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〃Did you see someone blinded that way？〃 Dhugal asked softly。
As Morgan glanced at him in surprise； the shields tightened down immediately； but Morgan thought he saw a new note of acceptance in the tawny eyes which continued to meet his bravely … perhaps an echo of Dhugal's own interest in healing； if only from the limited sphere of his training as a battle surgeon。 Suddenly Morgan wondered whether Dhugal was Deryni； and perhaps a potential healer； at that。
〃No； I never saw it done；〃 he said hesitantly； 〃and thank God for that … but it's been a mon enough practice through the centuries。 I have a … an acquaintance who lost his sight that way。〃 He blinked。 〃But this is not the time to digress。 I've pointed out some of the things that fire does。 Does that make the fire good or evil？〃
〃It isn't either；〃 Dhugal replied carefully。 〃It's how the fire's used。 The same hot iron that cost your friend his sight also could have been used to cauterize a wound。〃
Morgan nodded； pleased。 〃So it could。 And what does that tell you about power in general？〃
〃That it isn't the power … it's how the power's used that makes it constructive or destructive。〃 Dhugal paused for just an instant。 〃Are you saying that magic is the same？〃
〃Precisely the same。〃
〃But the priests say … 〃
〃The priests say what they have been told to say for the last two hundred years；〃 Morgan returned briskly。 〃Deryni have not always been persecuted； and not all 'magic' has been anathema until fairly recently。 Black magic … extraordinary power applied to destructive or selfish ends … has always been condemned by the righteous。 But those who could harness extraordinary power for the aid of man … for healing and for defending against the abuse of power … traditionally have been called miracle workers and saints。 They were also once called Deryni。〃
〃But there were evil Deryni！〃 Dhugal objected。 〃And there still are。 What about Charissa and Wencit？〃
〃They were Deryni who used their gifts for evil。 The gifts themselves。。。〃 Morgan sighed。 〃Do you think I'm an evil person？〃
Dhugal's face went very still。 〃No。 But they say … 〃
〃They say what； Dhugal？ Morgan whispered。 〃And who are they？ And do they ever give an accounting of what I've done； or is it all because of what I am？〃
〃I。。。 never thought about it that way before。〃
〃No； I don't suppose you did。〃 Morgan glanced at the Haldane signet on his right hand； balanced by the Corwyn Siphon on his left。 〃I'll make you a bargain； Dhugal。 I can't speak for Duncan or Kelson； but if you can name one specific instance in which you think that I've misused my powers； I'll submit to whatever justice you think is appropriate。 Should I not have helped Kelson defeat the woman who killed his father and would have killed him to seize his throne？ Should I have let the former archbishops continue the lie and bring down Gwynedd by undermining her rightful king？ Should I not have healed you？〃
Dhugal shook his head； unwilling to meet Morgan's eyes。
〃Dhugal； I may have access to more and other kinds of power than most men；〃 Morgan continued softly； 〃but I must answer for the use of that power to the same God and king that you do … or that any of the priests and bishops do … and to my own conscience as well； which can be a far sterner taskmaster。 Because I've been given far greater abilities； I've had to contend with far greater responsibilities。 I didn't ask for either … but I have them。 All I can do is serve the best way I know how。 〃Kelson's father taught me honor and chivalry； and I've tried never to betray the trust he put in me。 I hope I've not been too unsuccessful … despite the fact that I'm Deryni。〃
But he was to be given no chance to hear Dhugal's judgment； for at that moment a fumbling at the door latch announced visitors。 As Morgan came to his feet； already aware of their identities； the door opened and Duncan peered around the edge and entered； standing aside to admit Kelson and Bishop Arilan。 Dhugal got to his feet more slowly as Kelson came to give him a hand up and search his face questioningly。 Arilan came straight to Morgan； his lean face set in tight…checked disapproval。
〃Why wasn't I told you'd found another Deryni？〃 he said through his teeth； drawing Morgan aside。 〃And what the devil was he trying to do out there？〃
Morgan sighed and picked up his cloak； far more concerned for Dhugal； deep in whispered conversation with Kelson and Duncan； than with an opinion of Arilan。
〃First of all。 Bishop； we don't know that he's necessarily Deryni … only that he has shields that we can't breach and he can't control；〃 Morgan murmured； slinging his cloak around his shoulders and fastening the clasp。 〃As for what he was trying to do； I can only guess that he was trying to shut out the psychic overflow from Duncan's consecration。 Surely you're aware that such a ritual generates a great deal of energy； especially if the central participant is Deryni。〃
〃Don't be impertinent；〃 Arilan muttered。 〃And what do you mean； you don't know that he's Deryni？〃
〃Just that； Bishop。 There's nothing in his family to account for any of this … unless you can count that rather undefinable talent the border folk refer to as the Second Sight。 Dhugal does have shields； though； and he doesn't have the first clue what to do with them。 As Duncan's consecration gathered momentum； it must have seemed like an enormous pressure beating against those shields he only recently learned he had； and which he doesn't know how to lower。〃
〃You say 'recently；' How recently？〃
Morgan tried to curb his impatience。 〃Three weeks ago； while we were in Culdi for the convocation。 It happened the night you asked me to try to contact Kelson and let him know about the attack on Duncan。 Kelson put him in the link to augment his power； but Dhugal felt something that frightened him enough to kick both of them right out of the link。 Then he nearly went into convulsions when Kelson tried to read him。〃
〃Has anyone tried since； or anyone besides Kelson？〃 Arilan asked； a little subdued after listening to Morgan's account。
〃I tried；〃 Duncan said as he joined them。 〃He didn't seem to mind my probe as much as Kelson's； but nor was I any more successful at getting through。 It was like going up against an obsidian wall。 The harder I pushed； the stronger it got。 And when Kelson joined in； thinking he might be of help； Dhugal had another violent reaction。〃
〃I see。〃 Arilan sighed resignedly。 〃And you； Alaric？〃
〃I wasn't able to bring him through the Portal without roughing him up physically；〃 Morgan replied。 〃My touch seems to fall somewhere between Kelson's and Duncan's on a fort scale。 I was able to get around his shields enough to heal his injuries； but only while he was unconscious。 I wouldn't have wanted to try it otherwise。〃
Arilan glanced at Dhugal； letting Kelson help him to a seat at the table set back from the fireplace； then shepherded Morgan and Duncan with him as he moved purposefully to join them。 Dhugal started to rise； courteous even in his confusion and apprehension； but Arilan stayed him with a gesture and pulled out a chair for Kelson to sit； only then taking a seat himself。 At Duncan's sign； Morgan took the remaining chair to Dhugal's right； across fr