kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第25部分

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ight　stairs；　closed　by　the　monks'　dorter；　Loris　hardly　dared　to　breathe。　Once　past；　he　could　breathe；　but　their　route　became　a　maze　of　unfamiliar　turns　and　jogs。　He　had　no　idea　where　he　was。
Another　descending　stair　gave　way　to　downward…sloping　corridor；　then　to　rock…hewn　tunnel；　then　to　rough　sea　cave　…　and　a　harrowing　descent　of　the　remainder　of　the　cliff　face　by　rope；　to　board　a　waiting　curragh。　Loris　clung　to　the　sides　of　the　tiny　craft　and　prayed　as　the　curragh　left　the　shelter　of　the　cove　and　headed　out　through　the　swells；　not　relaxing　until　a　ship　suddenly　loomed　out　of　the　fog　ahead；　spars　stark　and　skeletal　in　the　darkness。　As　he　scrambled　aboard；　the　master　of　the　ship　tugged　at　his　forelock　and　gave　silent　signal　for　the　crew　to　begin　rowing。
〃God　prosper　Your　Excellency　in　your　work；〃　said　a　muffled　voice；　kneeling　shadow…vague　to　grasp　the　newer's　hand　and　kiss　it。
〃Gorony？〃　Loris　whispered；　raising　the　man　to　peer　and　then　embrace　him。　〃Gorony；　Gorony；　I　feared　never　to　see　you　again；　or　to　taste　freedom！　Oh；　I　am　well　blessed　with　such　service！〃
Gorony　pulled　away　far　enough　to　incline　his　head　in　thanks；　smiling　contentedly。　〃I　had　powerful　allies；　my　lord。　But　not　powerful　enough；　I　fear；　to　prevent　your　enemies　from　making　our　task　more　difficult　from　this　point　on。　The　Lord　Judhael　was　not　elected　to　the　See　of　Meara。　Tomorrow　morning；　Bradene　and　Cardiel　will　invest　Henry　Istelyn　in　Ratharkin；　before　the　king　and　most　of　his　court。〃
〃Istelyn？　Damn！〃　Slamming　one　fist　into　his　other　palm；　Loris　half　turned　away　from　Gorony；　moving　farther　into　the　bow。　The　wind　was　freshening　as　the　ship　ghosted　further　from　the　shelter　of　the　sea　cliffs；　and　canvas　rustled　and　snapped　as　the　crew　hoisted　the　sail　aloft　and　caught　the　air。
〃Do　you　know　how　it　happened？〃　Loris　asked；　after　taking　a　moment　to　subdue　his　anger。
Gorony　shrugged。　〃Not　in　detail。　Excellency；　but　one　gathers　that　the　Deryni　McLain　had　a　hand　in　it。　Incidentally；　I　regret　to　report　that　our　diversion　was　unsuccessful。　McLain　still　lives　and　will　himself　be　consecrated　bishop　at　Easter；　to　serve　Cardiel。〃
〃A　viper　in　the　episcopate！〃　Loris　spat　vehemently　over　the　rail。　〃What　about　our　agent？　Did　he　talk？〃
〃Apparently　not。　McLain　killed　him　during　the　attack。　Fortunately；　not　even　Deryni　can　make　the　dead　speak　…　　especially　when　merasha　is　involved。〃
〃Ah；　then　the　boy　did　manage　to　wound　him。〃
〃Aye；　though　not　deeply　enough　to　do　real　damage：　a　slash　across　one　palm；　from　what　I　hear。　Apparently　Morgan　was　able　to　heal　that；　though　not　right　away；　with　the　merasha　in　it。　McLain　was　quite　up　to　attending　Mass　the　next　noon；　and　seemed　to　bear　no　sign　of　the　wound。〃
〃Blast　him　for　the　Deryni　heretic　he　is！　…　that　both　of　them　are！　…　and　that　is　going　to　be　a　bishop！〃　He　indulged　an　explosive　sigh；　then　glanced　at　Gorony　more　mildly。
〃How　does　this　change　our　plans；　then；　my　friend？　You've　worked　miracles　enough；　simply　to　get　me　out　of　Saint　Iveagh's；　but　there's　no　way　we　can　reach　Ratharkin　in　time　to　prevent　the　investiture。〃
〃That's　true；　my　lord。　However；　by　the　time　we　can　reach　Ratharkin；　the　king　and　his　court　will　be　on　their　way　back　to　Rhemuth。　For　all　the　winter；　Meara's　new　bishop　will　be　guarded　only　by　his　garrison　…　and　most　of　them　owe　obedience　to　the　Bishop　of　Culdi　or　to　Judhael　himself。〃
〃Do　they；　indeed？〃　Loris　breathed。
〃Even　so；　my　lord；〃　Gorony　replied；　smiling。　〃Nor　does　Bishop　Creoda's　support　end　with　the　gaining　of　your　freedom。　He　proposes　to　help　you　depose　Istelyn　and　then　consecrate　Judhael　in　his　place。　The　king　won't　even　know　for　several　weeks；　if　things　go　as　they　should　…　and　the　snows　will　make　it　almost　impossible　to　do　anything　about　it　until　spring。　By　then；　you　and　the　Princess　Caitrin　should　be　firm　allies。〃
When　Loris　had　digested　the　information；　he　nodded。　〃Creoda；　too；　has　served　me　well。　Have　we　a　third　bishop　available；　to　make　the　validity　of　Judhael's　consecration　beyond　question？〃
〃We　hope　to　…　ah　…　'persuade'　Istelyn　to　assist；〃　Gorony　said　carefully。　〃His　cooperation　would　lend　us　credence　in　the　eyes　of　royalist　supporters　in　the　city；　and　perhaps　ease　the　situation　through　the　winter。　Failing　that；　Mir　de　Kierney　and　several　of　the　other　itinerant　bishops　are　remaining　within　easy　access　of　Ratharkin。　Once　the　city　is　secured；　you　shan't　lack　for　bishops　to　do　your　bidding。〃
〃How　many？〃　Loris　asked。
〃For　now；　perhaps　as　many　as　seven；　not　counting　Judhael　or　yourself。　Three　hold　titled　sees。〃　Gorony　paused。　〃I　should　add　that　none　of　these　know　that　you　are　involved　besides　Creoda　and　Judhael；　though　the　cause　of　Mearan　independence　binds　them　all。　However；　I　think　they　can　be　persuaded　readily　enough　to　support　you；　once　it's　learned　you　plan　to　champion　the　Princess　Caitrin。〃
Loris　snorted　under　his　breath；　then　glanced　around　behind　them　before　looking　at　Gorony。　〃Do　you　think　I　care　a　whit　about　her；　Gorony？　It's　my　see　I　want　back　…　　and　I　want　the　Deryni　who　took　it　from　me。　I　want　them　very　badly。〃
〃I　believe　you　may　just　get　your　wish；　my　lord。〃　Gorony　smiled。　〃You'll　find　these　bishops　far　more　biddable　than　the　last　lot　…　and　by　starting　with　a　united　Meara；　there's　nothing　to　prevent　the　creation　of　more　bishops　who　will　do　as　you　ask　them。　Meara　can　be　but　the　first　step。〃
〃Ah；　Gorony；　you　do　understand　quite　well；　don't　you？〃　Loris　murmured　appreciatively。　〃I'll　not　forget；　I　promise　you。〃　He　sighed　as　he　glanced　out　at　the　blank　sea　ahead。　〃How　long　before　we　make　landfall？　I　am　eager　to　be　about　our　work。〃
〃Tomorrow；　dawn。　From　there；　it's　two　or　three　days'　ride　to　Ratharkin。　We　expect　no　opposition。　Why　don't　you　rest；　my　lord？〃
〃Thank　you。　I　believe　I　shall。　And　I　may　even　sleep　…　　now。〃

Sleep　had　fled　Saint　Iveagh's　not　long　before；　however；　the　abbot　suspending　the　Office　of　Prime　for　the　first　time　in　thirty　years。　The　old　monk　who　knelt　trembling　before　the　abbot　and　the　brethren　hastily　assembled　in　Loris'　empty　chamber　was　nearly　weeping；　his　voice　barely　audible；　even　though　the　abbot　had　already　dispensed　all　in　the　room　from　the　Order's　Rule　of　speaking　in　a　whisper　save　during　Divine　Office。
〃I　cannot　explain　it。　Father　Abbot。　He　is　simply　gone。　He　asked　to　attend　Vespers；　so　that　he　might　hear　Brother　Jeroboam　preach；　and　I　myself　locked　his　door　when　he　returned。　Here　is　the　key。〃　He　extended　it　in　both　hands；　not　looking　up。　〃I　will　swear　on　whatever　holy　relics　you　require　that　it　has　not　been　out　of　my　possession。〃
Another　monk　stepped　forward　from　the　ranks　and　knelt　beside　the　distraught　man。
〃It　is　true。　Father　Abbott。　Brother　Wenceslaus　had　the　key　when　he　returned　from　escorting　Father　Loris　back　to　his　room。　He　and　I　kept　vigil　in　the　Lady　Chapel　until　pline。　Both　of　us　looked　in　on　Father　Loris　before　retiring；　but　he　seemed　to　be　asleep　…　and　he　often　omits　the　early　morning　offices。　There　was　no　occasion　to　check　on　him　again　until　we　came　to　rouse　him　for　Prime。〃
The　abbot；　rumpled　and　disheveled　in　a　hastily　donned　mantle　pulled　over　his　sleeping　gown；　sank　wearily　onto　a　stool　and　sighed。
〃Then；　he　could　have　been　missing　for　many　hours；〃　he　murmured。　〃How　can　this　have　happened？　Brother　Wenceslaus；　please　believe　that　I　do　not　hold　you　personally　to　blame；　but　could　there　possibly　have　been　a　second　key？〃
Another　brother；　bending　to　inspect　the　door　latch　by　the　light　of　a　candle　another　monk　held；　tut…tutted　primly　to　himself　and　shook　his　head　as　he　glanced　up　at　the　abbot。
〃I　doubt　there　was　another　key。　Father　Abbot。　The　lock　shows　definite　signs　of　tampering　…　perhaps　one　of　the　tinkers　who　paid　us　visit　in　the　last　few　days。〃　He　paused　a　beat。　〃Or　some　other　stranger。　I　don't　suppose　anyone　has　questioned　Brother　Jeroboam？〃
The　abbot　shook　his　head　miserably。　〃Unfortunately；　I　am　informed　that　Brother　Jeroboam　is　also　missing。　Alas；　it　appears　the　good　preacher　was　not　what　he　appeared。　That　we　did　not　recognize　this　is　the　fault　of　no　one　in　this　Order；　but　the　fact　remains　that　the　prisoner　entrusted　to　our　charge　has　escaped。　We　have　failed　in　our　duty。〃
As　he　sighed　again；　the　assembled　brethren　hung　their　heads　guiltily。
〃Well；　there　is　no　help　for　it　but　to　tell　the　king；　m