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And there was certainly enough to frighten him without that。 Even in unconsciousness； the reaction triggered in the cathedral continued to pulse around Dhugal's tight…locked shields。 An added plication was the constant ache of his injuries； only aggravated by Morgan's less than gentle handling … but for that； at least； Morgan might have a solution。
〃Let's just see if I can heal around those shields；〃 he muttered to himself； quickly unlacing the thongs closing Dhugal's tunic front and the shirt beneath。
A wide bandage bound the bruised chest； but if Morgan took the time to remove it； Dhugal might regain consciousness before he was finished。 No matter。 He could work around it。 Laying his palms on Dhugal's chest above and below the turns of greyish linen； hands rising and falling with Dhugal's shallow breathing； he slid his fingertips as far under the bandage from either side as he could； already reaching out with his mind to read the damage as he closed his eyes and let out a long； slow breath。 Dhugal's shields were avoidable at this level … perceivable as an annoyance； a distraction； but they did not interfere。 Without further hesitation； Morgan shifted into the healing mode which had bee more and more second nature in the past three years； letting his senses extend through his hands and into Dhugal's body。
The damage was not great。 This healing would require very little drain of him； for life energy was not threatened。 Smoothly； Morgan set the healing process in motion； mending torn cartilage and muscle； knitting bone； sending rich； life…bearing blood to melt away the bruising； not only in Dhugal's chest but in all parts of his body。 He felt it in himself as a tingling and a resonance which reached to the furthest ers of his being； evoking such a surge of Joy that the pleasure was almost pain。 With that came the fleeting but familiar impression of unseen hands superimposed on his own … the Camber touch； as he had e to think of it。
Then the flow was slacking and he was opening his eyes； a little light…headed until he remembered to take a few deep breaths； he sometimes forgot to breathe as much as he should； when in his healing trance。 He blinked and settled back into normal consciousness； heaving another deep sigh； then began slowly undoing the bandages which still bound Dhugal's chest。 As he gently eased his patient to a half…sitting position against his knee； to unwind from behind； Dhugal's eyelids fluttered and he groaned。
〃Just take it easy； my young friend；〃 Morgan murmured； bracing the boy with one arm while he continued to unwind the bandage。 〃You'll be fine in a few seconds。 I'm sorry I had to take you out the way I did； but it was either that or hit you。 It seemed to me you'd had enough of hitting lately。 And it was obvious I wasn't going to be able to use the approach I used on Brother Jerome。〃
〃On Brother Jerome … 〃 Dhugal repeated groggily。 〃What did you … what're you doing？〃
〃Taking off your bandages。〃
〃But … 〃
〃Well； you don't need them anymore；〃 Morgan replied； pulling the last turn free of Dhugal's shirt and sitting back on his heels to begin winding the linen into a roll as he saw that Dhugal was capable of sitting on his own。
Dhugal blinked and glanced down stupidly at his bare chest inside his shirt； touching tentative fingertips to the once…bruised ribs； then shivered as he looked up again； his face pinched and still。
〃Did you … heal me？〃 he whispered。
Morgan finished winding up the bandage and tossed it onto a chair behind him； not taking his eyes from Dhugal's。
〃I did。 Would you rather I'd left you in pain？〃
Confusion played on Dhugal's face for an instant； old fear warring with new curiosity； and then the boy warily lay back on his makeshift pillow； gaze shifting deliberately to the fireplace。
〃You used your magic on me； didn't you？ And on that monk。〃
〃Brother Jerome？〃 Morgan shrugged。 〃I don't know that I'd really call that magic。 It's one of the things I can do as a Deryni； but … 〃 He shrugged again and managed a tentative smile。
〃As for the healing； I don't think that's magic … but I suppose I'd be hard…pressed to tell you what I do think it is。 So far as Duncan and I can figure out； it's a rare talent even among Deryni。 Other than ourselves； we haven't found anyone else who can do it … except for a human named Warm de Grey。 And he thinks that his gift es from God。 Maybe it does。 Maybe that's the source of our healing as well。〃
〃And that's what makes you say it isn't magic？〃 Dhugal asked。 〃Because someone who isn't Deryni can do it； too？〃
Morgan cocked his head tentatively。 〃I don't know that I've ever given it much thought。 I consider most of what I do as a talent … that's all。 Magic is mostly … oh； something that Charissa did to kill King Brion； or what Wencit of Torenth did。 You've at least heard rumors about those； I'm sure。〃
〃But those were evil things；〃 Dhugal objected。 〃Are you saying that if powers are used for good； they're talents； but if they're used for evil； they're magic？〃
Morgan could not help chuckling at the simple logic。
〃I suppose I have e off sounding as if that's what I meant；〃 he admitted； shifting to a sitting position on the carpet to ease his cramped knees。 〃Actually； I suppose I was reacting to your negative view of magic … the negative view most people have； for that matter。 Magic simply has to do with harnessing power which is not accessible to most people。 The power itself … Let me try to put it to you another way。 Power exists。 Correct？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃I think you'll even grant me that many kinds of power exist … that power can e from many sources。 Yes？〃
Dhugal nodded。
〃Good。 Let's take fire as just one example of power； then；〃 Morgan went on； rubbing his hands together briskly and holding them toward the cold hearth as he glanced back at Dhugal。 〃Fire can be used for many beneficial purposes。 It can give us light； like those torches on the walls；〃 he gestured vaguely with his chin； 〃and it can warm a room。〃
A mental nudge sent flames springing up bright from the kindling already laid； and Dhugal scrambled to a sitting position to stare。
〃How did you do that？〃
〃I think it's sufficient for now to acknowledge that I did it；〃 Morgan replied； 〃and that providing light or heating a cold room are good things。 But fire can also be destructive when out of control or when turned to evil use。 It can bum down a house … or heat hot irons to take a man's sight。〃
His expression hardened as the memory surfaced of a Deryni lord who； half a century before； had allowed himself to be blinded to ransom captive Deryni children： Barrett de Laney； one of the most venerable members of the Camberian Council … the same Camberian Council that scorned Morgan and Duncan for being only half Deryni； even though the two 〃half…breeds〃 could heal。
As Morgan's old bitterness welled to the surface； Dhugal suddenly became very still and stared at him； the rigid shields blurring just a little for the first time since Morgan had bee aware of them。 Clear as sunlight； passion surged across the intervening space： pure； clean； untainted by fear or mistrust。
〃Did you see someone blinded that way？〃 Dhugal asked softly。
As Morgan glanced at him in surprise