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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 hardly old enough even to be a priest； much less chaplain to a bishop of Arilan's stature…pink…cheeked and still a little soft with puppy fat the top of his head barely reaching Arilan's shoulder； dark curls springing crisply from around his tonsure like the halo on some pagan godling。
Duncan could not see whether the eyes matched the imagery； for the young priest kept them modestly averted as he and Arilan approached； but the hands were squared and sturdy； hard with honest work； as he knelt to kiss Duncans ring…for Arilan introduced Duncan by his true name and rank。 What surprised Duncan even more than Nivard's youth was the quickly damped flare of shields as their hands touched。
Good God； could this be one of Arilan's other Dervni priests？
〃I am honored to meet you。 Excellency；〃 Nivard murmured； awe touching voice and demeanor as he raised sea…green eyes to meet Duncan's。 〃Bishop Denis tells me you require very discreet assistance。 How may I be of service？〃
Awed himself； Duncan raised the young man up and glanced at Arilan； though he did not release Nivard's hand。
〃One of ours？〃 he breathed。
Arilan smiled and nodded。
〃Go ahead and test his shields。 I think you'll be pleasantly surprised。 When I found John； nearly four years ago； he was a seminarian having a crisis of conscience because he was Just beginning to discover what he was and was sure he would have to abandon his vocation。 I fancy he's done rather well since then； all things considered。 I ordained him last fall。〃
〃Ah； then； you're still quite a new priest； too； aren't you？〃 Duncan murmured； turning his attention back to Nivard。
〃Yes； Excellency。〃
〃Do you mind？〃
Nivard swallowed and shook his head。
〃No； sir。〃
Duncan started to flick a tendril of thought against Nivard's shields； then paused as the sea…pale eyes flinched a little at his mere glance。
〃Are you sure you don't mind。 Father？〃 Duncan repeated。 〃I don't have to do this。 And you don't have to let me。〃
Nivard's hand was trembling under his now； but the young man only shook his head again； glancing furtively at Arilan for reassurance。
〃I'm not afraid； Excellency；〃 he whispered。 〃I just…〃
〃He's just unaccustomed to having anyone else probe beyond his shields yet；〃 Arilan explained。 〃Other than myself； you're the first of our kind that he's ever met； who knew what he was。 And I think； perhaps； that our young Father John is a little in awe of you； Duncan。 John； I can play the intermediary； if you wish； but I really think you're ready to try it on your own。 I assure you； Father Duncan has a very gentle touch…probably gentler than mine； if the truth be known。〃
〃Perhaps it's best if we just wait；〃 Duncan said。 〃I can't guarantee that my touch will be that gentle； in the state I'm in。〃
〃No；〃 Arilan said； 〃it's time he learned this； and I want the two of you to be able to work together； at least on a general level； in case you need his help when you e back。 John； show him the physical layout of the cathedral plex。 That's a specific topic that isn't at all threatening； and one that will benefit Duncan as well。〃
Trembling still； Nivard drew a deep breath and let it out as he had been taught； slipping into a light trance before Duncan could raise any further objection。 Duncan sensed the surfaces of the other's shields clearing； and on impulse； raised his free hand to touch fingertips lightly to the young priest's eyelids。 The additional physical contact； plus not having to look at Duncan anymore； was the catalyst to let Nivard roll back his shields with near…perfect control。 The trembling stopped as he laid out everything Arilan had ordered for Duncan's inspection； shyly inviting deeper contact when Duncan's tentative penetration of his shields did not produce disfort。
Duncan took it all in in an instant； assimilating it without hesitation and then following as Nivard allowed an even deeper probe； gaining confidence when contact with the legendary Duncan McLain turned out to be not nearly as frightening as he had feared it might。 Duncan did not push the probe； but he followed where Nivard allowed it to go。 When he surfaced； just a heartbeat after Nivard； and let his hand fall away from the young man's face； releasing his hand as well； he found Arilan staring at him； Nivard with a sheepish grin on his face。
〃Now； was that so bad？〃 Arilan asked dryly。 〃I do suspect that the contact involved somewhat more than a showing of the cathedral plans； but I gather no one has any plaints。〃
Duncan shook his head。 〃My pliments to your prize student； Denis。 Father； we must try that again when I'm not so distracted。 Meanwhile； I think I must be off； if you don't mind。 I'll need a good horse； instructions to the post houses for changes of mounts； and provisions for a full day on the road。 I want to be in Coroth by this time tomorrow。〃
〃To bring Duke Alaric back here？〃 Nivard breathed。
〃Aye。 Can you arrange to be wherever you leave me tonight； two days hence； so we can get back here safely and without anyone knowing who we are？〃
〃Yes； Excellency； of course。〃
〃On that note； then；〃 Arilan said wryly； moving onto the Portal circle behind them； 〃I shall bid you both adieu and be off about my business。 Father Nivard； if anyone should ask； I've not been here； and you know nothing about the news Duncan has brought。〃
〃Yes； Excellency。〃
With that； Arilan simply disappeared； so far as the two left standing in the chapel were concerned。 And half an hour later； mounted on a sturdy mountain pony and lightly provisioned for the dash down the mountains and across the plain to Coroth； Duncan was on his way as well； leaving a starry…eyed young priest to muse on what he had experienced。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I am clean without transgression； I am innocent。
Job 33：9
In Alaric Morgan's capital city of Coroth； a very hard day's ride southeast of Dhassa； nothing was yet known of the news Duncan McLain brought。 Indeed； even the news of Tiercel's death had not yet arrived； for the messenger Duncan had sent at the beginning of the week was only now disembarking from a ship in Coroth Bay and counting himself fortunate to have reached his destination at all； given the unseasonal spring storms。 The monk in the forest green mantle and cassock of a canon regular of Saint George's Cathedral drew some consolation in learning that the weather had been no better in Coroth for the past week； since the duke's return。 Today was the first day it had not rained in nearly a month。
Nor； snug in his solarium at Coroth Castle； did Corwyn's duke have any inkling of a messenger's approach； either the man in the harbor or the one riding pell…mell from Dhassa。 In truth； events of the outside world were far from his mind at that moment。 A cold； damp wind blew off Coroth Bay； wailing around the parapets and whistling shrill and bleak around the window fittings； but it was cozy and warm where Morgan pored over a table covered with tally sticks and counters。
Warm physically； at least。 A fire burned cheerily in the fireplace across the narrow room； and a charcoal brazier warmed h