kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第31部分

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stioned　him　about　it　that　evening。〃
Arilan's　reaction　conveyed　both　surprise　and　anger。　〃You　questioned　him　after　I　forbade　it？〃
〃I　didn't　set　out　to　disobey　you；〃　Morgan　countered；　before　the　other　could　raise　more　specific　objections　in　front　of　the　human　Jodrell。　〃Besides；　I　only　Truth…Read　him。　He　wasn't　sorry　to　hear　about　the　attack　…　which　is　hardly　unexpected；　given　Duncan's　position　relative　to　the　Mearan　royal　house　…　but　he　was　shocked。　When　I　asked　how　long　it　had　been　since　he'd　heard　from　his　aunt；　he　said　last　Christmastide。　I　ended　the　conversation　after　that。〃
〃A　conversation　you　should　not　have　begun　in　the　first　place。〃
〃But　one　which　does　not　rule　out　Judhael's　political　interests　in　all　of　this；〃　Cardial　interjected。　〃Denis；　you　surely　can't　still　believe　he's　totally　innocent。〃
Arilan's　lips　pressed　in　a　thin；　pinched　line。　〃I　never　said　he　was　totally　innocent。〃
〃Let's　not　wander　off　the　subject；〃　Kelson　said　patiently。　〃Just　now；　I'm　far　more　concerned　that　Loris　may；　indeed；　have　gone　to　Meara。　Uncle；　you　said　the　abbot's　men　found　no　trace　of　him　in　the　surrounding　countryside；　didn't　you？〃　Nigel　nodded。　〃That　may　mean　he　made　his　escape　by　sea；　then。　Jodrell；　could　he　sail　around　the　head　of　Ballymar　this　time　of　year？〃
Jodrell；　scion　of　an　old　seafaring　family；　wobbled　his　open　hand　in　a　yea…nay　gesture。
〃It　would　be　risky。　Sire　…　but　no　more　risky　than　sailing　the　Kheldish　coast　to　reach　Torenth　by　sea。　If　he　is　making　for　Meara；　however；　my　guess　is　that　he'd　not　go　as　far　as　Ballymar。　If　I　were　Loris；　I'd　land　somewhere　farther　east　along　the　coast；　probably　in　Kierney；　and　go　overland　to　Ratharkin。〃
〃Why　Ratharkin？〃　Morgan　asked。　〃The　Mearan　pretender's　in　Laas。〃
〃Ah；　but　Ratharkin　is　the　episcopal　seat　of　Meara；〃　Cardiel　said；　glancing　at　Arilan　and　almost　daring　him　to　contradict；　〃and　the　good　Father　Judhael　is　there；　just　aching　to　be　a　bishop。　In　addition；　Ratharkin　is　only　a　few　days'　ride　from　Laas　and　the　rebel　factions；　even　in　the　dead　of　winter　…　but　more　than　a　week's　ride　for　us。　Oh；　he's　picked　his　ground　wisely；　if　he's　gone　to　Ratharkin；〃　he　finished　bitterly。　〃The　Devil　take　him　for　a　false　and　forsworn　knave！〃
With　a　dour　scowl。　Kelson　set　his　balled　fists　on　his　thighs　and　sighed。　He　was　not　sure　he　liked　the　apparent　enmity　building　between　the　two　bishops。　Nor　did　he　understand　the　reason　for　it。
〃This　is　getting　us　nowhere；　gentlemen；〃　he　said　briskly。　〃Speculation　is　cheap。　God　knows　I　fear　Loris'　intentions　as　much　as　any　of　you；　but　unless　we　have　some　direction；　any　action　we　take　will　only　be　wasted　motion。　If　he's　tried　to　round　Cassan；　nature　may　solve　our　problem　for　us。　The　same　applies　if；　by　some　odd　chance；　he's　headed　for　Torenth　after　all。〃
〃I　doubt　that；〃　Nigel　said。　〃My　instinct　says　？？？？？　…　　not　that　we　necessarily　know　he's　gone　by　sea；　however。　But　whether　by　sea　or　by　land；　someone　is　going　to　see　him　and　report　to　us　eventually。　Loris　is　too　proud　a　man　to　hide　for　long。〃
〃What　about　Bishop　Istelyn？〃　Duncan　asked。　〃Shouldn't　he　be　warned？　If　Loris　is　headed　for　Meara；　Istelyn　could　be　in　great　danger。〃
〃You're　right；　of　course；〃　Kelson　agreed。　〃Uncle；　will　you　see　to　it？　I　think　it　might　also　be　wise　to　have　Archbishop　Bradene　join　us　…　and　any　other　of　the　loyal　bishops　you　think　should　be　involved；　my　Lord　Cardiel。　Once　Loris'　intentions　are　known；　it's　vital　that　we　present　a　united　front；　secular　and　ecclesiastical。　I　want　none　of　the　confusion　which　marked　the　beginning　of　our　last　campaign　against　him。〃
Cardiel　inclined　his　head　in　agreement。
〃It　shall　be　done。　Sire。〃
Kelson　sighed　and　rose。　〃Very　well。　Loris　has　to　surface　sometime　…　and　until　we　hear　where；　I　don't　suppose　there's　much　else　we　can　do　for　now。　Uncle；　please　let　me　know　as　soon　as　you　learn　anything　else。　Meanwhile；　I'm　for　a　hot　bath　and　some　dry　clothes。　Morgan；　Father　Duncan；　would　you　please　attend　me？〃
The　king　said　little　while　his　bath　was　drawn；　leading　Duncan　to　wonder　why　they　had　been　asked　to　e　along；　but　Morgan　suspected　he　knew。　His　suspicions　were　confirmed　when　the　three　of　them　sat　down　before　the　fireplace　in　Kelson's　bedchamber。　Kelson　yawned　and　stretched；　propping　his　slippered　feet　nearer　the　fire's　warmth；　and　sipped　at　a　warm　posset　of　milk　and　honey　his　squire　had　left。
〃So；　what's　the　matter　with　Arilan？〃　he　asked　after　a　moment。　〃He　was　as　sullen　as　a　schoolboy　who's　been　caught　in　a　lie。　And　don't　tell　me　it　was　just　because　you　disobeyed　him。〃
Morgan　smiled。　〃He's　angry　with　me　because　I　questioned　Judhael　against　his　orders；　yes。　But　he　is　also　angry　with　himself　because　he　championed　Judhael's　innocence　…　or　at　least　he　played　the　Devil's　advocate　in　telling　Cardiel　and　me　why　we　ought　not　to　suspect　Judhael　in　the　attempt　on　Duncan's　life。　And　maybe　he's　right。　But　if　he　isn't；　then　the　powerful　and　somewhat　self…superior　Camberian　Councillor　has　made　a　grave　misjudgment　of　a　human's　character　…　and　he　especially　doesn't　like　having　that　pointed　out　by　a　mere　Deryni　half…breed。〃
〃Do　you　think　he's　right？〃　Kelson　asked。　〃Or　has　Judhael　played　us　false？　I　swear　I'll　crush　him；　if　he　has。　I　don't　need　anyone　stirring　up　trouble　when　Loris　is　on　the　loose。　And　if　he　helped　Loris；　then　God　help　him。〃
〃Amen　to　that；〃　Duncan　said；　〃if　he's　guilty。　But　if　he　hadn't　any　part　in　the　attack　on　me；　Alaric；　and　if　he　hasn't　been　in　contact　with　Caitrin　…　〃
〃He　still　would　have　been　glad　to　see　you　dead；〃　Morgan　interrupted；　leaning　forward　to　put　another　log　on　the　fire。　〃And　simply　because　he　had　no　literal　knowledge　of　the　attack　and　hadn't　heard　personally　from　his　aunt　doesn't　　mean　he　isn't　involved　up　to　his　ears。　That's　one　of　the　limitations　of　mere　Truth…Reading：　one　has　to　ask　the　right　questions。〃
Kelson　pursed　his　lips。　〃Then　you　think　Judhael　is　involved？〃
〃I　don't　know。　Someone　certainly　could　have　been　working　in　his　behalf；　though。　And　Loris　…　〃
〃Damn　Loris；〃　Kelson　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃And　damn　the　circumstances　that　let　him　escape。　It　all　connects；　Alaric；　I'm　sure　of　it！　He's　planning　something　terrible。　I　can　feel　it　crawling　up　my　spine！　Here　it　is；　noon；　and　I'm　as　jumpy　as　a　page　listening　to　ghost　stories　at　midnight。　I　knew　I　should　have　had　him　executed！〃
As　he　drained　his　cup　and　sat　back　to　stare　moodily　into　the　fire；　fingertips　drumming　vexedly　against　the　chair　arm；　Morgan　exchanged　a　concerned　glance　with　Duncan。　Casually　his　cousin　rose　and　came　around　behind　the　king；　beginning　to　massage　Kelson's　tense　shoulders。　Kelson　sighed　appreciatively　and　closed　his　eyes；　making　a　conscious　effort　to　relax。
〃That　feels　wonderful；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　〃I　hadn't　realized　how　tired　I　was。　Don't　stop。〃
〃We're　all　exhausted；〃　Duncan　said　easily；　reaching　out　a　little　with　his　mind　as　his　fingers　continued　to　knead　at　steel…taut　muscles。　〃Don't　let　your　righteous　anger　tie　you　into　knots；　though。〃
〃If　I'd　killed　Loris　while　I　had　the　chance；　I　wouldn't　have　to　worry　about　getting　tied　in　knots；〃　Kelson　said　dreamily。
〃Indulge　your　fantasy；　then；　if　it　makes　you　feel　better。　I'll　grant　that　if　you　had　killed　him；　things　certainly　would　be　easier　now。〃
Kelson　yawned　hugely　and　relaxed　even　more　against　Duncan's　touch；　mental　as　well　as　physical；　tipping　his　head　back　to　loll　against　the　priest's　chest　and　glance　up。
〃You　aren't　supposed　to　agree　so　readily；〃　he　murmured。　〃I'm　sitting　here　contemplating　murder。　What　kind　of　a　conscience　are　you；　anyway？　If　Loris　has　a　conscience　like　you；　I　don't　wonder　that　he　strayed。〃　Kelson　turned　his　gaze　toward　Morgan。　〃What　do　you　suppose　did　make　him　stray？〃
〃Pride；〃　Morgan　replied。　〃The　belief　that　his　notion　of　truth　was　somehow　superior　to　anyone　else's。〃
〃So　he　sold　his　honor　to　serve　his　pride。〃
〃It's　said　that　every　man　has　his　price；　my　prince；〃　Morgan　said。　〃Some　are　simply　too　high　to　be　met。〃
〃And　is　yours　that　high？〃
Duncan　faltered　just　an　instant　in　his　ministrations；　but　Morgan　merely　smiled。
〃High　enough　that　no　man　could　ever　pay　it　but　you；　my　prince；〃　he　replied　without　hesitation。　〃I　am　your　man；　as　I　was　your　father's　before　you。　You　have　bought　me　with　your　love。　Nor　can　I　ever　be　resold。〃
Chuckling　d