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He flung a playful arm around the neck of Dhugal MacArdry as the two of them followed Dhugal's father and Duke Alaric Morgan into Kelson's suite of rooms in Rhemuth Castle； Bishop Denis Arilan bringing up the rear。 All of them were dripping rain。 It was the Saturday before the beginning of Lent； the Vigil of Quinquagesima Sunday； the first day of March in the Year of Our Lord 1125； and Kelson Haldane had been King of Gwynedd for a little more than four years。 He had turned eighteen the previous November。
〃Not that I ever believed he was； of course；〃 Kelson went on drolly； 〃or that it would have made any difference to me if he had been。 I am glad that I won't have to defy the law to knight him on Tuesday； however。〃
The bluster evoked a chuckle from Morgan and a snort of disapproval from Arilan as everyone shed wet cloaks and gathered before the fire； for all were aware that the king might have done precisely that； if necessary； to see proper honor done to his beloved foster brother。 Kelson had already waived the usual age requirement for the accolade…a royal prerogative whose exercise would raise no eyebrows； given Dhugal's outstanding service in the previous summer's campaign； and Dhugal only just seventeen。 Several others were also being knighted early； for the same reason。
But age was one thing…a somewhat arbitrary milestone that easily might be set aside for reasonable cause； even royal whim。 The bar sinister was quite another。 Even with royal patronage； illegitimacy was normally a serious； if not absolute； bar to knighthood。
Fortunately； Bishop Duncan McLain had proven today； to the satisfaction of an archbishop's tribunal； that long before entering holy orders； he and Dhugal's mother had exchanged vows that constituted a valid； if irregular； marriage。 The proving had not been easy。 The first sticking point had been that the vows were witnessed only by the two principals and the sacred Presence signified by the ever…burning lamp in the chapel of Duncan's father； at Culdi。
〃Mind you； I don't dispute the precedent of per verba de praesenti； old Bishop Wolfram de Blanet had said； acting as devil's advocate as he and Arilan reviewed the case for Archbishop Cardiel in closed session。 〃mon law in the borders has long recognized the validity of a marriage declared before witnesses when no priest was available… though the Church has always urged a more solemn ratification at some future date。〃
Duncan； standing alone before the tribunal's long table； shook his head in objection； aware of the tension of his son and the others seated behind him。 Other than one of Cardiel's darks； taking down a careful transcript at the end of the table； only Dhugal； Morgan； the king； and Nigel had been permitted to attend。
〃Your Excellency knows that was not possible；〃 Duncan said。 〃I never saw her again。 She died the following winter。〃
〃Yes； so you have said。 The salient point here； however； which must be addressed； has nothing to do with omission of a later regularization of the marriage； but whether a declaration before the Blessed Sacrament in fact fulfills the elements of per verba de praesenti。〃
Arilan； serving as Duncan's counsel； cleared his throat。
〃Ah； there is a parallel precedent in ancient Talmudic law。 Wolfram；〃 he pointed out。 〃I doubt the parison has often been invoked； but we have in the sacred tabernacle； before which the Presence lamp bums； a direct lineal descendant of the Jewish Ark of the Covenant。 Interestingly enough； the Ark was permitted； in necessity； to substitute for one of the quorum of ten adult males required for many public rituals of Jewish worship。〃
〃Implying that the Ark functioned as a witness of sorts？〃 Wolfram asked； frowning。
Arilan nodded。 〃Beyond question。 Surely at least equal in weight to the mere mortals making up the other nine… and in symbol； at least； the physical representative of the presence of the living God。 If； as we believe。 God is physically present in the Blessed Sacrament as the Body and Blood of Christ； then can the Holy Presence in the tabernacle before which Duncan and Maryse made their vows be any tess valid a witness？〃
Duncan scarcely dared to breathe as the import of the argument sank in； he sensed that the others； seated behind him； recognized it； too。 Arilan had scored a point not easily refuted； for to deny the real Presence of God in the Sacrament housed in the tabernacle was clearly blasphemy。
Wolfram pursed his lips and looked to Cardiel for guidance； but the archbishop only raised an eyebrow； turning the initiative back to Wolfram。 Cardiel was already far from neutral in this case； being Duncan's immediate superior。 He did not know； in the way that many others in the room knew； that Duncan was telling the truth…but he sincerely believed he was。 Unfortunately； neither believing nor knowing was sufficient in a court of ecclesiastical law； especially when the latter came of Deryni proving。
For Duncan McLain； besides being a bishop and the father of a son； was also Deryni…a member of that magical race whose powers had been feared and condemned by the Church for nearly two centuries。 Duncan's identity as Deryni was not widely known outside the highest ecclesiastical circles； and even there was not officially acknowledged…for though the Church had long prohibited Deryni from entering the priesthood； Duncan McLain was an able； pious； and loyal churchman； Deryni or not…but speculation was rife。 Thus far； Duncan had managed neither to confirm nor deny what he was。
There were other Deryni in the room as well； though only one besides the king was openly known to be so。 Folk had always known who and what Alaric Morgan was。 Protected by Kelson's Haldane grandfather and father through childhood and youth； he eventually had e to grudging acceptance at court because of his unswerving loyalty to the House of Haldane and because he had the good sense not to flaunt his abilities。 Even the human Bishop Wolfram acknowledged guarded respect for the fair…haired man in black sitting at the king's elbow。
The fact that Morgan was Duncan's cousin must surely fuel old Wolfram's suspicions that Duncan was Deryni； too； though…and that Dhugal might also be； if Duncan was。 What Wolfram did not suspect was that Bishop Denis Arilan also shared that distinction…though everyone else present except the dark knew it。 And though any one of the Deryni could have verified the truth of Duncan's claim by using their magical powers…and some had…that evidence might not be presented； for the Church's official position regarding the Deryni race and their magical powers was still quite negative。
〃You beg the question； Denis；〃 Wolfram finally said。 〃Naturally； any declaration made before the Blessed Sacrament would have been witnessed in that sense。〃 He jerked his chin vaguely over his shoulder toward the open doorway of the adjoining chapel。 〃The Light bums in there； too； and His Presence is among us in this room。〃
〃Far be it from me to dispute that；〃 Arilan replied； spreading his hands in a conciliatory gesture。
〃It is usual； however；〃 Wolfram added； 〃to be able to produce witnesses who can testify to what they've witnessed。〃
〃Implying that God could not； if He wished？〃 Arilan asked。
〃Y