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But Dhugal's fear worried Morgan far more than that of any anonymous monks lurking in the shadowy aisle … and it was likely to get worse before it got much better。 He could feel the stark terror throbbing just beneath the surface like floodwaters only barely held in check by a failing dam； and realized Dhugal's awareness of the precarious balance was only adding to the pressure。 The only way Dhugal was managing to hold his panic in check at all was by watching his feet； concentrating all his attention on the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other。
〃We've got to get you away from here；〃 Morgan muttered； guiding Dhugal toward the door to the sacristy。 〃Can I trust you to do exactly as I say？〃
Dhugal stumbled and nearly fell as he gave Morgan an odd； pinched look。
〃You're … assuming I have a choice；〃 he managed to whisper； as Morgan braced him and reached for the door latch。 〃What's happening to me？〃
〃That's exactly what I'd like to know。〃
Morgan had hoped that the sacristy might be unoccupied during the ceremony； but the presence of Saint George's elderly sacristan was not unexpected。 The old man had been nodding in the meager sunshine of an oriel window at the other end of the room when they entered and woke with a start as the door closed behind them。
〃Who's that？〃
〃Ah； Brother Jerome； is that you？〃 Morgan said； shifting his grip on the tottering Dhugal。 〃The boy's been taken ill。 He needs to sit down。〃
Frail and failing of eyesight； the old monk shuffled closer to squint quizzically at Morgan and his obviously ailing panion。
〃Why； 'tis the Duke o'Corwyn … an' who's this？〃 the old man said； his tone conveying just a trace of wariness along with surprised respect。 〃Here； laddie； sit ye doon。 Ye look a trifle peaked。 What's wrong with the boy； Yer Grace？〃
〃Nothing serious； I hope；〃 Morgan replied； letting Jerome help him seat Dhugal on a low settle next to a vestment press。 〃I think it was just the closeness of the air in the choir。 Maybe the incense was too much for him。〃 He ventured a sidelong glance at Jerome as he felt for the pulse in Dhugal's wrist。 〃I'm sure he'll be all right in a few minutes。 Do you think the archbishop would mind if you raided his sacramental wine for a wee dram？〃
〃Ach； o'course not； Yer Grace。 Twill be just th' thing。 Wait ye here。〃
As the old man shuffled across the room； fumbling with a ring of keys hanging at his waist； Morgan leaned closer to Dhugal's ear。 The boy's breathing was shallow； his head leaned against the side of the press； eyes closed。
〃Dhugal； sit still and don't be surprised at anything you see；〃 he whispered； touching a forefinger to his lips for silence as the boy opened his eyes。 〃I think Brother Jerome is going to take a little nap。〃
Morgan could sense Dhugal's startled question through the fog of his distress； but he put it out of mind as he crossed to where Jerome was trying to match a key to the lock on the wine cabinet。
〃I know I hae th' key here somewhere；〃 Jerome was muttering。
〃Why don't you try that one？〃 Morgan said； deftly slipping one arm around the stooped shoulders as if to point one out； before he pressed his other hand over the old man's forehead and eyes。
〃Never mind； old friend。 Just go to sleep and forget all this；〃 he whispered。 〃That's right。。。〃
The old man was no challenge at all。 As he started to buckle at the knees； already deep asleep； Morgan shifted control and steadied him enough to walk him carefully back to the seat in the oriel window。 Soft snoring followed Morgan as he returned to the dazed and awestruck Dhugal。
〃Don't touch me；〃 Dhugal whispered； going rigid as Morgan took his hand and pulled him to his feet。 〃Please。 What did you do to that old man？ Where are we going？〃
〃I didn't hurt Brother Jerome； and I'm not going to hurt you；〃 Morgan said； only tightening his grip on Dhugal's wrist。 〃e stand here with me。 If you don't cooperate； it will only be more difficult for both of us。〃
〃No。 Please！〃
Shaking his head sympathetically； for there was no time to explain； Morgan half…dragged the reluctant Dhugal to the center of the room where the floor tiles marked out a squared cross just large enough for two people to stand side by side。 As he spun Dhugal away from him； clamping his hands on the boy's shoulders； Dhugal tried again to pull away。
〃If you can let yourself relax； this will be a great deal easier；〃 Morgan murmured； slipping one arm'around the boy's neck from behind for a choke hold if he did not stop struggling。 〃One way or another； I'm going to take you through something called a Transfer Portal。 It's a Deryni way of getting somewhere in a hurry。〃
〃It's … magic？〃 Dhugal gasped； panic flaring around him with an almost physical resistance。
Morgan sensed him drawing breath to cry out。 The last thing they needed was to attract more attention。 Biting back his annoyance； for it was hardly Dhugal's fault he was frightened； he tightened his arm across the boy's throat and clapped his other hand over the gasping mouth reaching out with his mind for the controls that would bring unconsciousness。 Dhugal only struggled harder； his fear and his now wildly pulsing shields making psychic control all but impossible unless Morgan wanted to risk really hurting him。 He nearly had to wrestle Dhugal to the floor before he could feel the choke hold starting to take its toll。
〃I'm sorry son；〃 he murmured； as he felt the dark start to swoop down on the boy's mind and Dhugal ceased his squirming。 〃But I told you； one way or the other； you're going。 I don't have time for niceties。 That's right；〃 he finished； as Dhugal slumped in his arms。
He could feel the Portal tingling beneath his feet as he straightened once again； shifting both arms to a firm hold around Dhugal's chest。 Drawing a deep breath and closing his eyes； he visualized his destination and opened his mind to the energies binding the two locations； reaching out to shift their balance。 Abruptly he was standing elsewhere in close darkness； Dhugal a dead weight in his arms。
Cautiously he felt along one er of the parment for the stud that would let them out； conjuring handfire with an impatient gesture when he could not readily locate the stud by touch alone。 By the greenish light； he found the stud at last … he had been searching the wrong er initially。 When he pushed it； the adjacent wall pivoted away from him with a soft hush of still air stirred； also pushing back a heavy tapestry that ordinarily concealed the door's outline。
The room beyond was deserted； softly lit by daylight filtering through the amber glass mullions of the window to their right。 A fireplace dominated the〃 left…hand wall； with a thick carpet covering the stone floor before it。 There Morgan laid the unconscious Dhugal； making a pillow of his cloak to cushion the boy's head。 A few soft…spoken words closed the door to the Portal chamber and brought flame to torches set in wall cressets。 As an afterthought； as Morgan knelt down beside the boy； he quenched the handfire hovering at his shoulder； no sense having that frighten Dhugal when he came to。
And there was certainly enough to frighten him without that。 Even in unconsciousness； the reaction triggered in the cathedral c