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fist lightly； the hand relaxed enough for all present to see golden light streaming from the crystal clutched inside。 Arilan pursed his lips as he glanced at Morgan and Kelson； then nodded for Duncan to bring the test to an ^d。 The light in Dhugal's hand flickered and died； but not before Dhugal's eyes fluttered open and he caught just a glimpse。
〃It was glowing！ I saw it！〃
As his hand jerked open in reflex； Duncan leaned down to snatch the crystal before it could be spilled onto the table。 Kelson nodded； a grin creasing his face。
〃We saw it； too。 You're not going mad。 Guess what it means。〃
〃It means that he's probably another rogue Deryni like the rest of you；〃 Arilan muttered； pushing back his chair with a jarring scrape of wood on stone floor before Dhugal could reply。 〃And where does his power e from？〃
As he stood and turned to face the fire。 Kelson laid a protective hand on the awed Dhugal's shoulder。
〃I can't answer that； Arilan； but I don't think I really care right now；〃 the king said pointedly。 〃Nor do I think we should pursue this more right now。 He's been through enough for one day。〃
〃I agree； my prince；〃 Morgan said； following Kelson's lead。 〃Not only that； I seem to recall we're supposed to be celebrating the creation of a new bishop this evening。〃
〃The feast； I think； does not begin until well after sunset；〃 Arilan answered curtly。 〃We still have time to … 〃
〃We still have time for Dhugal to have some rest before the feast； if he wishes；〃 Kelson said as he rose。 〃Right now； that takes precedence。〃
〃But the Council will want … 〃
〃What the Council wants is not at issue here；〃 Kelson replied sharply； eliciting a near…gasp from Arilan and an exchange of stunned glances between Morgan and Duncan。 〃Nor do I think this is the time or the place to discuss it further； do you？〃
Arilan could have no answer to that； with the others in the room。 As the king drew Dhugal to his feet and they started toward the door； Arilan made a sparse bow。
〃I apologize if I seemed to press the issue。 Sire。〃
Kelson paused with Dhugal in the open doorway to look back at all three of them。
〃Apology accepted。 And Father Duncan； I suspect you could also use some rest。 This has been a long day for you as well。〃
Duncan shrugged。 〃I have no plaints。 Sire。〃
〃I see。 Nonetheless； we'll all plan to meet again at the feast。 Morgan； Arilan； are you ing？〃
Morgan would have stayed； for his curiosity about the afternoon's varied events was far stronger than any real need for rest； but if he had； Arilan also might have wanted to … and if Arilan stayed； conversation was sure to e round eventually to the old disagreements about half…Deryni and the Camberian Council。 Besides； the king's tone put the question almost in the form of a mand。 Both Morgan and Arilan went； the Deryni bishop all but muttering under his breath。
When they had gone； Duncan sat back in the chair Dhugal had just vacated and closed the shiral crystal in his hand； letting his mind wander back to boyhood and the giver of the stone。 The memories were sweet； and he sat dreaming into the firelight until the shadows lengthened and the golden light died from behind the amber glass at his back。
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
He that justifieth the wicked； and he that condemneth the just； even they both are abominations to the Lord。
Proverbs 17：15
The news of Duncan's consecration to the episcopate came as no great surprise to the would…be Mearan court in Ratharkin。 Creoda had warned them to expect that。 It was merely another justification for war； so far as Caitrin and Sicard were concerned； though it vexed Loris and Judhael greatly。 Equally anticipated was Kelson's renewed demand for Caitrin's submission by Christmas； with its hints of dire consequences to his hostages if Caitrin did not ply or if further harm came to Istelyn。
But Archbishop Bradene's writ of exmunication； read aloud with increasing disbelief and horror by an appalled Judhael； came as a total shock。 So enraged was Loris that he overturned his chair in his haste to get to Judhael and snatch the offending document。
〃How dare they？〃 he gasped； his breath ing in sharp； rasping wheezes as he scanned the signatures and seals appended at the bottom； little droplets of spittle spattering the parchment and his purple casssock。 〃Who do they think they are？〃
Brandishing the writ as if he wished it were a physical weapon； Loris stalked across the room to where Caitrin and Sicard stood staring blindly out an oriel window； arms around one another's waists for fort； devastated by the treble blow。 Back a few paces； a pasty…faced Ithel divided his attention between watching his parents； Loris； and Judhael； and nervously twisting the end of one of his cloak strings。
〃How dare they？〃 Lons repeated。 〃Exmunicated； by God！ Me！ And by my own former subordinates！ I am outraged！ I am speechless！〃
〃Hardly that；〃 Sicard muttered； though Loris did not hear him； caught up as he was in further diatribes against the bishops in Rhemuth and the Haldane royal house。
But Sicard shared the tight…lipped anxiety of his wife and liege lady； and the helpless confusion of his son。 When Loris at last ran out of expletives and holy oaths； Sicard let fall the drapery he had withdrawn to gaze out at the morning snowfall and turned back into the room； taking Caitrin's elbow to guide her back to the chairs before the fireplace。 At his gesture； Ithel hurried to upend the chair Loris had overturned。
〃Enough of self…indulgence … on all our parts；〃 Sicard said； glancing pointedly at Loris and signing for Judhael to join them。 〃We have heard the response from Gwynedd。 Now we must decide what to do about it。 Sit here； my dear。〃
posing herself deliberately； Caitrin sat； carefully spreading her fur…lined skirts around her feet and arranging her hands just so in her lap。 When she looked up； Sicard had dropped to one knee beside her； one hand resting on her chair arm； and Judhael stood expectantly behind him。 Ithel waited at her right。 Loris； with ill…disguised resentment at Sicard's tone； came to stand in front of the chair Ithel had just set back in place … though something in the family tableau before him cautioned him not to presume by sitting until invited。
〃My queen；〃 Sicard said softly； before Loris could choose a suitable remark； 〃we are yours to mand； as you know well； but I fear the Haldane has struck a telling blow this time。 Is it your wish to continue as we have thus far； knowing that we He under the ban of the Church？〃
〃Not the ban of the Church！〃 Loris snapped。 〃The ban of a handful of outlaw bishops who have betrayed their oath of obdience to me！ He remembered himself sufficiently to bow slightly in apology。 〃Forgive me。 Highness； but there can be no question of capitulating simply because of a bit of parchment and wax。 This is what I think of it！〃
With a grandiose flourish； he flung it into the fireplace but at Caitrin's urgent gasp； Ithel scrambled onto the raised hearth and rescued it； pinching out the embers along the edges where it had started to bum and stifling an oath as molten wax dripped on his hand from one of the seals。
〃That is not the answer；〃 Sicard said； rising to pull a straightbacked chair beside his w