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overturn two centuries of suspicion and hatred。 And some of the Haldane abilities fell into a grey area about which Wolfram was quite unsure。
〃What is it； Wolfram？〃 Cardiel asked quietly； noting the older man's expression of consternation。 〃I assure you； the king can do what he proposes。 I have seen him question prisoners in the field。 There is no evil in it。 And his results were always verifiable by…those whose talents are less acceptable to this court。〃
〃Meaning Duke Alaric？〃 Wolfram asked； flicking Morgan an uneasy glance。
〃Yes。〃
Wolfram drew a deep； shuddery breath； visibly pushing aside his apprehensions to return to the task he had been assigned； and let out a heavy sigh。
〃Very well。 I would not presume to question His Majesty's ability to do what he says he can do…or the judgment of my Lord Archbishop that such an ability is benign。〃 He paused to clear his throat。 〃Legally speaking； however； I wonder whether it is prudent to enlist his Majesty's assistance in this matter。 Lord Dhugal is his foster brother； after all。〃
〃Are you suggesting that I might distort the truth for the sake of the love I bear him？〃 Kelson asked；
Wolfram paled； but he did not flinch from the king's gaze。
〃I suggest nothing of the sort； Sire。 But others might。〃
〃Aye； so they might。〃
Before Wolfram could do more than gasp； the king suddenly drew his sword and sank to one knee before the tribunal； reversing the weapon to grasp it beneath the quillons and extending the cross of the hilt at arm's length between them and himself。
〃I swear on my father's sword； on my crown； and on my hopes for the salvation of my immortal soul that I have spoken and shall speak only the truth in the matter here before this court。 In the name of the Father； and of the Son； and of the Holy Spirit； amen。〃
He kissed the sacred relic encased in the hilt； then let the tip of the blade rest on the floor before him； keeping his arm extended as he glanced toward Wolfram and the others。
〃I am willing to repeat my oath； or any other you may prefer； in yonder chapel；〃 he added； nodding toward the open doorway behind them。 〃And I assure you that I do not take such oaths lightly。〃
〃No one questions that。 Sire；〃 Wolfram said； looking a little embarrassed。 〃But…〃 He sighed unfortably。 〃Sire； Duncan McLain is said by some to be Deryni。〃
〃I don't believe that's at issue here；〃 Kelson said mildly； getting to his feet。 〃The question is whether the man contracted a valid marriage with the mother of his son。〃
〃But…if he were Deryni； Sire…could he not evade even your reading of the truth？〃
With an exasperated sigh； Kelson turned toward Morgan； sitting at his right； and held out the hilt of the sword。
〃Morgan； remembering the oaths of fealty and homage you have sworn to me and to my father before me； and further enjoined by your hand on this sacred sword； would you please tell Bishop Wolfram the limitations of Truth…Reading； if Duncan McLain were Deryni？〃
Quietly Morgan stood； laying his bare right hand on the relic in the royal sword hilt。 It was not often that Kelson invoked the name of his father； with all the very special associations that called up for Alaric Morgan。
〃For simple Trutji…Reading； whether or not the subject is Deryni has no bearing；〃 Morgan said quietly。 〃His Majesty would have no difficulty distinguishing truth from a lie。 The operative limitation to Truth…Reading is that the right questions must be asked。 Nothing in Truth…Reading pels a man to tell the truth； it simply betrays him when ne does not。〃
Wolfram swallowed uneasily； only partially reassured。
〃Sire； is that true？〃
〃It is。〃
〃You would know if Morgan lied？〃
〃If I wished it； yes；〃 Kelson replied。 〃The process does require intent。〃 He turned his Haldane eyes full on Morgan。 〃I cannot simply know； as I suspect the Deryni cannot； either。 But if I will it； I can distinguish truth from falsehood。 Morgan； before God and these witnesses； have you spoken the truth？〃
〃I have； Sire。〃
Kelson sheathed his sword as he returned his attention to Wolfram。 〃You have heard the truth。 Excellency。〃
〃I…see。〃 Wolfram turned to confer with Cardiel； Arilan nodding thoughtful agreement with whatever the archbishop said； then looked out boldly at Kelson again。
〃Sire； I have only just confirmed something that I heard some months ago； but I am given to understand that…the Haldane talents are not limited to mere verification of truth。 That more…pelling measures may be employed to elicit actual information from a subject。 That…such measures were used routinely on campaign last summer to retrieve more plete reports from scouts in your service； not only by Duke Alaric； but by yourself。〃
Kelson allowed himself a tight； careful smile； wondering where Wolfram had gotten his information…though any of the scouts could have talked about it。 No one had forbidden it。 He wondered whether Duncan had used the method； too…though he would have been far less open about it； still feeling it needful to keep that aspect of his identity unconfirmed。
〃My prince？〃 Morgan murmured。
〃Tell him；〃 Kelson said。
〃We Deryni call it Mind…Seeing；〃 Morgan said。 〃Do the Haldanes have another name for it。 Sire？〃
〃No。〃
Inclining his head； Morgan continued。 〃We distinguish two levels of Mind…Seeing； depending upon whether the subject is cooperative or not。 A consciously cooperating subject can recall events in great detail。 And ofcourse； there's no possibility of lying。 An uncooperative subject may be able to block the efficiency of the process to the extent that he will not volunteer information。 But his answers to specific questions will be truthful。 Resistance produces varying degrees of disfort for the subject； depending upon the level of resistance and the amount of energy being put into the demands for information。 This holds true for Deryni as well as humans； though Deryni obviously will have the potential for greater resistance。〃
〃I see；〃 Wolfram said thoughtfully。 〃Then； if Bishop McLain were Deryni…〃
〃Even if he were；〃 Kelson said pointedly； 〃…which I will not ask him。 Bishop…any resistance to my questions regarding his marriage would be immediately evident； for I would put the full force of my power behind my questioning。 I will do that； if you wish…assuming； of course； that the findings thus obtained may be acceptable to this court。〃
The measure Kelson proposed was a uniquely Haldane solution to a situation they had all feared would have none； and the king had little concern that Wolfram would continue to object for long。 Nor did he。 When the peppery old bishop had conferred again with Cardiel and Arilan； finally giving reluctant assent by his expression； Kelson bade Morgan set two backless stools before the tribunal's table。
A glance in Duncan's direction brought him forward…an unassuming； black…clad supplicant today rather than duke and earl and warrior…bishop； blue eyes guileless and unflinching； clean…shaven oval face framed by close…cropped brown hair； tonsured only in token； wearing no sign of his episcopal rank save the amethyst on his right hand。 This he removed and laid on the table before Cardiel for safekeeping as he took a seat at Kelson's behest； scooting the stool closer to the table