The Quest for Saint Camber Read Online Free PDF

telling the truth. But as archbishop, I cannot accept his unsupported word simply because he is one of my bishops. I could not accept that from a layman, and I certainly cannot accept it from one of my spiritual sons.”
    â€œI agree,” Arilan said, fiddling with the feathered end of a goose-quill pen as he glanced at the king and then at Morgan. “A pity we cannot accept evidence confirmed by Deryni powers. Duke Alaric’s testimony would be prejudiced, in any case, since he is kin to Duncan, but you Deryni do have ways to verify whether a man is telling the truth, don’t you?”
    The question was for Wolfram’s benefit, of course, for the Deryni Arilan knew full well what those of his race were capable of, but the scene he would now attempt to unfold had been carefully orchestrated by bishop, duke, and king the night before, to suggest a no less reliable verification of Duncan’s oath that the Church could accept. For the Haldane line was also possessed of power—a power not unlike that wielded by the Deryni, though the Haldane power was held to be linked with that house’s divine right to rule.
    But much depended upon Wolfram’s recognition of that fact, and his faith in it, and whether they had read their man correctly.
    â€œDeryni are not the only ones to have this power, Bishop Arilan,” Kelson said, staying Morgan with a hand on his sleeve as he himself rose to address the court. “Perhaps here is an answer to your dilemma. We Haldanes can tell when a man is lying. It is a power of our sacred kingship. If I were to question Bishop McLain and could ascertain beyond doubt that he is telling the truth about his marriage to Dhugal’s mother, would that satisfy this tribunal?”
    Arilan raised an eyebrow in guarded assent and looked to Cardiel, careful not to appear too eager, and breathed a cautious sigh of relief when his superior did not immediately veto the notion. Clearly, the human Cardiel understood what the king was proposing, but he still was archbishop, and forms must be observed.
    And Wolfram, as devil’s advocate, would be even more insistent that propriety be maintained. Wolfram de Blanet did not hate Deryni—which was one of the main reasons, besides being impeccably honest, that he had been appointed to this tribunal—but as an itinerant bishop, not often exposed to the few known Deryni at court, he knew little about them, other than through hearsay. Even the enlightened leadership of the past four years could not immediately overturn two centuries of suspicion and hatred. And some of the Haldane abilities fell into a grey area about which Wolfram was quite unsure.
    â€œWhat is it, Wolfram?” Cardiel asked quietly, noting the older man’s expression of consternation. “I assure you, the king can do what he proposes. I have seen him question prisoners in the field. There is no evil in it. And his results were always verifiable by—those whose talents are less acceptable to this court.”
    â€œMeaning Duke Alaric?” Wolfram asked, flicking Morgan an uneasy glance.
    â€œYes.”
    Wolfram drew a deep, shuddery breath, visibly pushing aside his apprehensions to return to the task he had been assigned, and let out a heavy sigh.
    â€œVery well. I would not presume to question His Majesty’s ability to do what he says he can do—or the judgment of my Lord Archbishop that such an ability is benign.” He paused to clear his throat. “Legally speaking, however, I wonder whether it is prudent to enlist his Majesty’s assistance in this matter. Lord Dhugal is his foster brother, after all.”
    â€œAre you suggesting that I might distort the truth for the sake of the love I bear him?” Kelson asked.
    Wolfram paled, but he did not flinch from the king’s gaze.
    â€œI suggest nothing of the sort, Sire. But others might.”
    â€œAye, so they might.”
    Before Wolfram could do more