“Now, I am not particularly bothered that there are Deryni running around loose who have not been properly trained in the use of their powers. That has been going on for years, and I see no way to stop it. But Morgan and McLain somehow have learned how to use their powers, and apparently are learning more every day. We have turned a blind eye in the past, since we always regarded them as immune to formal challenge, since they were half-breeds. Now that this assumption seems no longer valid, I think we should declare them liable to full challenge proceedings, just as though they were full Deryni. I, for one, do not wish to find myself in a situation where I might be forced to disobey a Council injunction in order to stop them.”

“Realistically, I think there is little danger of that,” Arilan said. “Besides, the injunction says nothing about self-defense. It was meant to protect those of lesser training and abilities from being attacked by full Deryni whose powers they could not hope to resist. If a lesser Deryni wished to challenge a full lord and got himself killed in the process, that was his choice.”

“It would be interesting to find out if they are full Deryni, though,” Laran mused. “We could limit the challenge to non-lethal combat—except, of course, in self-defense. I think it might be rather interesting to test wits against Alaric Morgan.”

“An excellent suggestion,” Thorne agreed. “I so move.”

“You so move what?” Coram asked.

“I move that Morgan and McLain be accorded full challenge liability—excluding mortal combat save for self-defense. After all, we must clear up this question of the healing.”

“But, is it necessary to challenge them?” Arilan asked.

“Thorne Hagen has stipulated that there shall be no mortal challenge permitted,” Barrett said evenly. “I think it not out of order. Besides, the question is largely academic. No one even knows where they are.”

Thorne suppressed a smile and laced his pudgy fingers together. “Then, it is agreed? They may be challenged?”

Tiercel shook his head. “I like it not. I call for a voice vote, one by one. I claim the ancient right,” he added, at Thorne’s look of protest. “And let each person state his reasons.”

Barrett turned his blind eyes toward Tiercel for a long moment, touching his mind fleetingly, then nodded slowly. “As you wish, Tiercel. It is, indeed, your right. Voice vote. Laran ap Pardyce, how say you?”

“I agree. Limited challenge is acceptable. And as a physician, I am most eager to find out about this healing ability they may or may not have.”

“Thorne Hagen?”

“I proposed it, for the reasons I originally specified. Of course I agree.”

“Lady Kyri?”

The young redheaded woman nodded slowly. “If anyone can find them, I think the test is justified. I accept the measure.”

“Stefan Coram, how say you?”

“I agree that they ought to be tested when the time is right—so long as it is a non-lethal challenge.”