the ring once in either direction before stepping back slightly to turn and look at Kelson。 Michael； directly behind him； reached around his neck to undo the fastening of his cloak and lift it from his shoulders。
〃Thou who wouldst be the Servant of the Blessed One； now es the time of thy testing；〃 Michael said； as Rhidian stepped back with head bowed over her crossed arms。 〃Now shait thou go down into the earth； naked as thou earnest into the world； and undergo the cruaidh…dheiichuinn。 Open the door； Kelson Haldane； and go to him。〃
Kelson obeyed； setting his hands on the iron ring and opening the door； leaving the cloak in Michael's hands as he ducked his head to pass through the narrow doorway。
CHAPTER TWENTY…SIX
In a dream； in a vision of the night； when deep sleep falleth upon men。
Job 33：15
The door closed behind Kelson with a solid finality。 The dim passageway in which he cautiously tried to straighten was close and narrow； no higher than the door itself； and he had to keep his head ducked as he waited for his eyes to adjust； hands resting lightly on the walls to either side。 A damp； musty scent pervaded the place； no sound intruding on the expectant silence save the pounding of the pulsebeat in his temples。 As he slowly began feeling his way forward； faint illumination shone from around a bend…the feeble yellowish flicker of torchlight or rushlight； some distance ahead。
The passage appeared to be natural； though his fingertips brushed spots where the stone had been cut away to make the walls more regular。 The floor was smooth under his bare feet； but not as cold as he might have expected of stone。 He could feel his link with Dhugal being more and more tenuous the deeper he penetrated the passageway； so that； by the time he reached the curve； the link was not discernible at all…but there was no help for that。 Another short distance brought him around a sharper angle； opening all at once into a fair…sized chamber that made Kelson draw in a deep； careful breath in awe。
It was the source of the light that had been growing stronger as he went deeper into the mountainside。 Torches guttered in bronze cressets all around the room； almost out of reach； and banks of clay…cupped votive candles lit a life…sized statue of what must be Saint Camber set against the wall farthest from the entrance where Kelson stood； intrigued。 The figure was carved of some pale grey stone that glittered slightly in the shifting torchlight； the graceful hands raised to support a metal crown of archaic design； the face deeply shadowed by folds of a cowl frozen forever by the sculptor's art； the features perhaps never carved at all； for Kelson could not make them out； even though he felt he should have been able to pierce the shadows from where he stood。
Chilled in soul as much as in body； the king moved far enough into the chamber to stand up straight； shivering。 Charcoal braziers ringed the room to warm it…perhaps also the source of the odd； pungent odor tickling at his nostrils… and a pile of sleeping furs lay in the center； not far from the feet of the statue。 The double allure of braziers and furs drew him closer； almost without conscious thought…but only until he unexpectedly discovered the true source of the chamber's odd aroma…a small sunken pool to the statue's left； clear and deep； with something faintly misty bubbling up gently from beneath the surface and being drawn out through a vent in the ceiling。
Even as he backed off； a grating sound of stone against stone betrayed the closure of the vent and the updraft ceased； the mist at once beginning to dispel into the air rather than being drawn out。 As Kelson caught a stronger whiff of it； he experienced a fleeting touch of vertigo and he caught his balance against the wall and staggered a little as he tried to shake it off。
He tried not to think about what it meant。 The episode had blurred his Deryni perceptions for just an ins