Free The Harrowing of Gwynedd by Katherine Kurtz

If I could do it, it might help him enormously. And I’m willing to make the sacrifice.”
    â€œAre you suggesting that I am not?” Tavis said quietly.
    â€œOf course not.” Queron shook his head. “But you do present—problems. Aside from the mere physical stigma of your lost hand, your former close association with Prince Javan may make it more difficult for you to build a convincing cover.”
    â€œI’m aware of that,” Tavis said, crossing his arms on his chest a little self-consciously to hide his empty sleeve, irritated with himself that he had allowed Queron to let the reminder bother him. “With all due respect, however, I don’t think you’re going to be able to learn the procedure.”
    â€œWill you let me try?” Queron persisted.
    â€œHere? Now?”
    Queron shrugged. “No time like the present—unless I’m keeping you from Javan.”
    â€œNo, I have a few minutes,” Tavis murmured, “but—”
    With a sigh almost of exasperation, he suddenly stepped closer to Queron and brushed his hand across the other Healer’s forehead, at the same time reaching out with his mind to trigger the block he had learned from Rhys. Queron recoiled instinctively, but not quickly enough. The older Healer staggered a little as his loss registered, unable to resist as Tavis caught him by a wrist and pulled him closer, holding him with his hand while he lightly laid the end of his stump against the right side of Queron’s neck.
    â€œYou know, I could leave you this way,” Tavis whispered, engaging Queron’s gaze and snaring the wide, frightened brown eyes with water-blue ones. “I wouldn’t, of course—and I won’t invade your privacy by probing for the reason you pushed me to this—but you took a big risk. You hardly know me.”
    â€œYet, you could do this to me without any preparation,” Queron breathed, recovering his composure even in this vulnerable state. “It was the same with Rhys. And even once I knew what to watch out for, resisting did no good. Did he ever tell you how Emrys and I put him through his paces, that first time he and Alister came to tell us what he’d learned to do? It’s a terrible gift, Tavis. God help us, that we must learn to use it against our own kind.”
    â€œYes. God help us,” Tavis said, breathing out with a loud sigh. With a downward flick of his gaze, he restored Queron’s powers and disengaged his control, though he did not release Queron’s arm or pull back from physical contact.
    â€œForgive me. I shouldn’t have done that. Would you like to have a look at where I think it happens?” he went on, returning his gaze to Queron’s. “Not that I think it will make any difference.”
    Smiling wanly, Queron lifted his hands to clasp lightly around Tavis’ wrists.
    â€œAt least I’ll know, won’t I?” he whispered. “If I can’t learn it from you either, maybe I can let go of the notion and get on to more productive things. May I?”
    Relaxing a little, Tavis closed his eyes and began lowering his shields, aware of Queron doing the same. He had been afraid of Queron before, fearful of the powers of this highly trained and almost legendary Gabrilite, but knowing the vulnerability of just about any other Deryni now, Tavis no longer feared him. He let the other Healer wander in his mind for some little while, poking and sniffing at the area where the blocking function took place, then triggered it on and off several times in Queron—to the other Healer’s utter dismay and mystification.
    Queron was shaking his head as he dismantled the contact, physical as well as mental, and Tavis knew that the older man was finally convinced.
    â€œThank you,” Queron whispered, lowering his eyes. “I shan’t bother you again, Tavis.”
    â€œIt was no bother, sir,” Tavis murmured, a