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est altar step； both of them wearing black copes and mitres and also holding a candle apiece。 A long strip of parchment trailed from Bradene's other hand； ragged at the bottom with heavy pendant seals。
〃My lords and my brothers； it is my unpleasant duty to pronounce the following judgment； to which all of you have subscribed；〃 he said。 〃Be it duly witnessed； here before the altar of the Lord and in the Presence of the Hosts of Heaven； that we do what we do without malice； and for the good of the souls of those involved； in hopes that they may e to recognize the error of their ways and repent； returning at last to the loving bosom of Mother Church。〃
Clearing his throat a little nervously； he handed his candle to Cardiel and brought the parchment within the range of its light； beginning to read in a voice which carried through the choir and all along the nave。
〃Whereas Edmund Loris； priest and former archbishop； hath fled the just penance of a duly constituted synod of his equals and thus rejected the authority of those set above him； and whereas said Edmund Loris hath consorted with rebellious subjects of his lawful liege and king； forswearing his own sacred vows by such action； and exhorted them to treasonous acts； and whereas the said Edmund Loris hath resumed authority to which he no longer hath claim and hath used that authority illicitly to consecrate a bishop neither elected by a properly constituted synod nor approved by the king； and whereas said Edmund Loris hath usurped the authority of a brother bishop in his own diocese； and forced him to witness illicit acts； and caused him grievous physical harm； and used threats against his life in an attempt to sway others to his treasonous ways。
〃So therefore do we； Bradene； by the Grace of God Archbishop of Valoret and Primate of All Gwynedd； pronounce said Edmund Loris deprived of his episcopal rank and degraded from the fellowship and office of the priesthood throughout the land。 We do further exmunicate the said Edmund Loris and suspend and exmunicate 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 wooden box resting at the foot of the standing crucifix。 Suddenly Morgan thought he knew what was terrifying Duncan。
〃Good God； don't tell me you've still got Istelyn's finger！〃 he muttered； crossing the few short steps to snatch it up before Duncan could stop him。 〃What kind of morbid nonsense is this？ He'd beat you about the head and shoulders if he knew you were behaving this way。〃
〃If he's still alive。〃 Duncan crossed his arms on his chest and studied one slipper…shod toe morosely。 〃Maybe I shouldn't bee a bishop； Alaric。 Every time a messenger arrives at court now； I wonder what Loris will send us next。 A hand？ An eye？ Or maybe a head； next time。〃
〃And not accepting consecration will keep him alive？〃 Morgan countered。 〃You know it won't。 As for messengers； I'm afraid I'd wele delivery of a head。〃
〃What？〃
〃At least it would mean he was beyond Loris' ability to hurt him anymore。 You don't really think Loris means to let him live； do you？ Not after he's gone this far。〃
Duncan bit at his lip and sighed heavily。 〃You're right。 I know you're right。 I suppose that's why I asked for Istelyn's ring in the first place。 I knew he'd never wear it again。 But it was different three days ago。 Now； taking the ring from a martyr's hand seems … well … presumptuous； to say the least。〃
〃Not presumptuous。 An act of homage to a brave man who would not succumb to the enemy。〃
When Duncan did not respond； Morgan opened the box and extracted the ring； carefully avoiding contact with Istelyn's shriveled finger。 The gold seemed to tingle as he closed it in his palm。 That confirmed what he had guessed Duncan feared … and that the fear would have to be faced before Duncan left for the cathedral。 Tight…lipped； Morgan closed the box and replaced it gingerly on the altar。
〃I know what's bothering you as much as anything。〃 he said after a slight pause。
〃No； you don't。〃
〃Duncan； I can't not know … and neither can you。 We're Deryni。 Just holding this is enough for me to sense that it isn't just any ring。〃
〃Of course not。 It's a bishop's ring。〃
〃And it's Istelyn's ring； taking from him in a most brutal fashion；〃 Morgan countered。 〃Some of that is bound to be clinging to it。 And you're going to have to face what's on it … if not now； then later today； in front of all those people in the cathedral； when you'll be far more vulnerable than you are now。〃
〃I'll keep my shields up；〃 Duncan whispered。
〃Is that really the way you want to experience your consecration as a bishop？〃 Morgan asked quietly。 〃You remember your ordination to the priesthood … God knows； I'll never forget it。 Do you really want to shut yourself away from that kind of magic； Duncan？〃
He watched the tonsured head jerk up； the white…clad shoulders stiffen； though Duncan did not turn around。
〃That's what you'd have to do； you know；〃 Morgan went on。 〃And I don't think that's really what you want。 Give me your hand and let's be done with it。〃
Slowly； stiffly； Duncan turned； his face nearly as white as his vestments； emotions pletely shuttered save through th