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all bishops claiming to owe him obedience； especially Creoda of Carbury and Judhael of Meara。 Likewise do we exmunicate Caitrin of Meara； Sicard MacArdry； and Ithel of Meara； and bar them from all solace of Mother Church。 Let no church of God be open to them； but let every sacred temple and sanctuary be shut against them。。。。〃
Squirming inwardly。 Kelson sat back on his heels as the rite continued and made himself rest his chin quietly on his folded hands； unable to put from mind his own exmunication and the blind panic it had first evoked。 He sensed a similar disfiture in Morgan； kneeling motionless at his right； but outwardly the Deryni lord was as posed as always。 He dared not try to read Dhugal。 Behind； he was aware of Nigel and Conall； quiet and awed； and Jodrell and Saer de Traheme to their left； only a little less affected for never having been directly exposed to this aspect of the Church's power before。 Ewan sat alone behind them all； indulgent； dozing a little； he had never been much for formal ceremonies。 Out on the choir floor； Duncan seemed to be holding his own reactions in tight check； but Kelson had no doubt that he； too； was remembering a time； not so long ago； when it had been they； not Loris； who had been the subjects of anathema。
〃。。。。 We will neither give them the right hand of fellowship； nor eat at the same table with them； and much less will we municate in sacred mysteries with those who choose to take part with Edmund Loris。。。。〃
They were twenty…six gathered before the altar tonight； the black…coped archbishops set like twin stones in the ring of somber…garbed bishops； priests； and monks。 Duncan was a vague； indefinite form between Arilan and Hugh de Berry； more evident by his psychic presence than by sight。 Bradene's voice rose in volume as the words of condemnation rolled from his tongue； the tension of the ecclesiastical magic building as the rite neared its climax。
〃。。。。 And unless they speedily e to a better mind and make satisfaction to us； we confound them with eternal malediction and condemn with perpetual anathema。 Curst be they in the house； curst in the field； curst be their food and drink and all that they possess。 We declare them exmunicate and numbered among the thrice…damned。 May they have their portion with Dathan and Abiram； whom hell swallowed up quick； and with Pilate； and Judas； who betrayed the Lord。 So do we strike their names from the Book of Life。 So may their light be quenched in the midst of darkness。 Amen。 So be it！〃
And with his final words； and as the others responded； 〃So be it！〃 Bradene took back his candle and； with Cardiel； stepped down from the altar step and moved to the center of the circle； the others closing the gap behind them。 In silence the two archbishops raised their candles aloft and held for several heartbeats； then reversed them end for end and snuffed the flames against the floor。 The others followed suit； the hollow clatter of the falling candles echoing ominously in the darkening choir。
When the silence settled； no light shone save the Presence Lamp glowing above the high altar。 Not a word was spoken as participants and witnesses filed slowly from the heavy dark。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
But now it is e upon thee； and thou faintest； it toucheth thee； and thou art troubled。
Iob 4：5
In the days that followed； the worsening political situation claimed increasing amounts of time and energy on the parts of everyone at court； forcing Kelson to shift his personal concerns for Dhugal into a place of secondary importance。 Still； he worried。 But the constant demands of his royal station left no opportunity to seek out the intimate counsel he might have asked of Morgan and Duncan in less harried times … and that seemed to content Dhugal very well。 The young border lord carefully avoided any mention of what had happened in the cathedral； but his behavior made it clear that he was not yet ready to venture a repeat of his experience。 Though Kelson tried to broach the subject several times； suggesting that Deryni ministrations might ease Dhugal's disfort and perhaps even speed his recovery； Dhugal always managed to sidestep the issue without ever alluding to it specifically。
It was just as well； perhaps； for both Kelson and Morgan had spent nearly every waking hour bound up in meetings of one sort or another； first hammering out the terms of the royal reply to Caitrin and Loris and then cloistered with Nigel and the other manders； preparing the writs of summons that must go out to all Kelson's liegemen if Meara could not be coaxed back into the fold by peaceable means。 Duncan was predictably preoccupied with preparations for his suddenly imminent consecration。 Even Morgan saw little of him during those two days。
The morning of the third day marked a temporary suspension of war preparations； however； for Duncan's consecration was to take place at noon。 In honor of the occasion。 Archbishop Cardiel announced a relaxation of the usual dietary restrictions of Advent； to which Kelson responded by declaring a celebration feast for that evening。 The opportunity for respite from the past days' tensions lent the court a festive air to which even Morgan responded； putting aside the serviceable but plain leathers and homespuns of the past few days in favor of a rich court robe and cloak of fine sapphire blue wool。 He had not been expecting a summons to attend the incipient Bishop Duncan before his consecration； however； and hurried to his cousin's quarters with some apprehension when a servant came to fetch him。
〃Duncan？〃 he called； when he had dismissed the deacon who admitted him and glanced around the room。
〃In here；〃 came the muffled reply。
A tremor was evident in hand as well as voice as Duncan emerged partway from behind a heavy curtain screening the oratory beyond。 Freshly barbered and shaved； he was clad in the expected priestly vestments of alb； amice； and crossed stole over a purple cassock； wanting only the white cope on a nearby stand to plete his attire for the entrance procession not an hour away； but his face wore anything but the serenity and calm which should have been his when approaching episcopal consecration。 He kept his eyes averted as he backed against the curtain to make the opening larger； flinching when Morgan brushed past him to enter。
〃What's wrong？〃 Morgan whispered； stunned。
Duncan shook his head； his voice almost inaudible as he answered。
〃I'm sorry to bother you； Alaric。 I'm … afraid I've taken on more than I realized。 I thought I could deal with it myself； but I was wrong。 I … can't even pray。〃
〃What in the world are you talking about？〃 Morgan said。 He set his hands on Duncan's shoulders and tried to get him to raise his eyes。 〃Look at me！ Isn't this what you want？ You're going to be a bishop … the first known Deryni bishop in … what？ … two hundred years？ What's the matter with you？〃
Duncan kept his head bowed and turned half away。 〃I don't think I can pay the price； Alaric；〃 he whispered。 〃It's because I am Deryni that makes it so difficult； don't you see？ When they put that ring on my finger； how can I ever hope to measure up to him？〃
Only as he gestured blindly toward the altar behind him did Morgan see the small wood