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on that； Denis； and keep us advised on further developments。 Now I want to know about this other Deryni who spoke for the Duke Mahael yesterday。 Al Rasoul； was it？〃
Wearily Arilan nodded。 He supposed that in the larger scale of things； a Deryni priest…cum…bishop was no more important than the latest posturings of a Torenthi ambassador； even if that ambassador was Deryni。
〃He defies mere verbal description；〃 he said； leaning his head against the back of his chair and reaching to either side for his neighbors' hands。 〃It's easiest if I show you。 You really had to be there to appreciate it； but I'll recreate it as best I can。〃
As he sank into easy trance； focusing on the crystal above their heads； he felt the calm of the familiar link envelop him like a cloud； warm and forting； and he closed his eyes to let the images flow。
CHAPTER SEVEN
Ye have set at naught all my counsel。
Proverbs 1：25
Arilan returned to Rhemuth Castle in time for only the tail…end of the privy council meeting； but he was just in time to follow Cardiel and a very subdued Duncan into a private withdrawing room afterward； where Cardiel gave the younger bishop a royal dressing down in Arilan's presence。
〃It isn't that I didn't know what you were； Duncan。 I've known for some time what Denis was； too。 I suppose I thought you realized that my overlooking of that fact was a personal act of conscience； and that I could only continue to overlook it as long as you played your part。 When you chose to make it public； it became a concern of my office； not just my conscience。〃
When Duncan only continued staring at his folded hands； Cardiel went on。
〃Well； fortunately or unfortunately； the law is not clear at this moment just what I should do with you next。 We've been successful in rescinding the death penalty for doing what you did in letting yourself be ordained； but the Statutes of Ramos still say it's illegal for a Deryni to be a priest。〃
〃At one time；〃 Duncan said quietly； 〃it was illegal for a Deryni to own land or hold any kind of office or noble title； too。 But Alaric's been a duke for years； and Queen Jehana still holds her rank and dower lands。〃
Cardiel exhaled with great forbearance。 〃Those are exceptions； and you know it。 And maybe； just maybe； you'll prove to be an exception； too。 But it won't be by throwing legalistic quibbles m your archbishop's face。 Now； are you going to argue； or are you going to listen to what I have to say？〃
〃Listen；〃 Duncan whispered。
〃All right； then。 Officially； I'm going to ignore this entire matter for as long as I can。 Thanks to your impetuosity； however； the synod in Valoret will have to deal with the Deryni question far sooner than I might have wished。 You can be certain you will be the subject of many heated discussions when they meet next week。
〃But you will not go to Valoret。 So far as the Church is concerned； you are to bee invisible。 Denis has suggested…and I concur…that you develop a convenient illness making it unwise for you to travel。 I must also ask that you not undertake any public function as a priest or a bishop。〃
〃Am I suspended？〃
〃No； much as you sorely tempt me。 You may continue to celebrate Mass privately； but I do mean privately…for yourself； for the king； for Alaric； for Dhugal。 Period。 You may also hear confessions； but from them only； unless it's a matter of life and death。 If you attend privy council meetings or any court functions； you're to do it as a duke。 I'm not going to forbid you to wear canonicals； but you'd better be discreet。 I'd be happier if you stuck to secular attire whenever possible。〃
〃For how long？〃 Duncan asked。
〃Until I can get the bloody law changed； goddammit； man！〃 Cardiel retorted。 〃Duncan； I can't overstress the importance of this。 If you keep out of sight and don't make any more damned…fool demonstrations of what you are； this may blow over。 The only thing that's enabling me to give you as much slack as I am is that you weren't functioning as a bishop when you blew your cover…and you didn't actually say anything。 And you'd better not say anything…you or Dhugal。 Do I make myself clear？〃
It was all too clear； though not as bad as it might have been。 Duncan obeyed Cardiel's strictures； counterfeiting a cough and fever that kept him to his rooms in the episcopal palace； and counted himself very fortunate when no further repercussions descended during the days that followed。 The isolation also gave him a wele excuse to spend more time with Dhugal； before his son left on the summer progress with the king。 Morgan and Kelson came to dine with them almost every night； usually staying to talk； long into the early morning hours。 The last night that the king and Dhugal would spend in Rhemuth； Duncan came to the castle to dine。
That night； since the royal progress would also incorporate a quest for relics of Saint Camber； Morgan presented the two new knights with Saint Camber medals； cast from the one he himself had inherited from his Deryni mother。 After Duncan had blessed the medals； however； Kelson excused himself to seek out another blessing。 Sending Dolfin as his emissary； he requested Rothana to meet him by the fountain in the center of the garden。
Propriety required that she be attended； of course。 One of the older nuns acpanied her as panion and chaperone； both of them cloaked and hooded against the chill night air； but the woman succumbed without resistance to Kelson's suggestion that she walk abroad in the gardens with Dolfin； who likewise would remember nothing of what he might see or hear。 The king led Rothana into the relative shelter of a nearby arbor。
〃I wanted to show you this before we left in the morning；〃 Kelson said； pulling the silver disc of his Saint Camber medal out of his tunic by the chain。 〃It takes a Deryni really to appreciate it。 Duncan's blessed it already； but I wondered if you might also give it a blessing。〃
〃I； my lord？〃 She glanced at the medal with interest； obviously recognizing what it was； but made no attempt to touch it。 〃Such blessing is reserved for priests。〃
〃Nonetheless； I would value your blessing；〃 Kelson said。 〃Surely that can do no harm； since it already has a priest's saining。〃
〃That's true。〃
Smiling cautiously； she came close enough to take the medal in her left hand and inspect it； then signed a cross above it with her other and bent to touch it with her lips。
〃Thank you；〃 Kelson murmured； taking it in his own hand and kissing it； too； as she straightened and released it。 〃I shall treasure it the more for it having felt your kiss。〃
She blushed and ducked her head。
〃Please； my lord； you must not say such things。〃
〃Must I not？ Rothana； it's been nearly a week。 I'd like to know what you've been thinking。 Not about the things we discuss in the privy council。 Not about the Torenthi situation； or the bishops； or even Saint Camber。 About us。〃
She glanced at him surreptitiously； then returned her gaze to her hands folded in her sleeves。 The movement made her hood fall back on her shoulders。 Underneath the dark blue mantle she had donned for the venture out of doors； she still wore the sky…blue habit of her order； but she had changed her customary linen coif for filmier stuff that surrounded her f