My money is on one of two people, either Tiercel or Stefan Coram.
I believe it was Stefan Coram. I don't know that anyone else would have known how much Camber's visage would have effected Duncan so.
According to the Codex, it was Stefan Coram who "took on the appearance of Camber Earl of Culdi on occasion to warn Alaric Morgan Duke of Corwyn and Father Duncan McLain of the dangers they faced from their Deryni challengers."
But was it Stefan on the road to Morgan? for Duncan, and on the beach as Stefan was dead already.
My take is that it was Stefan Coram - although I am still confused as to how he knew that Duncan had said to Alaric that his priesthood was meaning less to him as he began to use his powers. Although as I type it occurs to me that he was possibly Reading Duncan as he spoke -Duncan's shock at the encounter making his shields temporarily ineffective.I don't think Tiercel would care enough about their fate, whereas Coram has gone to extreme lengths to covertly oppose Wencit's ambitions for a very long time.
On the beach at the end of QfSC I'm inclined to think that it is the unpredictable saint himself who is enjoying being enigmatic.
Quote from: revanne on March 27, 2016, 04:36:46 PM
On the beach at the end of QfSC I'm inclined to think that it is the unpredictable saint himself who is enjoying being enigmatic.
That seems a very Camber-ish thing to do, LOL.
But Stefan voted in council to test their fortitude whereas Terrcel voted against, with Arlan.
Stefan Coram may have realised which way the vote would go. Laran, Thorne and Kyri had voted in favour already. Arilan and Tiercel were likely to oppose. If either one of Barrett or Vivienne voted in favour and Coram voted against then the council would be deadlocked (similarly if he voted for and they both voted against). If they both voted for and Coram voted against, Coram loses and has weakened his position. It's likely from past experience Coram knew where Barret and Vivienne would vote (for, as it turned out) and voted accordingly, placing himself with the majority but remaining sympathetic to Arilan and Tiercel, able to support them from behind the scenes.
Not to mention that it opened the way for his strategy against Wencit. If Duncan and Morgan weren't open to challenge then they couldn't have supported Kelson directly against Wencit's challenge so he'd probably have declined it and Coram wouldn't have been able to manipulate the outcome.
Good insight.
Very astute observation Drakensis. I also believe Stefan was not only leading on the CC for his agenda outside the CC, but was also manuevering against Thorne Hagan who was helping Wencit