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Before he could decide who was the greater threat； Morgan glided in slightly from behind and clamped the desperately swiveling head between his hands； extending control。
〃Don't fight me；〃 he ordered； sounding almost bored as hands and mind pelled obedience。 〃It isn't going to do any good。 And if you relax and cooperate； we may even be able to make you a little more fortable。〃
The man's struggles subsided jerkily； much against his will； and his free hand fell away as Duncan began unwrapping the splinted arm。 He winced as the priest's sensitive fingers brushed the angry…looking flesh over the broken forearm； his body arching with new pain as Duncan encased the damaged area between his two hands。
〃What are you doing？ No magic！ No！ Please don't！〃
At Duncan's nod； Morgan drew his controls tighter and pushed the man into unconsciousness； shifting one hand to cover Duncan's two as he reached for the healing mode he and his cousin now achieved with increasing reliability。 Building the rapport with Duncan； he felt himself sinking into that odd； other…wordly sensation which he had e to associate with the rogue healing talent … and felt the fleeting； familiar press of Another's hands atop his own as the connection was made and the bones began to knit beneath their touch。 He withdrew when the healing was plete； blinking and partially releasing control to let their patient regain consciousness。
〃No；〃 the man murmured weakly； as his eyes fluttered open。 〃No magic； please。。。〃
〃It's a little late for that；〃 Morgan replied； settling on a stool that Nigel pushed closer； so he could keep one hand casually on the man's shoulder for future control。 〃Suppose you tell us your name now。〃
Dazed； the man flexed the fingers of his sword arm and rubbed where the break had been； glancing furtively at Duncan； not daring to look at Morgan or acknowledge the Deryni hand still resting on his shoulder。
〃You … healed me；〃 he whispered reproachfully。
〃Yes； they healed you；〃 Kelson replied； looking a little disgusted。 〃You're not contaminated； you know。 Answer the question。 Who are you？〃
The man swallowed with difficulty。 〃I still claim benefit of clergy；〃 he said weakly。 〃I … 〃
〃The only benefit of clergy that you're going to receive right now；〃 Nigel said pointedly； 〃is the fact that Monsigner McLain is here to witness your interrogation。 Now answer your king's question。〃
As the man set his lips in a thin； defiant line and started to shake his head； Morgan exchanged a glance with Kelson and extended control again； imposing the pulsions of Truth…Saying。
〃Tell us your name；〃 he said patiently。
〃Nevan d'Estrelldas；〃 the man replied； his eyes widening as the words tumbled from his lips despite his intention to keep silent。
〃D'Estrelldas？〃 Kelson repeated； glancing at Duncan in surprised question as Duncan； too； started。 〃That's an unusual name … Bremagni； isn't it？〃
Duncan nodded； pursing his Ups in grim suspicion。 〃It is also the name of one of the itinerant bishops working in Kierney； isn't it； Nevan？〃
Nevan nodded； again much against his will； and Duncan scowled even harder。 Kelson looked astonished。
〃You mean this man is one of our bishops？〃
〃Unfortunately； I fear he is。 Sire；〃 Duncan replied。 〃I thought he looked familiar。 I wonder how many other bishops Loris has managed to subvert。〃
〃Let's see if he knows；〃 Morgan said； turning pale eyes on his subject and locking his attention。 〃You are Bishop Nevan； are you not？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Yes； what？〃 Morgan insisted； touching further control。
Nevan moistened his lips and inclined his head in unwilling respect。
〃Yes； Your Grace。〃
〃That's better。 And as a bishop； to whom do you feel you owe your obedience？〃
〃To the Bishop of Culdi。〃
〃Culdi？〃 Kelson blurted； glancing from Nevan to Duncan in dismay。 〃Does that mean there were Culdi men with those of Trurill？ Assisting Loris in his escape？〃
〃Only one question at a time； my prince；〃 Morgan reminded him； returning his attention to the fidgeting Nevan。 〃Remember that he's very literal…minded in this state。 Bishop Nevan； are you saying that the Bishop of Culdi was aware of the escape plans of Archbishop Loris？〃
〃Yes； Your Grace。〃
〃I see。 Did he； perhaps； instigate them？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Someone else approached him； then； with a proposition？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Who was that？〃
〃I'm not sure。 Your Grace。〃
〃Then； who do you think approached him？〃
Nevan seemed to fight the response； but the name came out nonetheless。
〃Monsignor Gorony； Your Grace。〃
〃Gorony！〃 Kelson breathed。
With a glance； Morgan silenced him and returned his attention to their reluctant informant。
〃Was Monsignor Gorony in your pany； then？〃 he asked。
Nevan nodded。
〃And Brice of Trurill？〃
Again； the nod。
〃How many men？〃
Nevan thought a moment。 〃Fourteen now。〃
〃Because you were taken？〃
〃Yes； Your Grace。〃
〃And where were you bound？〃 Kelson asked。
〃Ratharkin； Majesty。〃
〃For what purpose？〃
〃To consecrate the Lord Judhael Bishop of Ratharkin。〃
〃Not of Meara？〃 Duncan interjected。
〃No； sir。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Meara is to be a patriarchy under Bishop Creoda。〃
〃Under Creoda；〃 Morgan repeated； exchanging glances with the astonished Kelson and Duncan。 〃And Loris？〃
〃He will bee Primate again； of course。〃
〃Not while I live and breathe；〃 Kelson muttered under his breath。 〃Tell me this； then； Nevan。 Does Bishop Creoda owe his obedience to Loris or to Bradene？〃
〃To Archbishop Loris； Majesty。〃
〃And there are other bishops who feel the same way？〃
Nevan nodded agreement。
〃How many？〃
Nevan thought a moment。 〃Six； Majesty。〃
〃Six besides yourself and Creoda？〃
〃Yes； Majesty。〃
〃And I suppose you know who they are？〃
〃Yes； Majesty。〃
〃Name them。〃
〃Bel … 〃 The pattern of obedience had been well set； but Nevan stopped in midsyllable； fighting the mand。 Impatiently Morgan twitched at his controls； taking up just a fraction more of Nevan's ability to resist。
〃Name the other bishops； Nevan；〃 he said softly。 〃We haven't all day。〃
The eyes closed； but the lips parted once more。
〃Belden； Bishop of Cashien； Lachlan； Bishop of Ballymar； and the four itinerant bishops； Mir de Kierney； Calder of Sheele； Gilbert Desmond； and Raymer de Valence。〃
〃And he's consecrating Judhael … he'll have a whole rival hierarchy！〃 Duncan muttered。 〃Damn his impertinence。〃
〃His impertinence doesn't bother me nearly as much as the fact that he's succeeding；〃 Kelson said grimly。 〃He thinks he's scored the advantage； that there isn't a thing I can do to stop him until the spring。 Well； maybe he's made a fatal miscalculation。 Guards！〃
Kelson's council judged that their king was making a fatal miscalculation at first。
〃It's sheerest folly。 Sire；〃 Ewan argued； from his place three seats down from the king at the council table。 〃You can't hope to mount a successful campaign this late in the season！ It's December； for God's sake！〃
〃Which is precisely why I'm going now；〃 Kelson replied。 〃They won't be expecting me。 Ratharkin is well fortified； but I won't believe the citizenry could have been won over that pletely to Loris' leadership already。 At best； he probably has control of the episcopal forces and nominal control of the city。 A show of royal forc