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〃I don't see that that's any of your business；〃 Duncan replied coolly； tucking the last strap of the jazerant under its keeper。 〃Just now； I don't give a bloody damn about the Haldane power。 I just want to try to find out whether my son and my king might still be alive。〃
〃Do you really think they are？〃 Arilan asked softly； refusing to take offense。
A sob threatened to well up in Duncan's throat； but he managed to stifle it。 He knew he would not be able to do that much longer。 But by concentrating on picking up his sword； unwinding the belt from around the scabbard； and buckling it around his waist； he managed to keep the tears from blurring his vision worse than it already was。
〃I want to believe they are；〃 he whispered。 〃As long as no bodies turn up； it's all too tempting to let myself keep hoping for a miracle。 Besides； I can't shake the feeling that I'd know somehow； if they were dead…especially Dhugal； He's my son； Denis。 And I've been Kelson's confessor for nearly seven years。 You know what kind of bond that can put between two people…especially two Deryni。〃
As Duncan jammed a fur…lined leather cap on his head and snatched up a pair of riding gloves； slipping them under his belt； Arilan picked up the black leather travel cloak Duncan obviously planned to wear and flung it over his arm； moving with Duncan toward the fireplace。
〃Yes； I know what kind of bond that can mean；〃 he said。 〃Have you tried yet to invoke it； or the bond of father and son？〃
Duncan shook his head。 〃It's too far away to try on my own。 Besides； there hasn't been time； you know that。 You've been with me every minute。〃
〃It's even farther from Coroth。〃
〃Yes； but not from Dhassa。〃 Duncan leaned the heels of both hands against the mantel； watching the firelight play in the amethyst of his bishop's ring…the only concession he had allowed himself to his true identity。 It would just barely fit under his glove。
〃Well； what's it to be？ Will you take me to Dhassa； or must I go down to the stable yard and do this the hard way？〃
〃What about the Haldane power for Nigel？〃 Arilan countered。 〃What if he needs it before you get back？〃
〃I suppose；〃 said Duncan； 〃that he'll just have to cope as best he can…or do you think I could bring him to power by myself？〃
〃Could you？〃
〃I don't know。 I'd rather not find out。 And I'd especially rather not find out until after I'm more certain that Kelson…realty is dead。〃 He swallowed and half turned his face to glance over his shoulder at Arilan。 〃And Dhugal。 Do you think they are dead； Denis？〃
Arilan sighed wearily。 〃I fear they very well may be； son；〃 he whispered。 〃Now； do you have any preference which Portal we use at this end？ I think I would remend the one in your study。〃
A quarter hour later； they were stepping into the partment that concealed the study Portal； Duncan gathering his cloak close around him to make room for Arilan behind him。 Silvery handfire followed Arilan in； and he dimmed it almost to nothing as Duncan pulled the door closed。
〃We aren't going to surprise anyone at the other end； are we？〃 Duncan asked。
Arilan gave a soft snort as he set his hands on Duncan's shoulders。 〃It isn't likely； since the Portal's in my private chapel； but who knows what may have been going on while I'm away？ Father Nivard； my chaplain； has permission to say Mass there； but it's late for that。 Anyway； he…ah… knows about me。〃
〃In other words； you have him controlled；〃 Duncan said； smiling a little despite the numb sense of loss churning just at the edge of awareness。 〃Not that I have any room to sermonize； after what I've done to Father Shandon on occasion。 Suppose someone else is there； though？〃
〃If there should be； I'll bounce you back； return to Dhassa to deal with the situation； then e back for you again；〃 Arilan said； drawing Duncan close against him； his voice very near Duncan's right ear。 〃Close your eyes and relax now； and we'll go。 Don't fight me； or I swear I'll make you take a horse next time。 If we should have to do any to…and…froing； that's going to waste enough energy as it is； and I've got other things to do after I've seen you safely on your way to Dhassa。〃
〃How far is it to where the Camberian Council meets？〃 Duncan whispered； expecting no answer as the last of the handfire's glow died away behind his closed eyelids。
From Rhemuth or from Dhassa？ came Arilan's bemused reply； just before his mind wrapped around Duncan's like a blanket of fog； dense and almost physical； and closed out everything with a soft； numbing greyness。
Duncan felt the vague； stomach…wrenching shift of the jump； subtly blunted by Arilan's silken control； and an instant of suspended not…ness into which not even the grief penetrated； almost as if Duncan had managed to leave it behind in Rhemuth。 But then the soul…numbing sense of loss was back； and Duncan opened his eyes to near darkness again； though they were not where they had been。
〃Well； we're in luck；〃 Arilan whispered。 〃Even Nivard's elsewhere； though I'm going to have to go find him； if he's to be any help to you。〃
〃How much are you going to tell him？〃 Duncan asked。
They had appeared in a tiny side chapel； hardly more than an oratory； opening off the left of the main chapel…Duncan presumed it was in Dhassa。 A rack of votive candles in clear glass holders illumined an odd； tight expression on Arilan's face just before he moved out of range； heading into the chapel proper。
〃Well； you're hardly a private figure； after all；〃 Arilan murmured。 〃Don't worry； you can trust him。 Take a few minutes to learn this Portal while I try to fetch him up。 And it might be a good idea at least to look like you're praying； in case anyone should happen by。 Nor would a true prayer be out of order； I think。 I shan't be long。〃
He was gone before Duncan could ask any more questions； leaving the door to the chapel a little ajar。 Duncan stared after him for a few seconds； a little uneasy； then shifted his attention to the tingle of the Portal beneath his feet。 A vaguely circular pattern in the mosaic of the floor tiles marked the Portal's location visually； but he needed more than that to make it his for all time。
Kneeling； he dropped both hands to brush the floor on either side of him； bowing his head and closing his eyes as he extended his senses to discern the peculiar features that made this Portal unique。 Within a dozen heartbeats； he knew that he could reach out and link it with the power of any of the other four Portals he knew。 It was a reassuring feeling that helped blunt the enormity of the physical effort he would have to exert in the next few days； though it did little to blunt the emotional beating he had taken in the past hour。
He had doffed his cap and was praying in fact； begging God that his son and Kelson might yet be found alive when he heard the chapel door open again。 He kept his head bowed； pretending to be yet in prayer as two sets of footsteps started down the center aisle。
〃e and meet Father John Nivard；〃 Arilan's low voice said； releasing Duncan from his taut listening and apprehension。
Duncan rose and turned to face them； expecting a staid and dignified older man； and was surprised to find that Father Nivard was young。 In fact； he looked ha