“What makes you believe that this was evidence of Deryni healing?” Coram said slowly. “And why should that ability surface now, after nearly two centuries?”

“I merely report what I have heard,” Laran replied. “As a physician, I cannot explain what happened in any other way. Unless, of course, you prefer to believe that it really was a miracle.”

“Ha! I do not believe in miracles,” Vivienne said caustically. “What say you, Denis? You are our resident expert in such matters. Is such a thing possible?”

Denis Arilan glanced at Vivienne, sitting to his right, then shrugged slightly. “Biblically speaking, of course miracles are possible.” He traced a careful pattern on the tabletop with his fingertip, his amethyst catching the light. “But miracles in more recent times, at least in the past four or five centuries, can usually be explained—or at least duplicated—by some form of our magic. This is not to say that there are no more miracles; only that, by the use of our powers, we can often cause what appear to be miracles. As for what you allege of Morgan, I have no knowledge of that. I have met the man only once, to talk to—and he was only young then.”

“But you were present at the coronation the day after this alleged healing, were you not, Bishop?” Thorne said slowly. “And according to all reports, Morgan himself was badly wounded in his duel with the Lord Ian. Yet, when the time came to swear fealty, he walked erect and without pain to place his hands between the king’s: somewhat bloodstained, to be sure, but not at all like a man who has just had a handspan of cold steel removed from his shoulder. How do you explain that?”

Arilan shrugged. “I cannot explain it. Perhaps what Morgan said of his own wound was true, as well: that it was less serious than it appeared. Monsignor McLain attended him; I was not close by at the time. But perhaps his skil l…”

Laran shook his head. “I think not, Denis. Even if this McLain is a capable battle-surgeon, as many borderers are, could he have…?” His voice trailed off briefly, then: “Of course, if he, too, has the healing power—why, this is incredible! If two half-breeds can—”

Young Tiercel could contain himself no longer, and sat back in his chair with an explosive sigh. “You people sicken me! If it really is true that Morgan and McLain have rediscovered the lost gifts of healing, then we should be seeking them out on bended knee, begging them to share this great knowledge with us—not dragging their names through this senseless inquisition!”

“But, they are half-breeds,” Kyri ventured.

“Oh, ‘half-breeds’ be hanged!” Tiercel retorted. “Maybe they are not. How could they be, and still be able to heal? The ancient records tell us little about the actual process of training or engaging the healing gift, but we do know that it was one of the most difficult of all the Deryni powers to master, and that it required great focus and discipline to control. If Morgan and McLain can do this, I think we must either accept the possibility that they are somehow full Deryni, that there is something in their makeup of which we are still unaware—or else we must reconsider our whole understanding of what it means to be Deryni.”