kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第32部分

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our　father's　before　you。　You　have　bought　me　with　your　love。　Nor　can　I　ever　be　resold。〃
Chuckling　delightedly。　Kelson　yawned　and　closed　his　eyes　once　more；　aware　that　Duncan　was　urging　sleep　on　him　and　not　fighting　it。
〃You　always　know　the　right　thing　to　say；　don't　you？　Here。〃　Kelson　handed　his　empty　cup　to　Morgan。　〃And　Duncan；　you　needn't　nag；　I　was　planning　all　along　to　have　a　nap。〃
〃That's　one　of　the　more　reasonable　things　you've　said　all　day；〃　Duncan　replied。　〃You　ought　to　go　lie　down　in　your　bed；　however。　You'll　get　a　crick　in　your　neck　if　you　fall　asleep　here。〃
〃Nag；　nag；　nag；〃　Kelson　whispered　around　another　yawn。　But　he　smiled　as　he　rose　to　obey。　He　was　asleep　almost　as　soon　as　his　head　touched　the　pillow。　Duncan　pulled　a　fur　coverlet　more　snugly　around　him　and　closed　the　bed　curtains；　then　returned　to　the　chair　the　king　had　just　vacated。
〃He's　in　quite　a　mood；〃　Morgan　observed。　〃Anything　we　should　worry　about？〃
〃I　don't　think　so。　He's　just　tired。　And　shocked　far　more　than　he　wants　to　admit；　over　Loris'　escape。　What　do　you　think　he's　up　to；　Alaric？〃
〃Loris？〃　Morgan　shook　his　head　and　glanced　into　the　dying　flames。　〃Damned　if　I　know。　As　Kelson　said　not　long　ago；　however　…　something　terrible。〃
〃And　Judhael？〃
〃The　same；　I　fear。〃

*　*　*
Even　as　Morgan　and　Duncan　spoke；　Loris　was　making　good　their　suspicions　in　Ratharkin。　Bishop　Istelyn；　after　celebrating　the　noon　Mass；　was　seized　by　armed　men　wearing　the　livery　of　the　Bishop　of　Culdi　and；　still　vested；　was　conducted　to　the　chapel　adjoining　his　apartments。　Creoda　and　Judhael　waited　near　the　altar。　A　third　man　wearing　the　same　episcopal　purple　as　Creoda　knelt　close　by　the　altar　steps　with　his　back　to　Istelyn；　who　could　not　see　his　face。　Something　in　the　line　of　the　shoulders　and　bowed　head　struck　a　cord　of　both　familiarity　and　danger。
〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　Istelyn　demanded；　approaching　the　three　as　the　guards　released　him　and　withdrew。
Creoda　and　Judhael　moved　diffidently　to　either　side　as　the　stranger　rose　and　turned。
〃Hello；　Henry；〃　the　stranger　said。
Istelyn　froze　in　the　center　of　the　aisle　and　blanched　nearly　as　white　as　his　alb。
〃Loris！〃
The　renegade　archbishop　folded　his　hands　placently　across　his　narrow　waist　and　gave　a　thin　smile。
〃Why；　Henry；　you　seem　surprised；〃　he　said　softly。　〃But　I　would　have　thought　that　after　so　many　years　in　Orders；　you　would　know　better　how　to　greet　your　Primate。〃
〃Primate？〃　Istelyn's　jaw　dropped。　〃You　must　be　mad！　How　did　you　get　in　here？　You　were　at　Saint　Iveagh's；　the　last　I　heard。〃
〃Obviously；　I　am　no　longer　at　Saint　Iveagh's；〃　Loris　said　in　a　low；　dangerous　voice。　〃Nor　was　I　pleased　at　my　acmodations　there　…　acmodations　which　you　had　a　part　in　forcing　upon　me。〃
For　the　first　time；　the　true　danger　of　Istelyn's　situation　registered。　Calling　for　the　guard　would　do　no　good；　for　the　men　〃loaned〃　him　by　his　supposed　benefactor；　Creoda；　were　the　same　who　had　brought　him　here。　Nor　was　Judhael's　presence　reassuring。　The　Mearan　priest　who　had　sought　the　office　which　Istelyn　now　held　would　have　no　reason　to　champion　his　former　rival。
He　was　totally　in　their　power；　with　no　way　to　summon　help　or　even　to　distinguish　whose　help　could　be　trusted。　e　supposed　that　the　men　left　by　Bradene　were　still　loyal；　but　they　were　probably　under　guard　by　now　as　well。　He　hoped　they　had　not　been　harmed。　And　Loris'　reference　to　himself　as　Primate　bespoke　a　far　greater　treachery　than　simply　the　escape　of　an　imprisoned　ex…archbishop　and　his　exaction　of　vengeance　against　a　man　who　had　helped　to　unseat　him　from　his　previous　glory。
〃What　do　you　want　of　me？〃　Istelyn　said　carefully。　〃Your　pretense　to　the　Primacy　is　treasonous　and　your　very　presence　in　Ratharkin　illegal。　And　Creoda　…　〃　He　shifted　his　gaze　to　the　betraying　bishop。　〃You　and　Father　Judhael　also　tread　on　extremely　dangerous　ground　if　you　harbor　this　man。　Was　all　your　offer　of　assistance　merely　a　sham　to　gain　my　confidence　until　this　fugitive　could　join　you　in　your　betrayal　of　Mother　Church？〃
Judhael　said　nothing；　though　his　jaw　tightened　in　resentment；　but　Creoda　smiled　pleasantly　and　inclined　his　head。
〃We　perceive　no　betrayal　of　Mother　Church；〃　he　said　amiably。　〃Rather；　we　perceive　the　actions　of　the　consistory　and　the　king　as　a　betrayal　of　the　Mearan　people。　Father　Judhael　should　have　been　bishop　here　…　not　you。　It's　as　simple　as　that。　And　Archbishop　Loris　ought　never　to　have　been　relieved　of　his　office　and　imprisoned　like　a　mon　felon。　We　feel　that　the　time　has　e　to　rectify　the　error。　Henry。〃
〃What　error？〃　Istelyn　demanded。　〃His　own　brother　bishops　pronounced　judgment　on　him；　Creoda。　You　were　there。　Nor　do　I　recollect　any　outbursts　of　righteous　indignation　on　your　part　at　the　time。〃
Creoda　raised　an　unconcerned　eyebrow。　〃I　was　ill…informed。〃
〃You　mean　you've　since　been　bought！　What　did　he　offer　you；　Creoda？　You're　Bishop　of　Culdi；　for　God's　sake！　What　could　a　disgraced　archbishop　possibly　have　offered　you　that　was　better　than　that？〃
〃You　would　do　well　to　remember　who　and　where　you　are。　Bishop；〃　Loris　said　pointedly。　〃And　you　will　either　cooperate　or　pay　the　price　reserved　for　traitors。　We　shall　begin　with　Meara：　the　seating　of　a　Mearan　priest　upon　an　episcopal　throne　in　Meara；　the　restoration　of　the　legitimate　Mearan　royal　line；　and　the　extension　of　Meara's　borders　to　her　previous　boundaries。　Meara　shall　be　an　independent　princedom　once　more；　with　her　own　ecclesiastical　hierarchy…〃
〃Headed　by　yourself；　no　doubt；〃　said　Istelyn。
〃Yes；　headed　by　myself。　And　then　we　shall　cleanse　error　from　the　land　in　Meara　and　eventually　in　Gwynedd　and　the　rest　of　the　Eleven　Kingdoms。　Deryni　heresy　has　corrupted　even　the　mighty。　It　must　be　obliterated。　This　time；　we　shall　not　fail。〃
〃But　the　king　is　part　Deryni；〃　Istelyn　murmured。
〃A　crown　does　not　confer　immunity　from　the　just　wrath　of　an　offended　God！〃　Loris　thundered；　drawing　himself　to　self…righteous　attention。　〃The　king　has　erred；　the　king　must　be　chastised。　If　it　would　change　the　past；　I　would　strike　off　my　own　hand　which　poured　the　sacred　oil　upon　his　head！　His　error　must　be　burned　from　him；　even　unto　death；　if　necessary　for　the　sake　of　his　immortal　soul！　The　Lord's　trust　has　been　betrayed。　The　Lord　will　repay！〃
〃He's　gone　mad；〃　Istelyn　murmured　under　his　breath；　shaking　his　head　as　he　turned　half　away。　〃They've　all　gone　utterly　mad。〃
He　heard　the　rustle　of　episcopal　silk　ing　nearer　and　glanced　back　to　see　Loris　almost　within　reach　of　him；　Creoda　and　Judhael　flanking　him　to　either　side。
〃I　give　you　one　chance　and　one　chance　only　for　clemency；〃　Loris　said；　raising　a　single　finger　to　illustrate　his　point。　〃If　you　will　assist　Creoda　and　myself　in　consecrating　Father　Judhael　a　bishop；　I　shall　permit　you　the　same　kind　of　'honorable　retirement'　to　which　you　so　generously　consigned　me　for　the　past　two　years。　It　is　more　than　you　deserve。〃
〃And　all　I　must　do　to　be　granted　this　magnanimous　favor　is　betray　my　archbishop　and　my　king　by　raising　a　traitor　in　my　stead；〃　Istelyn　said。　〃I　decline　the　honor。〃
〃I　should　not　be　too　hasty；　if　I　were　you；〃　Loris　warned。　〃Do　not　let　misplaced　loyalties　lead　you　to　your　death。〃
〃Do　not　threaten　me！〃　Istelyn　snapped。　〃I'll　not　turn　traitor　for　offices　or　riches　or　even　to　save　my　own　life。　Nor　will　I　lift　one　finger　to　assist　your　illegal　consecration　of　that　man。〃
〃I　beg　of　you。　Henry；　be　reasonable；〃　Creoda　said。
〃Oh；　I　am。　I'm　being　quite　reasonable。　And　it　occurs　to　me　that　there's　only　one　reason　you'd　be　courting　my　assistance　to　consecrate　your　Mearan　traitor。　You　need　another　bishop's　hands　to　make　it　valid；　don't　you？〃
Eyes　narrowed　and　dangerous；　Loris　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃There　is　nothing　I　need　from　you；　Istelyn。　Judhael　shall　have　his　sacring　whether　you　will　it　or　no。〃
〃Not　by　my　hand。〃
〃If　defiance　gives　you　fort；　then　so　be　it；〃　Loris　replied。　〃But　do　not　make　the　mistake　of　thinking　that　your　refusal　will　make　it　impossible　to　consecrate　Judhael。　Surely　you　do　not　think　I　would　embark　upon　this　holy　crusade　if　I　did　not　have　further　support　among　the　episcopate　of　a　reunited　Meara？　The　Bishop　of　Cashien　and　two　itinerant　bishops　are　within　Ratharkin's　walls　even　as　we　speak；　and　Lachlan　and　Calder　arrive　with　the　Lady　Caitrin's　party　within