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Duncan found his friend ensconced in a deeply recessed window seat which overlooked the cloister garth； boots propped indolently on the stone bench opposite and a steaming cup all but forgotten in one hand。 His nose was pressed to the rain…streaked window glass； free hand shading his eyes against glare。
〃I see I was right；〃 Duncan said； casting off his black cloak and rubbing his hands briskly before the fire。 〃When I saw how hard it was raining； I guessed that even you wouldn't choose to ride in this kind of weather。 What are you looking at？〃
〃The ambitious Father Judhael；〃 Morgan replied； not moving from his vantage point。 〃e and see。〃
Duncan needed no second invitation； for Judhael of Meara was probably the single most controversial candidate being evaluated by the bishops。 Though unimpeachable on ecclesiastical grounds； and personable enough as an individual； his family connections inspired more suspicion than confidence among those aware of the politics which went with the Mearan See； for Judhael was nephew to the Pretender Caitrin。 Just now； he was standing outside the door to the chapter house； deep in conversation with old Creoda of Carbury； Bishop of the new See of Culdi since last winter and host for this convocation。 Only when the two had moved off down another corridor and disappeared from sight did Duncan draw back from the window。
〃I don't like that；〃 the priest said softly； glancing at Morgan with tight…lipped disapproval。 〃Old Creoda can change with the wind。 You remember how he stayed by Loris almost to the end； two summers ago。 When the bishops decided to phase out his old see； I thought for sure they'd retire him。 Who would have guessed they'd give him Culdi instead？〃
〃Hmmm； I shan't argue that；〃 Morgan agreed。 〃He certainly wouldn't have been my choice for a see so closely associated with a Deryni saint。 But perhaps they thought Carsten would balance him； with Culdi being so close to Meara。 I doubt anyone expected that Carsten wouldn't last out the ？ ear。〃
Duncan raised an eyebrow。 〃No？ But then； no one asked me。 Carsten's health had been frail for some time。 Everyone in Kierney and Cassan knew that。 Still； there was no real trouble in Meara while he was alive。 Now that he's gone； most of the Mearan clergy are suddenly talking about Judhael for his replacement。 Now； that's one I certainly don't fancy being appointed to the See of Meara。〃
〃Judhael？〃 Morgan toyed with one of the links of his captain…general's chain； tapping the engraved gold against a front tooth as he nodded。 〃Nor do I。 It's entirely too much like a real throne。 Even by separatist standards； he's too far down the succession to press his own claim to the Mearan coronet； but as Bishop of Meara； he could certainly exert a great deal of influence for his aunt and her sons。〃
〃Those sons … 〃 Duncan snorted。 〃Sometimes I think we'd be better off if old Malcolm had killed off all the other Mearan heirs when he took the coronet and married Roisian。 Perhaps that sounds cold and unpriestly； but it might have prevented a lot more bloodshed later on。〃
〃Aye。 And our Mearan princelings are only a little younger than Kelson： just old enough to be ambitious about asserting their mother's claim。 And Judhael on a bishop's throne could be the foot in the door。 The very thought gives me the shakes。〃
〃You'll get no argument from me on that；〃 Duncan replied。 'The sad thing is； he's well qualified for the job。 His record as a priest is spotless； and he has all the right administrative abilities to make a very good bishop。〃
〃Or the focus for a separatist revolt；〃 Morgan said。 〃Still； credentials like his will make it very difficult to ignore his candidacy。 And let's face it： the man had no more say about being born into a cadet royal house than you and I did about being born Deryni。〃
〃More's the pity。〃
With a sigh； Duncan turned away from the window and sat down in a high…backed chair whose shadows nearly swallowed his black cassock； stretching out his legs toward the fire。 Morgan followed him； lifting mulled wine in wordless question and only refilling his own cup when Duncan shook his head。 As Morgan sat in another chair beside him； Duncan rolled his head in Morgan's direction and looked at him searchingly； folding his hands and tapping joined forefingers against his cheek as he rested his elbows on the chair arms。
〃I'm beginning to be really concerned； Alaric；〃 the priest said softly。 〃We've interviewed a lot of candidates； but none of them match up to Judhael。 Oh； some are better in one area or another； but none of them average out as well。〃
〃What about that one they interviewed this morning？〃 Morgan asked。 〃What was his name … Father Benoit？ He seemed well qualified to me。〃
Duncan shook his head。 〃A fine priest； but far too naive to cope with the Mearan situation。 He's someone to keep ID mind for the future； and he can be groomed for the episcopate in some subsidary post； but that doesn't help us now。 No； what we need is a good promise candidate … and I'm not sure he exists。 He needs to be the king's man； but he also ought to have at least some familiarity with Mearan politics。 The only men who seem to fill both。 requirements are either too young or too inexperienced。 They can't all be like Arilan； I suppose： auxiliary bishop at thirty…five； and with his own see before he was forty。〃
〃No； I suppose not；〃 Morgan said。 He took a thought…fill pull at his wine； then cocked his head at Duncan。 〃Has it occurred to you that perhaps the bishops have expanded the episcopal structure a little too quickly？ … reviving three old sees and only abolishing one … that you've used up your reserve of men qualified to promote？ Plus； you've； lost … what？ … four bishops in the past two years？ Five； if you count Loris。〃
Duncan grimaced。 〃Count that a blessing； not a loss； cousin。 Anyway； he's safely locked away at Saint Iveagh's； so I don't think we need to worry。〃
〃Let's hope not。 Wouldn't that muddy the waters； if he got out？〃
〃Don't even think it。 They say he hasn't changed a bit； you know；〃 Duncan went on； in a more confidential tone。 1 hear he nearly had apoplexy when he heard Arilan had been made Bishop of Dhassa。〃
〃Did he； now？〃
〃Oh； you needn't pretend to be surprised；〃 Duncan replied with a droll grin。 〃Who； of all the so…called rebel bishops； was largely responsible for his fall； after all？ And even if Loris doesn't know for sure that Arilan's Deryni； think about it。 A suspected Deryni in one of the oldest sees in Gwynedd？ It would have been bad enough if he'd only stayed the assistant in Rhemuth。〃
As if the mere mention of Arilan's name had conjured his presence； the door opened at that moment to admit Bishop Denis Arilan； closely followed by Cardiel。 The two looked inordinately pleased with themselves as Duncan and Morgan divested them of their soggy cloaks； Cardiel shaking rain from his steel grey hair and smoothing back little wings of it over his ears with both palms as he sat in the chair which Morgan held for him。 As the darker…haired Arilan also sat； leaning forward lazily to poke at the fire with a piece of kindling； Cardiel glanced at Duncan； who was setting new cups on the hearth by the pot of mulled wine。
〃Duncan； a m