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Staring at the figure forlornly, Guaire scrambled to his knees and raised his hands in a
last, desperate supplication.
"Then give me your blessing, Lord. Please! Do not deny me this!"
The familiar face became more solemn, the head tilting slightly as though considering
the request, and then a graceful hand was lifting to trace the sign of blessing over Guaire's
bowed head.
"Benedicat te omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus," the apparition
whispered, its form beginning to fade even as Guaire breathed a fervent "Amen."
A last vestige of a ghostly hand seemed to touch the trembling head and then
disappeared entirely. Guaire remained motionless for several seconds before opening his
eyes to emptiness.
But as he gasped and started to scramble to his feet, Queron roused from his own silence
and lightly touched Guaire's shoulder. Instantly Guaire subsided and collapsed back on his
heels, eyes closing, head lolling forward slack on his chest.
A concerned "Oh!" whispered through the watchers as Queron himself sank back
momentarily, passing a slightly trembling hand across his forehead in a gesture which
Camber knew masked a fatigue-banishing spell. But then the Healer-priest drew a deep
breath and got slowly to his feet, leaning heavily on Guaire's shoulder for support. His
touch brought Guaire back to normal consciousness, to blink and look around
bewilderedly as he tried to reorient himself.
A sigh of relief rippled through the chamber.
"Your Grace, the thought will occur to some within this company that if I could produce
the effect which you have just witnessed, then Guaire's experience could also have been
magically induced," Queron said, helping Guaire to his feet with a hand under one elbow
and picking up the cloak from the floor. "I assure you, this was not the case. Even though
his conscious memories were blurred by the effects of the sleeping draught he was given
and I mean to cast no aspersions on the good Bishop Cullen. Sir, you gave him precisely
what I myself would have given him, had I been in your place still, his unconscious mind
recorded details of which even he was not aware at the time.
"What Guaire saw was not a magical projection; Camber was physically present in some
way which I cannot explain other than through supernatural intervention. It was not
Brother Johannes, who was sleeping in a chair behind Guaire who has been questioned
about his own memories of that night and remembers nothing and it certainly was not
Bishop Cullen. I am willing to submit to Your Grace's full examination, to be Truth-Read
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before this entire company at any depth Your Grace may choose to employ, to confirm that
I speak the truth and have in no way embellished what Guaire saw."
To the murmurings of his colleagues, Jaffrey let his gaze sweep over the chamber,
obviously much moved.
"I think that will not be necessary, Queron, unless But would you have this done, my
lords? Would you prefer that I confirm Queron's testimony, for form's sake? I have no
objection, nor does Queron, and will gladly do it if that will ease your minds. I see a few
looks of doubt."
Young Bishop O'Beirne, who had seen mainly the back of Queron's Camberian
projection, glanced uneasily to some of his colleagues for support and stood.
"Forgive me, Your Grace, but the ways of Deryni are often mystifying to us humans. I
think we would all rest easier if Dom Queron's story were confirmed by one of our own
number by another bishop, that is such as yourself if it please Your Grace."
As O'Beirne sat down, there were nods of agreement and a few murmurings in his
support. Queron bowed as Jaffray's eyes flicked back to him, handing his cloak to Guaire
and coming forward immediately to kneel at the archbishop's feet.
Queron inclined his head in submission, and the room grew hushed. Jaffray, with a slow,
deep breath to prepare for the merging with his former brother's mind, reached out to
touch his right fingertips lightly to Queron's temple. His eyes closed and he breathed out
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