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Cardiel for safekeeping as he took a seat at Kelson's behest； scooting the stool closer to the table and laying his forearms on the table； palms upward； as Kelson directed。
〃This questioning has nothing to do with my office as bishop；〃 he explained to Wolfram； as the latter glanced in question at the ring。 〃I am here as a father who wishes to acknowledge his son。〃
〃A Deryni father； acknowledging a Deryni son？〃
Duncan managed a fleeting but stiff smile。
〃I believe His Majesty said I was not to be asked that question。〃
〃My Majesty did； indeed；〃 Kelson said； setting a hand on Duncan's left shoulder。 〃Shame on you。 Wolfram。〃
Wolfram shrugged。 〃I only ask what others are asking； Sire。 I think he probably is…and I begin to wonder whether there is； indeed； harm in that； apart from the law…but； no matter； for now。 I am not devil's advocate for that question； thank God。〃 He glanced at the others； at the dark； who had looked up furtively at this last exchange； and motioned the young man to continue taking his notes。 〃Shall we proceed？〃
〃With the understanding that I will ask the questions； yes；〃 Kelson replied。 He settled gracefully on the stool at Duncan's left； his hand sliding down Duncan's arm to grasp the wrist inside the loose…fitting black sleeve。 In his peripheral vision； he could see Morgan sitting beside a stiff and anxious Dhugal； with Nigel leaning forward a little； the better to observe what was about to happen。
〃For the benefit of Bishop Wolfram； who's never seen this done before； I'll explain what I'm doing；〃 Kelson said； addressing the three bishops。 〃I've asked Duncan to lay his open hands on the table so that you will be able to observe any sign of tension as the questioning progresses…though I don't expect to see any。 I have my hand on his wrist； partly for the same reason and partly because I've found that physical contact enhances control in this kind of procedure。 Are you fortable； Duncan？〃
〃Physically？ Yes。 Emotionally…〃 The Deryni duke…bishop shrugged and grinned； still playing innocent of direct Deryni knowledge。 〃I've watched this done before。 Sire。 I'm not sure I look forward to reliving the days of my brash youth。 I was very ardent。〃
Kelson smiled fleetingly； feeling for Duncan； but there was no way around it。 It had to be done。
〃Nonetheless；〃 the king said； as he turned his Truth…Reading talent on his friend。 〃Let's begin with a simple review of basics。 Please state your full name for the noble lords of this tribunal； and all your offices。〃
〃Duncan Howard McLain；〃 Duncan said easily。 〃Priest and bishop。 King's Confessor。 Duke of Cassan and Earl of Kierney。 Acting Viceroy of Meara。 I also have some subsidiary titles and offices。 Do you want those； too？〃
〃I don't think that's necessary。 Did you contract a valid marriage with Dhugal MacArdry's mother？〃
〃I did。〃
〃When was that？〃
〃It would have been early in April of 1107。〃
〃And you were how old？〃
Duncan smiled。 〃An intellectually precocious but very naive fifteen； courting an older woman。 Maryse was a year older。〃
〃I see。 But you were both of noble houses； you a duke's son and she the daughter of an earl。 What made you decide to contract a secret marriage？〃
Duncan shook his head wistfully； letting his gaze shift in the general direction of the ring before Cardiel； remembering。
〃Youth。 Impatience。 Maryse and her mother and sisters had e to stay at Culdi while our fathers took their levies into Meara on campaign。 The two clans had been closely allied for several generations。 The way I heard it told； one of my father's men killed one other father's men in a drunken brawl。 Unfortunately； her father's man was Ardry MacArdry； her eldest brother…the heir。
〃The culprit was tried and executed in the field； as was proper； but neither side was really satisfied。 Our fathers feared a blood feud if contact continued between the clans。 So old Caulay broke off his MacArdry levies and had them transferred to another mand； separate from my father's； then rode back to Culdi with a small escort to get his womenfolk and hie them back to Transha。〃
〃Maryse as well？〃 Kelson prompted。
Duncan blinked several times and nodded； his voice faltering just a little as he continued。
〃I never planned to fall in love that spring。 I had my studies and my vocation。 I was to enter the seminary at Grecotha in the fall。 I was old enough to go on campaign； but I'd stayed behind to host my father's guests while he and my brother went。 Nothing like love was supposed to happen。〃
He shook his head； amazed anew at how events had upset all their plans。
〃It did happen； though。 Within a few weeks； we were all caught up in it。 We kept it secret； because we knew my mother would be furious when I told her I would not be entering the priesthood； but we planned to ask our parents' permission to marry at the end of the summer； when our fathers came back from the war。 Caulay's unexpected return changed all that…and the threat of a blood feud。〃
〃What changed？〃 Kelson asked。
Duncan sighed。 〃We decided to marry anyway。 We were thinking clearly enough not just to run away； but we knew none of the local priests would marry us without our parents' consent； especially at such short notice。 So we agreed to meet in the chapel at midnight and make our vows before the only Witness we knew would not betray us。〃
〃The Blessed Sacrament；〃 Kelson supplied； glancing at the bishops and noting Wolfram's interest； in particular。
〃Yes。〃
〃And did you； in fact； meet？ And did you； in fact； ex change marriage vows that you considered binding？〃
〃We did。〃
〃Thank you。〃 Kelson reached with his free hand to brush Duncan's brow； carefully avoiding eye contact with Wolfram。
〃Close your eyes now； Duncan。 Close your eyes and slip deeper into memory of that night。 In a moment； I'm going to ask you to recall exactly what you and Maryse said to each other。 Are you willing？〃
As Duncan plied； nodding dreamily。 Kelson pressed his fingertips lightly on the closed lids； extending control without encountering resistance； then slid his hand down to rest on Duncan's sleeve； his other hand stiti circling the relaxed wrist。 Only then did he look at the bishops again。
Arilan； who knew exactly what Kelson was doing； and how truly Deryni it was； had raised one hand casually to shield a faint smile from Wolfram。 Cardiel looked alert and fascinated； as he usually did when watching the king work。 Wolfram himself appeared a little apprehensive； but that was only to be expected。 He started a little as Kelson nodded in his direction and glanced deliberately at Duncan's passive； upturned hands。
〃He's been telling the truth exactly as he remembers it； my lords；〃 the king said softly。 〃There's been no flicker of resistance； no hint of deception。 I have no doubt that they did exchange marriage vows。 Is it necessary for me to go on？〃
〃It…won't hurt him； will it？〃 Wolfram asked。
〃Not at all…though； as he said； the intensity of some of those memories may be a bit unfortable。 In a sense； he'll actually be reliving the incident。〃
Wolfram swallowed。 〃I…don't wish to cause him distress； Sire； but I would like to hear the words。 The words can confirm much of his intent。〃
〃Very well。〃 Kelson sighed and tur