kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第13部分

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　you；　Alaric？〃
Grudgingly；　Morgan　had　to　agree；　though　sometimes　Arilan's　scruples　seemed　to　him　to　be　rigid　almost　to　the　point　of　crippling。　But　in　front　of　Cardiel　was　not　the　place　to　pursue　that　old　argument。　Cardiel　himself　required　additional　persuasion；　but　eventually　he；　too；　had　to　admit　that　forcing　Judhael　to　the　question　was　premature。
〃I　still　think　Kelson　should　be　told　what　has　happened；〃　Cardiel　said　stubbornly。　〃And　I　don't　think　it　should　wait　until　he　gets　back　in　three　or　four　days；　either。　That　was　fine　when　we　were　only　talking　about　Istelyn；　but　now　…〃
For　that；　at　least；　Morgan　had　a　Deryni　solution。
〃Not　all　of　our　powers　are　forbidden。　Excellency；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃It's　possible　I　might　be　able　to　reach　Kelson　in　his　sleep；　later　tonight。　He　won't　be　expecting　it；　but　I　can　try。〃　Cardiel　nodded　happily　as　Morgan　went　on。　〃If　that　doesn't　work；　I'll　leave　for　Transha　in　the　morning；　after　I've　seen　to　Duncan　…　unless　you　have　a　better　idea；　sir？〃　he　queried；　glancing　at　Arilan。
The　Deryni　bishop　shook　his　head。　〃No；　none。　Given　the　bond　I　know　binds　you　and　Kelson；　I　shouldn't　be　at　all　surprised　if　your　plan　works。　However；　I　also　know　how　difficult　it　is　to　make　the　link　at　such　a　distance　and　without　preparation　at　both　ends。　If　you　don't　succeed；　we'll　make　the　time　you　need　to　get　there　physically。〃
Arilan's　confidence　in　his　ability　helped　to　take　the　edge　off　Morgan's　earlier　resentment　at　having　to　back　off　on　questioning　Judhael；　but　now　that　his　own　course　was　set　for　the　next　few　hours；　he　needed　some　time　alone。　When　he　had　assured　himself　that　Duncan　was　resting　more　easily；　and　slipped　briefly　inside　the　priest's　mind　to　deepen　his　sleep；　he　took　his　leave　of　the　two　prelates　and　headed　for　his　own　quarters。　He　tried　not　to　think　about　how　close　Duncan　had　e　to　death；　or　the　mortal　helplessness　Duncan　had　suffered　under　the　influence　of　merasha；　concentrating　instead　on　the　calm　he　would　need　if　he　hoped　to　succeed　in　reaching　the　king。
But　distraction　in　the　form　of　Judhael　of　Meara　met　him　as　he　passed　the　open　door　of　the　chapel　in　the　guest　wing。　Morgan　stiffened　as　he　saw　him；　mentally　berating　himself　for　even　having　glanced　inside。　Judhael　and　another　vaguely　familiar…looking　priest　were　just　ing　out。　The　temptation　at　least　to　test　whether　Judhael　had　heard　about　the　attack　on　Duncan　was　too　enticing　to　resist。
〃Your　Grace；〃　Judhael　murmured；　as　Morgan　loomed　in　the　doorway　and　blocked　his　exit；　all　diffidence　and　courtly　courtesy　to　the　king's　champion。
〃Father　Judhael；〃　Morgan　acknowledged。　〃I　wonder　whether　I　might　have　a　word　with　you　in　private；〃　he　said；　glancing　pointedly　at　Judhael's　panion。　〃Perhaps　we　could　step　back　into　the　chapel。〃
Judhael　looked　puzzled　and　a　little　uneasy；　but　he　agreed　readily　enough。　When　one　aspired　to　high　office　in　the　confirmation　of　the　king；　one　did　not　decline　the　invitation　of　the　king's　friend　and　confidant。　He　watched　dispassionately　as　Morgan　closed　the　chapel　door　behind　them；　inclining　his　head　and　preceding　him　down　the　short　aisle　when　Morgan　gestured　toward　the　front　of　the　chapel。　Both　men　genuflected　and　signed　themselves　when　they　reached　the　altar　rail；　Morgan　and　then　Judhael　easing　onto　the　kneelers　which　lay　along　its　length。　Morgan　bowed　his　head　for　a　moment　as　if　in　prayer；　letting　Judhael's　curiosity　and　apprehension　grow；　then　glanced　at　the　priest　sidelong。
〃You're　acquainted　with　my　cousin。　Father　Duncan　McLain；　I　believe；〃　he　said　softly。
Judhael　cocked　his　head　and　stared　at　Morgan　in　surprise。
〃Why；　I'm　aware　that　he　is　secretary　to　the　Lord　Archbishop　of　Rhemuth；　Your　Grace。　He's　been　keeping　the　accounts　of　the　interviews　this　week。〃
〃That　he　has；〃　Morgan　murmured；　opening　his　mind　to　Truth…Read。　〃Are　you　aware　that　he　was　set　upon　by　a　boy　with　a　knife　earlier　this　evening？〃
Judhael's　eyes　widened　at　the　news；　then　shuttered　behind　a　quickly　posed　mask　of　concern。
〃Father　McLain　is　a　priest　like　myself。　Your　Grace；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　uninflected　voice。　〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　that　someone　would　attempt　his　sacrilegious　murder；　but　it　grieves　me　far　more　to　think　that　you　might　believe　me　involved　in　any　way。〃
〃You　have　no　knowledge　of　it；　then？〃　Morgan　asked；　a　little　taken　aback　to　realize　that　Judhael　was　telling　the　truth。
〃None；　Your　Grace。〃
〃I　see。〃
No　knowledge　whatsoever。　Judhael　really　had　not　known。　Morgan　gazed　searchingly　into　the　priest's　eyes　for　several　seconds；　not　doing　anything　but　looking　…　　though　Judhael　might　construe　what　he　liked；　and　hopefully　panic　enough　to　let　slip　some　additional　bit　of　information　…　but　Judhael　met　his　gaze　with　no　more　uneasiness　than　anyone　might　have　exhibited　when　stared　at　by　a　Deryni；　the　extent　of　whose　powers　were　uncertain。
〃Just　one　more　question；　then；〃　Morgan　said；　choosing　his　words　carefully。　〃When　was　the　last　time　you　heard　from　your　aunt？〃
Judhael　hardly　batted　an　eye。
〃Last　Christmastide；　Your　Grace。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
Last　Christmastide；　long　before　Meara's　bishopric　became　vacant；　Morgan　noted。　Nor　was　there　any　duplicity　in　Judhael's　answer。　Not　only　was　Judhael　innocent　of　knowledge　about　the　attempt　on　Duncan；　but　he　did　not　seem　to　be　involved　in　any　machinations　his　aunt　might　have　planned　for　his　insertion　into　a　bishop's　see　…　　though　Judhael　surely　had　his　own　ambitions。
Morgan　dared　not　push　the　issue　any　further；　however。　Judhael　was　beginning　to　look　more　anxious；　and　the　only　way　to　go　from　here　was　to　actually　force　a　deep　reading　on　the　priest　…　and　Arilan　would　very　likely　skin　him　if　he　got　wind　of　it；　after　his　earlier　lecture　to　Cardiel。
〃Very　well。　Father。　I'll　leave　you；　then。　Thank　you　for　your　time。　If　you've　a　mind　to　ease　a　soul；　you　might　whisper　a　prayer　for　the　boy　with　the　knife。　I'm　afraid　he　died　unshriven。〃
He　signed　himself　slowly　and　deliberately；　not　taking　his　eyes　from　Judhael's；　then　rose　and　glided　back　up　the　aisle。　Judhael　was　still　kneeling；　face　buried　in　his　hands；　when　Morgan　glanced　back　just　before　going　out。
He　walked　for　a　while　after　that；　reviewing　what　he　had　done　and　finally　inquiring　among　the　guards　as　to　what　had　happened　to　the　body　of　Duncan's　attacker。　He　found　it　in　the　infirmary；　covered　with　a　blanket；　and　he　stared　at　the　face　of　the　dead　boy　for　some　time；　wondering　who　had　sent　him。


CHAPTER　FOUR
Thou　hast　made　us　to　drink　the　wine　of　astonishment。
Psalms　60：3
Farther　north　and　east　of　Culdi；　nearer　the　coast；　an　early　dusk　began　to　settle　as　Kelson　and　his　warband　urged　their　weary　horses　along　the　final　stretch　approaching　Castle　Transha；　cloaks　pulled　close　against　an　increasingly　bitter　drizzle。　Dhugal；　riding　at　the　king's　side；　had　set　them　a　brisk　pace　since　leaving　the　Trurill　patrol　at　midmorning；　pushing　to　reach　the　shelter　of　his　father's　castle　before　dark。　They　slowed　as　the　grade　of　the　road　got　steeper；　Dhugal　expectantly　searching　the　rain　ahead　until　the　vast　pile　which　was　Transha　gradually　took　shape；　almost　black　against　the　darkening　sky。　The　young　border　lord　grinned　as　he　glanced　aside　at　the　king。
〃We're　nearly　there　now；〃　he　said　cheerily。　〃My　father's　castellan　should　have　everything　prepared。　We've　been　observed　for　the　past　hour；　you　know。〃'
〃Oh？〃
Surprised　and　a　little　taken　aback。　Kelson　turned　to　look　at　Dhugal　in　question；　for　he　had　been　scanning　the　craggy　hills　with　Deryni　senses　as　well　as　sight　for　nearly　that　long；　and　had　detected　nothing。
〃Don't　worry；〃　Dhugal　went　on　with　a　chuckle。　〃I　didn't　see　them　either。　But　then；　I'm　not　as　experienced　as　Ciard　yet。　He　signalled　me　when　we　made　our　last　rest　stop。〃
Ciard。　Of　course。　He　had　been　the　only　other　MacArdry　retainer　riding　with　the　Trurill　patrol；　so　of　course　had　e　with　them。　Kelson　remembered　him　well　from　the　days　of　Dhugal's　fosterage　at　court。　Glancing　back　thoughtfully　at　the　middle…aged　gillie　riding　a　few　ranks　behind；　he　recalled　being　told　that　Ciard　O　Ruane　had　been　made　Dhugal's　personal　attendant　and　bodyguard　by　the　MacArdry　chief　himself；　shortly　after　Dhugal's　birth。　Kelson　had　never　known　him　to　be　far　from　his　young　charge's　side。　The　man's　almost　uncanny　ability　in　the　field　had　mystified　Kelson　even　in　the　old　da