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The stench of the burning parchment and blood was quickly covered by the sweeter smell of incense as Duncan moved to the East and bowed； swinging the thurible； then proceeded to follow Arilan in the second casting of their protective circle。
And when Duncan had gotten as far as the southern quadrant； Morgan reversed the Haldane sword in his hands to salute the East； then began cutting the third circumambulation； the tip of the blade seeming to extrude a shimmering ribbon of deep orange flame at chest level； where it passed。 When the third circle was plete； Morgan returned to the center to face Duncan and Arilan； both of whom had re…turned to flank Conall。
〃Now we are met；〃 Arilan said softly； as Morgan ex…tended the sword horizontally across his body； the tip braced against his left hand； and raised the sword to shoulder level between himself and the other three； throwing back his head to summon the psychic triggers to extend the wards。 The fire of the circle rose with his arms； closing in a glowing dome above their heads； and when he swept the sword and his empty left hand downward； to end with the tip grounded at his feet and both hands resting on the quillons； the fire closed downward to floor level； pleting the wards。
〃Now； we are One with the Light；〃 Arilan continued； head bowed。 〃Regard the ancient ways。 We shall not walk this path again。〃
〃Augeatur in nobis； quaesumus； Domine；〃 Duncan went on in Latin； 〃tua virtutis operatic。〃 May the working of Thy power； 0 Lord； be intensified within us。
〃So be it。 Selah。 Amen；〃 Morgan responded。 And Arilan lifted his hands in one final blessing； all of them tracing the sacred symbol as he did。
〃Et mentis nostri tenebras； gratia tuae visitationis； il…lustra； Qui vivus。 Amen。〃 By the grace of Thy ing； light up the darkness of our minds。 Thou Who Art。
Conall looked wary but not at all frightened as Morgan glanced up at him； and Morgan did not know whether he liked that or not。
〃Very well； we're fully warded now。 Do you have any questions； before we proceed？〃
Conall shook his head carefully； but did not seem inclined to speak。 At Morgan's gesture； the prince turned to follow Arilan around to the other side of the altar table； where Duncan pulled out a small stool that had been concealed beneath it and Arilan sat； his back to the altar。 While Arilan unfolded ill…linen cloth across his lap…for Conall would next receive a form of anointing； since he was not yet king in fact…Duncan loosed the prince's shirt strings and bared his breast； then signed for him to kneel at Arilan's feet。 As Morgan moved in closer behind Conall； straddling Conall's calves and setting the sword between his feet so that the blade lay close along Conall's spine； the prince bowed his head and vested folded hands on Arilan's knees。 Duncan took up an ampule of holy oil and also knelt at Arilan's right to hold it for him。
〃'Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king；〃 Arilan said； quoting from scripture。 〃Prince Conall Blaine Cluim Uthyr Haldane； thou art not yet crowned or anointed； yet the acknowledgement of a Haldane sovereign doth customarily involve a sacring。 Therefore； as senior bishop present here as witness； I hereby anoint and bless thee； as a foreshadowing of the blessing and anointing to e when thou art bee king in fact。〃
The bishop dipped the first two fingers of his right hand into the oil Duncan held and anointed the palms Conall opened on his linen…draped lap； tracing from right thumb to left forefinger； left thumb to right forefinger； then making individual crosses on right and left palms。
〃Be thy hands anointed with holy oil； that thou mayest achieve glory。〃
Dipping again； Arilan set the sacred sign on Conall's breast。
〃Be thy breast anointed with holy oil； that valor and courage may be ever in thy heart。〃
And finally； on the crown of Conall's bowed head。
〃Be thy head anointed with holy oil； as kings； priests； and prophets were anointed； that thou mayest receive knowledge。〃
Arilan closed Conall's hands then； binding them lightly together with a strip of linen before carefully cleansing his own fingers。 The oil was indeed holy oil； but it also contained a substance to lower resistance and induce mild relaxation。 It had no observable effect on Arilan； whose exposure had been brief； but Conall continued to absorb the drug through hands； breast； and scalp； swaying a little on his knees。 As Duncan exchanged the ampule of oil for the bowl containing the ashes of the burned document； Morgan steadied Conall with his right hand on a shoulder； while his left continued to press the flat of the Haldane blade against their subject's spine。
Morgan sensed a mellowing in Conall's previously rigid shields as Duncan dipped his thumb into the ashes； signed the prince between the eyes； and read a gentle wash of warmth and faint disorientation as he briefly touched what lay beyond。
〃Conall Blaine Cluim Uthyr；〃 Duncan said； 〃I seal thee Haldane and confirm thee as Heir。〃
While Duncan took up a pinch of the ash between thumb and forefinger； Morgan slid his right hand under and around Conall's jaw as cue for him to open his mouth。 Conall plied without resistance。
〃Taste of the ashes of mingled Haldane blood；〃 Duncan murmured； sprinkling some of the ash onto Conall's tongue； 〃thine own and thy father's； in unbroken line。 By blood art thou consecrated to the Haldane legacy and acknowledged as The Haldane； that the power may e upon thee in its fullness。〃
But the actual channeling of power would not e from the ash。 Nor would it e from the Ring of Fire that Arilan Slipped onto Conall's left hand； after he had unbound Conall's hands and cleansed them of the oil。 As for Kelson's ritual； hardly more than four years before； Morgan and Duncan had set the catalyst for the descent of power in a physical vessel associated before with Haldane magic…the heavy； fiat…sized brooch that Duncan brought out from under a linen cloth； last seen at Kelson's knighting…golden Haldane lion inlaid in a crimson enamel field。
And on the back； which Duncan had carefully prepared during the afternoon； was the pin that normally clasped the brooch…three inches of gleaming gold； very sharp； which Conall； like Kelson before him； would be required to stab through his left hand。 The golden shaft also carried a second； stronger drug that would further reinforce the lowering of lay possible resistance to the forces about to be focused in Gonall。
Arilan stood to Conall's right as Duncan put the opened brooch in Conall's right hand； and Morgan prepared to step back…for none of them must touch Conall at the actual moment of his ordeal。 In turn； each of the priest…bishops offered a prayer for the health and prosperity of this latest Haldane heir； Morgan leading Conall in the response of 〃Amen〃 at the appropriate moments…for Conall's eyes were dilated now； and he was sinking deeper into thrall of the first drug。
And then； as Morgan stepped back to kneel directly behind Conall； the Haldane sword held beneath the quillons like a cross between them； Arilan also knelt at Conall's right and Duncan； still standing； placed both hands lightly on Conall's head； careful not to touch the oil still glistening there。