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〃Implying that God could not； if He wished？〃 Arilan asked。
〃You know that isn't what I meant！〃
〃Of course not；〃 Arilan agreed。 〃I would point out； however； that after eighteen years； even human witnesses are not always available。〃
〃Aye； that's true enough。〃 Wolfram scowled and turned his vexed attention back to Duncan； only partially mollified。 〃I don't suppose you confessed this alleged marriage before entering holy orders？〃 he ventured。 〃I needn't remind you； I hope； that marriage is an impediment to orders。〃
〃Only if he had； indeed； been married and was still married at the time of entering orders；〃 Arilan replied； before Duncan could answer。 〃But the lady； alas； had died。 So you either ask a meaningless question； Wolfram； or else you intrude on the seal of privacy between a man and his confessor…who； I believe； is no longer with us； in any case。 Am I correct； Duncan？〃
Breathing a careful sigh； Duncan nodded once。 〃Aye； my lord。 He was an old man even then。 He lived only a few months past my ordination。〃
〃Damned convenient；〃 Wolfram muttered。
〃Now； Wolfram； be reasonable；〃 Cardiel chided gently。 〃The man would be past eighty； after all。〃
〃It's still convenient； my lord。〃
〃But not to the point； in any case；〃 Duncan said softly。 〃Because even if he still lived。 Excellency； and I gave him leave to speak of matters of the confessional； he could tell you little of Maryse。 My sin was in failing to be more bold； in not trying harder to contact her in the months that followed； before she died。 But she and I had mitted no sin。 We were married in God's eyes。〃
〃Aye； so you say。〃
And that； indeed； was the ultimate question； for who would presume to claim he saw through God's eyes？ A more practical question was to ask whether vows had； indeed； been exchanged； thereby contracting a valid marriage。 If so； then Dhugal MacArdry was Duncan's true…born son； entitled to his name and all the other honors that went with that high lineage。
Or was Dhugal MacArdry only the result of innocent but unsanctioned fumbling between desperate young lovers who knew they would be parted on the morrow； and Duncan's present assertion but an attempt； after the fact； to legitimize the son he had never dreamed would e of that union？
Such an attempt certainly would be understandable。 Indeed； it was to nearly everyone's benefit that Duncan should be able to prove his son's legitimacy。 A direct legal heir would enable Duncan to resign his secular titles to his son during his lifetime； thus releasing his own energies for the high episcopal office he held。 That would please the Church。 Dhugal's accession to his father's estates would ensure loyal continuity for another generation in the ducal and county estates of Cassan and Kierney…which would please Kelson。
And of course； Dhugal himself would benefit。 Through tanistry； from the man he now knew to be his maternal grandfather； Maryse's father； he was already Earl ofTransha and Chief of Clan MacArdry。 That would not change； regardless of the oute here today。 His Transha men adored him。 But if； in time； he also succeeded to the vast estates of Duncan McLain； adjacent to his own Transha lands； he would be one of the most powerful magnates in all the Eleven Kingdoms。
In purely practical terms； Dhugal eventually would get his patrimony anyway； since； if Duncan died without legitimate heir； the last of the McLains； his lands would escheat to the Crown…and the king then could bestow those lands on whom he pleased。 Or； for that matter； Duncan could resign his lands and titles to the king during his lifetime…and the king still could give them to Dhugal； bastard or not。
But grants of lands were far from the thoughts of most present here this morning。 It was the honor of Dhugal's impending knighthood that stood to gain or lose； depending on the oute of this hearing。 If doubt remained that Duncan McLain had made his claim in utter honesty； it could color Dhugal's reception beyond even a king's ability to make it right。 Thus had Wolfram de Blanet been appointed to argue against the case； in every way he could； so that no one might say； later on； that a biased court had found in Duncan's favor。
〃We have only his word；〃 Wolfram finally said； folding his hands on the table before him。 〃I see no other way around it。〃
Cardiel nodded unhappily； obviously feeling the weight of his official responsibility。
〃I'm afraid I must agree。 We appear to have reached an impasse； then。 It all es back to whether Duncan's oath can be deemed sufficient…whether he did； in fact； make vows with Maryse MacArdry before the Blessed Sacrament。 As a private person； and Duncan's friend； I have no doubt that he is telling the truth。 But as archbishop； I cannot accept his unsupported word simply because he is one of my bishops。 I could not accept that from a layman； and I certainly cannot accept it from one of my spiritual sons。〃
〃I agree；〃 Arilan said； fiddling with the feathered end of a goose…quill pen as he glanced at the king and then at Morgan。 〃A pity we cannot accept evidence confirmed by De…ryni powers。 Duke Alaric's testimony would be prejudiced； in any case； since he is kin to Duncan； but you Deryni do have ways to verify whether a man is telling the truth； don't you？〃
The question was for Wolfram's benefit； of course； for the Deryni Arilan knew full well what those of his race were capable of； but the scene he would now attempt to unfold had been carefully orchestrated by bishop； duke； and king the night before； to suggest a no less reliable verification of Duncan's oath that the Church could accept。 For the Haldane line was also possessed of power…a power not unlike that wielded by the Deryni； though the Haldane power was held to be linked with that house's divine right to rule。
But much depended upon Wolfram's recognition of that fact； and his faith in it； and whether they had read their man correctly。
〃Deryni are not the only ones to have this power。 Bishop Arilan；〃 Kelson said； staying Morgan with a hand on his sleeve as he himself rose to address the court。 〃Perhaps here is an answer to your dilemma。 We Haldanes can tell when a man is lying。 It is a power of our sacred kingship。 If I were to question Bishop McLain and could ascertain beyond doubt that he is telling the truth about his marriage to Dhugal's mother； would that satisfy this tribunal？〃
Arilan raised an eyebrow in guarded assent and looked to Cardiel； careful not to appear too eager； and breathed a cautious sigh of relief when his superior did not immediately veto the notion。 Clearly； the human Cardiel understood what the king was proposing； but he still was archbishop； and forms must be observed。
And Wolfram； as devil's advocate； would be even more insistent that propriety be maintained。 Wolfram de Blanet did not hate Deryni…which was one of the main reasons； besides being impeccably honest； that he had been appointed to this tribunal…but as an itinerant bishop； not often exposed to the few known Deryni at court； he knew little about them； other than through hearsay。 Even the enlightened leadership of the past four years could not immediately overturn two centuries of suspicion and hatred。 And some of the Haldane abilities fell into a gre