kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第33部分

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harkin's　walls　even　as　we　speak；　and　Lachlan　and　Calder　arrive　with　the　Lady　Caitrin's　party　within　a　few　days　…　so　we　will　have　twice　the　number　needed　to　make　Judhael's　consecration　valid。〃
〃Twice　the　number　of　traitors；〃　Istelyn　countered。
Loris'　eyes　narrowed。　〃You　are　as　stiff…necked　as　ever；　Istelyn。　I　believe　I　am　being　bored　with　this　conversation。　Judhael；　ask　the　guards　to　e　in；　please。　Father　Istelyn　will　be　going　to　his　new　quarters　now。〃
〃In　the　dungeons？〃　Istelyn　asked；　as　Judhael　bowed　and　moved　past　him　to　obey。
Loris　returned　him　a　prim　smile。　〃I　am　not　a　man　wholly　lacking　of　a　sense　of　propriety。　Henry。　Out　of　respect　for　the　office　you　still　technically　hold；　you　shall　be　detained　in　reasonable　fort　until　after　Judhael's　consecration　as　bishop。〃　He　signed　to　the　entering　guards　to　wait　just　inside　the　doors。　〃For　the　sake　of　propriety；　however；　I　shall　require　that　you　remove　your　vestments　before　going　to　your　new　quarters。　We　should　not　want　sacred　raiment　soiled；　should　you　decide　to　resist　your　escort。〃
The　mere　suggestion　that　guards　might　lay　hands　upon　him　while　still　vested　for　the　altar　sent　a　chill　up　Istelyn's　spine；　but　he　knew　the　threat　was　not　an　idle　one。　Loris'　hard　eyes　had　convinced　him　early　on　that　there　would　be　no　quarter；　even　had　he　agreed　to　terms。　Slowly　he　removed　the　violet　chasuble　with　its　somber　symbols　of　Advent　and　laid　it　across　the　waiting　arms　of　Judhael；　followed　by　maniple；　cincture；　stole；　amice；　and　alb。　Finally　he　stood　before　them　clad　only　in　the　violet　cassock；　slippers；　and　skullcap　of　a　bishop；　clasping　the　jewelled　pectoral　cross　on　his　breast　in　silent　affirmation　of　his　continued　defiance。　A　guard　came　from　behind　and　laid　a　fur…lined　cloak　around　his　shoulders；　and　Istelyn　nodded　surprised　thanks　as　he　drew　it　around　himself　against　the　cold。
〃Bishop　Istelyn　is　to　lodge　temporarily　with　the　young　Master　of　Transha；〃　Loris　told　the　guard　captain。　〃Please　escort　him　there　with　such　respect　as　his　behavior　warrants。　He　is　to　receive　no　visitors。　He　has　our　leave　to　celebrate　Mass　privately　and　to　minister　to　the　boy；　and　may　have　what　he　needs　for　either　intention。　You　may　go　now。〃
The　guards　started　toward　him；　but　Istelyn　ignored　them　to　shoulder　numbly　past　Loris　and　Creoda　and　make　a　reverent　obeisance　before　the　altar。　He　wore　his　dignity　like　a　mantle　as　he　rose　and　went　to　his　captors；　even　though　he　was　sick　with　fear　inside；　but　the　guards　responded　to　the　outward　nobility　of　the　man　and　fell　into　step　as　a　true　escort　rather　than　a　custodial　force。　He　managed　not　to　start　shaking　until　they　had　closed　the　door　of　his　prison　chamber　behind　him。　He　did　not　know　how　long　he　stood　there　with　his　back　against　the　door；　trembling　and　fighting　down　the　nausea　of　defeat；　until　gradually　he　became　aware　of　eyes　watching　him　from　the　shadows　of　a　fur…covered　pallet　near　the　pleasant　fire。
〃Who's　there？〃　he　called　softly。
〃Forgive　me　for　not　rising　to　greet　you。　Excellency；〃　a　young　voice　answered；　〃but　my　ribs　hurt　me　if　I　move　too　much。　You　must　be　Bishop　Istelyn。〃
〃I　am。〃
Cautiously　Istelyn　moved　closer。　The　boyish　face　the　firelight　revealed　was　far　younger　than　he　had　been　expecting。　Below　a　greyish　bandage　tied　around　the　boy's　forehead；　tawny　eyes　gazed　up　at　him　with　disconcerting　directness；　though　a　reddish　smudge　of　mustache　marked　him　as　a　little　older　than　Istelyn　had　first　thought　…　perhaps　fourteen　or　fifteen。　Dark　circles　stained　the　fair　skin　underneath　the　eyes。　It　was　evident　the　lad　had　lived　with　pain　for　some　time。
〃You　must　be　the　young　Master　of　Transha；〃　Istelyn　said；　crouching　down　beside　the　pallet。
〃Almost　the　late　Master　of　Transha；　thanks　to　Loris'　escort；〃　the　boy　replied；　offering　a　hand　from　underneath　his　sleeping　furs　and　essaying　a　tentative　smile。　〃I'm　called　Dhugal　by　my　friends。　This　hardly　seems　the　place　for　overmuch　formality。〃
Istelyn　took　the　extended　hand　briefly　and　returned　the　smile。　〃Then　I　shall　call　you　Dhugal；　young　laird；　since　we　seem　to　be　destined　at　least　to　be　colleagues。　Did　they　hurt　you　very　badly？〃
〃The　horses　hurt　me　about　as　much　as　the　men；　I　suppose；〃　Dhugal　admitted；　settling　back　against　his　mound　of　pillows　with　a　barely　bitten…back　grimace。　〃After　I　got　knocked　off　my　pony；　I　was　kicked　a　couple　of　times　and　nearly　trampled。　The　men　only　hit　me　in　the　head。　I've　some　cracked　ribs；　but　at　least　the　headaches　seem　to　be　letting　up。　What　day　is　it？〃
〃The　fifth　of　December；〃　Istelyn　responded。　〃We're　in　Advent　season。　Shall　I　look　at　your　injuries？　I　haven't　much　skill　in　such　matters；　but　perhaps　I　can　do　something。〃
Dhugal　closed　his　eyes　briefly　and　managed　a　slight　nod。　〃Thank　you。　I　can　tell　you　what　to　do。　I've　had　training　as　a　battle　surgeon　myself；　but　there's　only　so　much　one　can　do　on　oneself　as　patient。　Have　a　look。　My　ribs　are　the　worst　just　now。〃
Dhugal　was　nude　beneath　the　sleeping　furs；　his　slender　torso　and　limbs　displaying　the　number　of　old　scars　one　might　expect　of　a　lad　trained　in　warrior　disciplines；　but　Istelyn　sucked　in　breath　between　his　teeth　at　the　massive　bruising　across　the　left　ribcage。　Another　bruise　purpled　the　top　of　the　right　thigh　in　the　precise　outline　of　a　horseshoe。　Istelyn　could　even　see　the　prints　of　the　nails　which　had　held　the　shoe　in　place。
〃That　one　looks　much　worse　than　it　is；〃　Dhugal　said；　brushing　the　bruise　lightly　with　his　right　hand。　〃Which　is　not　to　say　it　doesn't　hurt；　or　that　I　won't　limp　for　a　while；　but　at　least　I　didn't　break　my　leg。　If　they'll　give　you　bandages；　or　if　something　can　be　improvised；　I　need　you　to　bind　my　chest。　Without　support；　even　breathing　can　be　an　agony　if　I　move　the　wrong　way。　And　coughing　…　〃
As　Dhugal　braced　both　hands　over　his　ribcage　to　draw　a　deeper　breath　carefully；　Istelyn　looked　alarmed。
〃You　haven't　punctured　a　lung；　have　you？〃
Dhugal　shook　his　head　and　winced　as　he　pulled　the　furs　back　up　to　his　waist。　〃I　don't　think　so。　I'm　not　coughing　blood。　I'd　give　a　lot　for　a　good　night's　sleep；　though。〃
〃Loris　said　I　might　have　medical　supplies；〃　Istelyn　said。　〃Perhaps　they'll　have　something　to　help　you　sleep。　What　about　your　head？　Any　actual　wounds？〃
Dhugal　flinched　as　the　bishop　pulled　the　bandage　from　his　head　and　began　probing　gently　beneath　the　reddish　hair。
〃No　…　and　I　don't　think　I've　missed　any　fractures。　It's　just　the　headaches；　and　they're　letting　up。〃
〃All　right。〃　Istelyn　managed　a　shaky　smile　as　he　rose　and　glanced　apprehensively　at　the　door。　〃Let's　see　whether　Loris　meant　what　he　said　about　medical　supplies。〃
An　hour　later；　bundled　in　a　cloak　against　the　cold；　Dhugal　was　sitting　gingerly　in　a　chair　beside　the　fire　and　feeling　more　fortable　than　he　had　since　before　his　capture。　So　long　as　he　did　not　breathe　too　deeply；　the　bandages　Istelyn　had　bound　around　his　chest　gave　him　enough　support　so　that　his　ribs　no　longer　hurt　beyond　a　dull　ache　…　and　that　was　fast　receding　as　he　sipped　at　the　cup　of　wine　he　had　directed　Istelyn　to　prepare。
〃This　should　make　me　sleep　at　least　through　the　night；〃　he　told　the　bishop；　as　he　took　another　swallow　of　the　drugged　wine　and　let　the　bitter　undertaste　roll　over　the　back　of　his　tongue。　〃If　they'll　let　you　have　more；　I　want　you　to　keep　me　sedated　for　at　least　another　day　and　night　beyond　that。　I　don't　like　leaving　myself　so　vulnerable；　but　unfortunately　sleep　and　rest　are　still　the　best　treatments　I　know　for　head　injuries　like　mine。〃　He　sighed　dismally。　〃It's　too　bad　Kelson　isn't　here。　He　could　…　？〃
He　broke　off　and　glanced　at　the　bishop　furtively　as　he　realized　what　he　had　almost　said；　afraid　even　a　veiled　reference　to　the　king's　newfound　powers　might　offend　the　human　Istelyn。　To　his　horror；　Istelyn　seemed　to　know　exactly　what　he　had　been　about　to　say。
〃He　could　do　what？〃　the　bishop　asked。　〃Help　you　in　some　way　with　his　magic？〃
Dhugal　swallowed　audibly；　trying　to　stay　on　guard。　The　drug　was　loosening　his　tongue　as　well　as　damping　the　pain。　Istelyn　seemed　trustworthy；　but　this　was　hardly　the　time　to　begin　so　controversial　a　discussion　with　a　man　whose　sympathies　were　unknown。
〃I　…　don't　want　to　offend　you。　Excellency；　but　most　clergy　aren't　altogether　tolerant　of　…　ah　…　magic。　Please　forget　I　said　anything。〃
〃Ah；　then　his