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was released and he was staggering against Tiercel's body； trying to catch his balance； and they were closely surrounded by walls； about where the outline of the Portal square would have been if they were still on it…but they were not。
〃Easy；〃 Tiercel murmured； close beside his left ear。 〃You're fine。 We're now in a Portal that opens into Father Duncan's old study； adjoining the basilica。〃
He conjured handfire practically in front of Conall's nose； causing the startled prince to recoil harder against him for just a second； then reached out to finger a barely noticeable stud projecting from one of the corner stones lining the chamber。 Instantly； the wall to their left withdrew with a soft sigh； revealing a heavy tapestry curtain which Tiercel pushed aside with his forearm as he stepped through and gestured for Conall to follow。 The silvery glow of Tiercel's handfire lit the room eerily； but Conall recognized it as soon as he had crossed the threshold。
〃I know this room；〃 he murmured。 〃When Kelson and I were children。 Father Duncan used to hear our confessions in here sometimes。 I haven't been here in years。〃
〃It's a very old part of the basilica building；〃 Tiercel replied。 〃If you've ever wondered why Duncan never moved his study to some more convenient location； as he rose in rank； now you know。 There's something else you should see； since we're here。〃
Crossing softly to the prie…dieu set facing the corner to their right； Tiercel dropped to one knee and ran his hand tentatively under the arm rest。 His touch caused something to move behind the tapestry covering the Portal entrance。
〃Go ahead and have a look；〃 he said； at Conall's questioning expression。 〃Other than ourselves and the Council； I doubt more than half a dozen people even know it's there。 This is where they brought your father to set his potential； and presumably where they'd bring you； if it ever came to that。〃
It was a tiny； ancient chapel； only half the size of the study。 The warm red gleam of a Presence lamp hanging to the left of a narrow altar gave only a vague suggestion of the dark crucifix suspended above； though it reflected more brightly from tiny giltwork stars studding the blue…painted wall behind the altar。 And as Tiercel pressed past him and moved farther into the chapel with his handfire； to bend his knee briefly in prayer； Conall could see that the walls were decorated with frescoes depicting the lives of saints。 Though Conall himself rarely felt the need for any outward religious observance； he； too； knelt and bowed his head； waiting until Tiercel had crossed himself and stood before doing the same。
〃I hope you made a petition to Saint Camber；〃 Tiercel said； turning to face him； 〃because this chapel was once sacred to him。〃 He nudged the handfire higher and stood with his hands on his hips as he looked around again。 〃I suppose that's why Duncan and his friends are so fond of it。 I confess； I rather like it myself。 I hope your quest is successful。 I'd like to see the day when Camber can claim his proper veneration in the open again。〃
〃Why； because he was Deryni？〃 Conall asked； a little uneasy at this talk of saints。
〃Partly that。 I think he would have been a great man even if he hadn't been Deryni； though。 And maybe he'd have kept his sainthood longer； too。〃
He grinned and called his handfire to hand with a snap of his fingers as he indicated it was time to leave。
〃In any case； you have that adventure ahead of you； and we should be about showing you more of Portals。 I'll take you through under my control again；〃 he said； closing the chapel door behind them before guiding Conall back into the Portal chamber with one hand on his shoulder； 〃but I'll let you experience the jump in its full glory this time； now that you know what to expect。
〃Before we go； though； I want you to close your eyes and probe this Portal。 Be aware of what it feels like。 Every one of them is slightly different； or we wouldn't know where we were going。 And one almost has to have been to a particular Portal in order to go to it unassisted…either that； or else get a very specific image from someone else who's been there。 Notice everything you can about this one and mit it to memory。 I'll verify； when you're done。〃
Obediently； Conall closed his eyes and cast out with his mind to the Portal beneath his feet。 Now that he knew what to look for； he could feel its tingle even through his boots； and it did feel different from the one in the library。
He let his heightened senses mull the feeling for several seconds； classifying everything he could about what made it feel different； then opened his eyes and glanced over his shoulder at Tiercel； still holding the images for his mentor's inspection。
〃Good；〃 Tiercel breathed。 〃You shouldn't have any trouble getting back here if you needed to。〃 He quenched the handfire with a thought； but his mind was still wrapped around Conall's。
〃Now we'll go to the next one。 It's in the sacristy at the cathedral…which we'll hope is unoccupied at this hour； but if it isn't； I'll bounce us right back here before you or whoever's there even realizes something's happened。 That's another good reason for me to keep control； even if you knew where we were going。〃
Tiercel's control this time was more a melding of their perceptions than an actual taking over； so Conall was able to follow the process with far more understanding as Tiercel seized and balanced the energies； then bent them just so And apparently there was no one in the sacristy； for Tierce； conjured handfire again； as soon as he had assured himself of Conall's well…being and released his mind。
〃Have you been here before？〃 Tiercel whispered； glancing casual y around the little room as Conall did the same。
〃I don t think so。〃
〃Well； it doesn't matter。 Have a look at what you're standing on。 This one is marked out in the floor mosaic Do you see the squared cross motif？〃
As Tiercel backed off a few steps and nudged the handfire closer to the floor； Conall crouched to look。 By appearance the square was but one of many； all very similar； but his heightened senses told another story altogether as he ran his fingertips along the design's perimeter。
〃That's right。 You've found the physical marker for this one。 Tiercel murmured。 〃Now take a few minutes to file away this location； the way you did the other。 You're really taking to this far more easily than I had feared。 I keep underestimating your talents。〃
〃I have a good teacher；〃 Conall said with a grin； in rare pliment。
〃Hmmm； we'll see how good he is when you try the jump yourself for the first time。 Do you think you've got this one？〃
Opening his shields to the other； Conall said； 〃See for yourself。〃
〃Very good。 How about seeing if you can get back to the one in the study now。 You haven't quite got the library squared away； since you didn't know what you were looking for when we started out； so there's nowhere you can end up except here or in the study。 Are you game to try it？〃
〃By myself？〃 Conall squeaked。
Tiercel grinned。 〃Well； it's safer than having you try to take me through； too。 Only one person can control the operation…and if it's you； I'd only be a hindrance anyway。 Ill follow right behind； as soo