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第35部分

kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第35部分

小说: kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir 字数: 每页4000字

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〃That Loris was one of the men Trurill was escorting。 Remember; Jodrell told us he'd land on the coast。〃
〃That isn't funny; Morgan … even in jest;〃 Kelson whispered。
〃Do you really think I'd jest about a thing like this?〃 Morgan returned。 〃Watch the priest confirm that it's Loris。 Who else would dare to call you a heretic king? And if you want my guess; they're headed for Ratharkin; just as we suspected。 It's on a direct line from Carcashale and the coast where they landed; and the landing itself was a day…and…a…half's sail from Saint Iveagh's。〃
Only the knowledge of the prisoner on the way; surely to arrive in the next twenty…four hours; kept Kelson from ordering their departure for Ratharkin then and there。 He was snappish and preoccupied by turns all through dinner; inwardly mourning old Caulay even as he fretted about Caulay's son; and let his anger build against Loris。
〃You're right; it has to be Loris;〃 he told Morgan later that evening; after Duncan had excused himself to confer with the other bishops and Nigel had retired for some much needed sleep。 〃I hold him personally to blame for Caulay's death。 And if Dhugal … 〃
He would not let himself finish the thought; shaking his head in fierce denial as he leaned both elbows on the mantel and stared down into the crackling fire。 Morgan; looking out over Rhemuth's rain…slick rooftops from a window embrasure; glanced sharply at the king; then returned his gaze to the darkness outside。 His breath had misted the blurred grey glass; and he burnished a clear spot with his fingertip to peer outside once more。 If it was raining this hard on the Gwynedd plain; then Meara was probably experiencing heavy snow。
〃Brice of Trurill's defection hurts; too;〃 Kelson said after a moment; breaking into Morgan's more practical introspections。 〃I was going to visit him … I'm sure I would have seen the signs if I had … but I let personal pleasure call me from my duty。 I never should have gone to Transha with Dhugal。 Now he's been taken and it's all my fault。〃
〃It isn't your fault; and if you insist upon blaming yourself; you're only going to make yourself less effective。 What possible difference could your visit have made?〃
〃I still should have gone to Trurill;〃 Kelson said stubbornly。 〃If I had … 〃
〃If you had; there's no guarantee you would have noticed anything was wrong;〃 Morgan interrupted。 〃You may be Deryni; but you aren't omniscient。〃
〃I recognize treason when I see it!〃
〃From our perspective; yes。 On the other hand; I would venture to guess that the Mearans see what they're doing as patriotism。 After all; the Mearans regard themselves as a subjugated people。 They have since your greatgrandfather married the daughter of the last Mearan prince。 If Loris has found supporters in Meara; I suspect it's because he's told them they're crusaders in the cause of a free Meara。〃
〃A free Meara?〃 Kelson's savage kick at the nearest log on the fire produced a shower of sparks。 〃Free Meara indeed! Meara has never been free! Before my greatgrandfather wed the silly Mearan heiress whose marriage was supposed to resolve all of this; Meara had been ruled by petty warlords and despots for centuries。 Before that; it was no more civilized than The Connait。〃
〃The Connait; whose warriers are among the most prized mercenaries in the known world?〃 Morgan asked。
Scowling; Kelson retreated from the fire and stalked across the room to join Morgan in the window embrasure。
〃You know what I mean。 Don't confuse me with fine points of distinction。〃
〃It isn't my intention to confuse you with anything; my prince;〃 Morgan replied patiently。 〃The point is … 〃
〃The point is that Loris is in Meara; stirring up dissention … maybe even spearheading a civil rebellion; for all we know … and winter is setting in and there isn't a bloody lot I can do about it until the spring。〃
〃There is also the point that Loris has one of your closest friends to hostage;〃 Morgan said softly。 〃And you would be far less the man I have e to love and respect if you were not deeply concerned over his fate。〃
Kelson lowered his eyes; the gentle rebuke well taken。
〃He really is like a brother; Alaric;〃 he said softly。 〃He's far closer than my cousins。 He's … almost as close as you; if you were my age … or Duncan。 He even … 〃
As he broke off and drew cautious breath; shifting his unfocused gaze to the fogged window between them; Morgan raised an eyebrow。
〃He even what; my prince?〃
〃Dhugal;〃 the king murmured。 〃Sweet Jesu; I'd forgotten to mention it to you。〃 He glanced at Morgan sheepishly。 〃Do you remember that night you contacted me in Transha; and how I had to break off suddenly because Dhugal was panicking?〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Well; it wasn't wholly my idea。 Dhugal pushed us out of the link … with shields。〃
〃Shields? But that's impossible。 He isn't Deryni。〃
〃Then what is he?〃 Kelson countered。 〃He's certainly got shields a lot like ours。 He can't lower them; though。〃
〃He can't … 〃 Morgan broke off and forced himself to take a deep; steadying breath; putting out of mind the increased danger to Dhugal if he were Deryni and in Loris' hands; and Loris found out。
〃He has shields; but he can't lower them;〃 Morgan repeated more calmly; glancing back at Kelson。 〃Are you sure?〃
〃I tried to read him。 I couldn't get through。 All I did was give him a demon of a headache。 And it hurt him; Alaric。 It isn't supposed to hurt。〃
〃No; it isn't;〃 Morgan murmured。
After a few seconds; he shook his head and set his hands on Kelson's shoulders。
〃I want you to show me exactly what you did and saw and felt;〃 he said。 〃Don't hold back a thing; even the pain。 This could be very important。〃
Breathing out with a sigh。 Kelson let his hands fall to his sides and closed his eyes; willing the familiar channels to open。 He would not have thought of arguing。 Morgan's touch on his forehead plunged him at once into rapport; the link unclouded by any separation of miles or differences of intent。 He took Morgan at his word and sent the undiluted memory surging across the link in the space of a few heartbeats; not letting up even when Morgan gasped and staggered under the intensity。 Morgan looked a little dazed even after he withdrew。
〃I don't think I've ever felt anything like that;〃 Morgan murmured; focusing with an effort。 〃I still don't understand。 You should have been able to read him。〃
〃Maybe he has something like my Haldane gifts;〃 said Kelson。 〃Some potential for Derynilike abilities。 Or maybe he's like Warm de Grey。〃
Morgan shook his head; voicing his thoughts aloud as he wandered in the direction of the fireplace。
〃No; his shields have a。。。 a flavor; for want of a better word; that's quite different from Warm; who has shields and can even heal; but definitely isn't one of us。〃
〃Then; maybe he's fey;〃 Kelson quipped; biting back a chuckle。 〃He said he was … Dhugal; I mean。 He says hill people have the Second Sight … whatever that is。〃 He paused a beat。 〃Why couldn't he be Deryni; Alaric? If the strain had e into his family several generations ago … perhaps during the worst of the persecutions …  mightn't there be descendants who had no idea what they were; whose occasional odd quirks of talent were simply explained as 'Second Sight;' or 'fey'? My mother didn't know; after all。〃
〃That's what she said;〃 Morgan replied。 〃I'm sure she at least suspected; however。 And there was certainly no doubt in my mind what she was; when I threatened to read her and she backed off。 But nothing in your contact with Dhugal points to anything but shields。〃 He sighed。 〃I wish I could give you better answers。 I suppose that's one of the disadvantages of getting one's training in bits and snippets the way Duncan and I did。 Arilan might know better what to do; but … 〃
〃But you don't wholly trust him;〃 Kelson finished。
Morgan shrugged。 〃You've seen his attitude。 Do you trust him? In spite of everything that's gone on between us; he never lets go of the fact that Duncan and I are only halfDeryni。 Maybe his precious Camberian Council won't let him forget it … though he seems to set that aside in your case。〃
〃They see me in a different light;〃 Kelson said quietly。 〃I'm … not supposed to talk about it。〃
〃You mean you've had contact with 

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