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of the Haldane potential in Haldane heirs。 I know for a fact that it was used in Kelson's and Nigel's rituals； but I have reason to believe that Brion was invested with it as a boy； with a ten…to…fifteen…year gap between the two parts of his ritual。
〃On the positive side； however； that particular jewel does not seem to be essential to the power transfer。 The Ring of Fire may be another matter； but we have that。 In any case； Duncan and I have attempted to endow this replacement jewel with the kind of psychic energy we've perceived in the Eye of Rom…which should be sufficient for our purposes。 The essential element of the conferring seems to be tied up with the shedding of blood； rather than the stone itself… which makes it useful for sealing the document you've just signed： a necessary item； since you were never given any official recognition prior to now。 The Ring of Fire also needs to be primed by your blood； so we'll do that at the same time。 Don't worry； you only get stabbed once。〃
He watched Conall close his eyes as Duncan brought the needle close； though the prince did not flinch as Duncan thrust it briskly through。 Arilan lifted the parchment so that Duncan could catch Conall's blood on it； when the needle had been withdrawn； but Conall looked up of his own accord as that was done； and without prompting set his thumb deftly against the blood to seal it。 The prince said nothing as Duncan touched the Ring of Fire to the blood welling from his earlobe； not seeming to notice how the large； cabochon…cut garnet in the center had darkened with something more than blood…color； when Duncan laid it back on the tray； but he flinched a little when Duncan threaded the wire of the star sapphire through his still…raw flesh。
〃I'll heal this； if you can relax your shields a little；〃 Duncan murmured； lightly enclosing the jewel and earlobe between his fingers。 〃There's no sense enduring any more disfort than you must。〃
Conall let out a heavy sigh at that； looking much relieved when； after a few seconds； Duncan drew back。 Arilan withdrew to lay the sealed document on a small table set against the opposite wall； bringing the whole into the center of the room before returning to stand at Conall's back； and Duncan resumed his place at Nigel's left side； once more taking up his ritual pose with arms crossed on his breast as Morgan spoke。
〃I now charge and require you； Conall Blaine Cluim Uthyr； as the true…born heir of Nigel Cluim Gwydion Rhys； to witness the lawful withdrawing of the Haldane mandate from this Nigel Cluim Gwydion Rhys。〃
Morgan closed his eyes and held up his open palms at shoulder level； like a priest invoking the Divine Presence； as he went on。
〃To that end do I now summon； stir； and call up invisible witnesses to approve and ratify this act。 May we be protected from all dangers and adversity approaching from the East； in the name of Ra…pha…el。〃
He chanted the archangelic name； and as the final note faded； Duncan and Arilan sang； 〃Amen。〃
〃So； likewise； may we be protected from all dangers and adversity approaching from the South； in the name of Mi…cha…el。〃
〃Amen；〃 the two priests sang。
〃May we also be protected from all dangers and adversity approaching from the West； in the name of Ga…bri…el。〃
〃Amen。〃
〃And finally； may we be protected from all dangers and adversity approaching from the North； in the name of Au…ri…el。〃
〃Amen； Amen； Amen； and with open hearts may we proceed；〃 the priests responded。
And as Morgan again crossed his arms on his breast and bowed his head； Arilan let his left hand rest on the back of Conall's neck； pressing him to bow his head against his folded hands； while his right hand was raised palm…outward toward Nigel； as if in benediction。
〃Blessed be the Creator； Yesterday and Today；〃 Arilan mud； tracing a cross the full length of Nigel's motionless body； 〃the Beginning and the End； the Alpha and the Omega。〃 As his hand moved on to trace the Greek letters at Nigel's head and feet and the signs of the elements in the quadrants of the cross； he went on。
〃His are the seasons and the ages； to Him glory and dominion through all the ages of eternity。〃
The words； though Morgan had heard them in a magical context before； were those normally used to bless the Paschal candle and perhaps had an added connotation of acknowledging Nigel as the sacrificial victim…as； indeed； were all Sacred Kings for their people。
''Blessed be the Lord；〃 Arilan concluded。 〃Blessed be his Holy Name。〃
As he finished； he released Conall's neck and folded his lands on his breast as Morgan and Duncan had done； and Morgan； with a quick glance at Duncan； extended his hands to by the left one on Nigel's brow； the right on the naked （wade of the Haldane sword beneath Nigel's hands。 Duncan flowed suit； but in reverse； right hand on Nigel's brow and left on blade； fingertips overlapping with Morgan's。
〃Now； in sorrow；〃 Morgan whispered； 〃do we withdraw that which was given； Nigel Cluim Gwydion Rhys； that in the fullness of time； all that is enpassed by Haldane wood and right may be vested in thy son and heir； Conall Blune Cluim Uthyr。 So be it。〃
〃So be it；〃 Duncan murmured； as Arilan said； 〃Amen。〃
Morgan let himself plummet into deep rapport with Duncan then； taking nearly a full minute to mesh the linkage before beginning a symbolic visualization of power being withdrawn from Nigel。 He was never certain； afterwards； whether Nigel； indeed； lost anything in the operation； but when he and Duncan had ended the link； stiffly pulling back from the physical exertion of the contact； he seemed to feel a new power pulsing in the sword； beyond that usually associated with the magical blade。
Gently he disengaged the weapon from Nigel's further grasp； waiting until Duncan had rearranged the unconscious prince's hands crossed on his breast before lightly touching the cross hilt of the sword to Nigel's lips。 Then he was taking the blade into the center of the room； hand closed firmly around the blade just below the quillons； and turning to face east； waiting while Duncan and Arilan brought Conall to stand directly behind him。
Arilan picked up an aspergillum and moved ahead of Morgan to bow to the East and begin tracing a circle clockwise around them； sprinkling holy water to define its perimeter； the circumference of the room。 Duncan lit candles on the little table Arilan had moved into place earlier； then touched flame to the document they had signed and sealed； laying it in a small clay bowl when it had caught and was burning well。
〃May this offering blessed by Thee ascend to Thee； 0 Lord；〃 Duncan said； signing it with a cross； 〃and may Thy mercy descend upon Thy servants； both present and to e。〃 He then traced a similar cross over an incense boat before sprinkling a few grains on charcoal glowing in a thurible。
〃Be thou blessed by Him in Whose honor thou shalt be burnt；〃 he said； taking it up by its chains and setting it to swinging gently。 〃Wele as incense smoke； let our prayers rise up before Thee； 0 Lord。 When we lift our hands； may it be acceptable as the evening sacrifice。〃
The stench of the burning parchment and blood was quickly covered by the sweeter smell of incense as Duncan moved to the Eas