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But distraction in the form of Judhael of Meara met him as he passed the open door of the chapel in the guest wing。 Morgan stiffened as he saw him； mentally berating himself for even having glanced inside。 Judhael and another vaguely familiar…looking priest were just ing out。 The temptation at least to test whether Judhael had heard about the attack on Duncan was too enticing to resist。
〃Your Grace；〃 Judhael murmured； as Morgan loomed in the doorway and blocked his exit； all diffidence and courtly courtesy to the king's champion。
〃Father Judhael；〃 Morgan acknowledged。 〃I wonder whether I might have a word with you in private；〃 he said； glancing pointedly at Judhael's panion。 〃Perhaps we could step back into the chapel。〃
Judhael looked puzzled and a little uneasy； but he agreed readily enough。 When one aspired to high office in the confirmation of the king； one did not decline the invitation of the king's friend and confidant。 He watched dispassionately as Morgan closed the chapel door behind them； inclining his head and preceding him down the short aisle when Morgan gestured toward the front of the chapel。 Both men genuflected and signed themselves when they reached the altar rail； Morgan and then Judhael easing onto the kneelers which lay along its length。 Morgan bowed his head for a moment as if in prayer； letting Judhael's curiosity and apprehension grow； then glanced at the priest sidelong。
〃You're acquainted with my cousin。 Father Duncan McLain； I believe；〃 he said softly。
Judhael cocked his head and stared at Morgan in surprise。
〃Why； I'm aware that he is secretary to the Lord Archbishop of Rhemuth； Your Grace。 He's been keeping the accounts of the interviews this week。〃
〃That he has；〃 Morgan murmured； opening his mind to Truth…Read。 〃Are you aware that he was set upon by a boy with a knife earlier this evening？〃
Judhael's eyes widened at the news； then shuttered behind a quickly posed mask of concern。
〃Father McLain is a priest like myself。 Your Grace；〃 he said in a low； uninflected voice。 〃I am sorry to hear that someone would attempt his sacrilegious murder； but it grieves me far more to think that you might believe me involved in any way。〃
〃You have no knowledge of it； then？〃 Morgan asked； a little taken aback to realize that Judhael was telling the truth。
〃None； Your Grace。〃
〃I see。〃
No knowledge whatsoever。 Judhael really had not known。 Morgan gazed searchingly into the priest's eyes for several seconds； not doing anything but looking … though Judhael might construe what he liked； and hopefully panic enough to let slip some additional bit of information … but Judhael met his gaze with no more uneasiness than anyone might have exhibited when stared at by a Deryni； the extent of whose powers were uncertain。
〃Just one more question； then；〃 Morgan said； choosing his words carefully。 〃When was the last time you heard from your aunt？〃
Judhael hardly batted an eye。
〃Last Christmastide； Your Grace。 Why do you ask？〃
Last Christmastide； long before Meara's bishopric became vacant； Morgan noted。 Nor was there any duplicity in Judhael's answer。 Not only was Judhael innocent of knowledge about the attempt on Duncan； but he did not seem to be involved in any machinations his aunt might have planned for his insertion into a bishop's see … though Judhael surely had his own ambitions。
Morgan dared not push the issue any further； however。 Judhael was beginning to look more anxious； and the only way to go from here was to actually force a deep reading on the priest … and Arilan would very likely skin him if he got wind of it； after his earlier lecture to Cardiel。
〃Very well。 Father。 I'll leave you； then。 Thank you for your time。 If you've a mind to ease a soul； you might whisper a prayer for the boy with the knife。 I'm afraid he died unshriven。〃
He signed himself slowly and deliberately； not taking his eyes from Judhael's； then rose and glided back up the aisle。 Judhael was still kneeling； face buried in his hands； when Morgan glanced back just before going out。
He walked for a while after that； reviewing what he had done and finally inquiring among the guards as to what had happened to the body of Duncan's attacker。 He found it in the infirmary； covered with a blanket； and he stared at the face of the dead boy for some time； wondering who had sent him。
CHAPTER FOUR
Thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment。
Psalms 60：3
Farther north and east of Culdi； nearer the coast； an early dusk began to settle as Kelson and his warband urged their weary horses along the final stretch approaching Castle Transha； cloaks pulled close against an increasingly bitter drizzle。 Dhugal； riding at the king's side； had set them a brisk pace since leaving the Trurill patrol at midmorning； pushing to reach the shelter of his father's castle before dark。 They slowed as the grade of the road got steeper； Dhugal expectantly searching the rain ahead until the vast pile which was Transha gradually took shape； almost black against the darkening sky。 The young border lord grinned as he glanced aside at the king。
〃We're nearly there now；〃 he said cheerily。 〃My father's castellan should have everything prepared。 We've been observed for the past hour； you know。〃'
〃Oh？〃
Surprised and a little taken aback。 Kelson turned to look at Dhugal in question； for he had been scanning the craggy hills with Deryni senses as well as sight for nearly that long； and had detected nothing。
〃Don't worry；〃 Dhugal went on with a chuckle。 〃I didn't see them either。 But then； I'm not as experienced as Ciard yet。 He signalled me when we made our last rest stop。〃
Ciard。 Of course。 He had been the only other MacArdry retainer riding with the Trurill patrol； so of course had e with them。 Kelson remembered him well from the days of Dhugal's fosterage at court。 Glancing back thoughtfully at the middle…aged gillie riding a few ranks behind； he recalled being told that Ciard O Ruane had been made Dhugal's personal attendant and bodyguard by the MacArdry chief himself； shortly after Dhugal's birth。 Kelson had never known him to be far from his young charge's side。 The man's almost uncanny ability in the field had mystified Kelson even in the old days； and Deryni perceptions gained since their last contact had added no further explanation。
〃Ciard。 I might have known；〃 Kelson muttered aside to Dhugal； as he returned his attention to the narrowing trail ahead。 〃I suppose next you'll be telling me he does it with that borderer Second Sight you mentioned yesterday。〃
〃Why； I thought your kind knew all about such things；〃 Dhugal replied with another chuckle。 〃You really needn't worry； though。 I personally guarantee my people's loyalty … though I should warn you not to be surprised if your wele seems a little cool at first。 Even if you weren't the king； you are a lowlander。 Both make you an oddity this far west。〃
And being Deryni makes me odder still； Kelson added in his own mind； pleting what Dhugal had not said。 Despite Dhugal's assurance； he could not suppress a faint itch between his shoulderblades。
The air tasted increasingly of salt as they approached the castle's outer defenses； and the gulls screeching overhead gave odd c