Irritatedly, because he realized he should remember more, Morgan picked up the volume and moved himself closer to the candlelight, absently pocketing the scrap of parchment as he resumed reading:

“Saint Camber of Culdi, 846-905 (?) Legendary Earl of Culdi, a full Deryni lord, who lived during the Deryni Interregnum. Toward the end of the Interregnum, Camber discovered that, under certain controlled conditions, in select individuals, the full scope of Deryni power could be acquired by humans. He it was who assisted the heirs of the old human rulers to acquire this power, and later led the revolt that crushed the Deryni Interregnum for good.”

Morgan turned the page impatiently. This he already knew. It was common knowledge from general history, at least for Deryni. Now he needed facts concerning Camber’s sainthood, or something that might explain what had happened to him a few minutes ago. He read on:

“Now, in those days, there was more tolerance for the occult arts. And in gratitude for what the Culdi had done for humankind, the Council of Bishops proclaimed him a saint. But it was not to last. About fifteen years later, there was a bloody persecution of things and persons Deryni. Very shortly, the name of Camber of Culdi was stricken from the rolls of the blessed. At the Council of Ramos, a number of the previous Council’s edicts were reversed. With them went the Culdi’s sainthood.

“Saint Camber had been revered as the patron of occult arts, Defensor Hominem, the defender of humankind. But when the Council of Ramos repudiated Camber, they declared all occult practice anathema. Camber’s name became a symbol of evil personified. Every atrocity ever committed by the lords of the Interregnum was ascribed to the former Deryni saint, and the people ceased to mention his name except to curse him.

“Some controversy over Camber’s reputation has died out over the years. It is difficult to maintain a lie for two hundred years. But rumors persist to feed the fire: that Camber’s alleged death in 905 never occurred, that he went into hiding, to await a chance to reappear and again work his deeds of magic. The truth of this allegation is not known, nor is it likely to be discovered in the near future. It is known that a handful of High Deryni Lords do remain, and that magic, however outlawed, is still practiced among them. But it is highly improbable that Camber is still among them; even a Deryni could hardly be functioning after more than two hundred years. Yet the rumors persist.

And the few Deryni alive who might know the truth about Camber of Culdi do not comment.”