kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第39部分

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〃My　Lord　Sicard；　the　drug　on　the　blade　should　have　rendered　anyone　with　Deryni　blood　quite　incapable　of　effective　defense。〃　Loris　explained　patiently。　〃And　for　a　priest；　conditioned　not　to　kill　if　it　can　be　avoided；　the　added　hesitation　should　have　been　fatal。〃
〃No　matter　now；〃　Caitrin　murmured；　toying　with　her　goblet。　〃It　wasn't　fatal；　so　we　shall　have　to　eliminate　McLain　some　other　way。　Before　that；　however；　there　is　the　matter　of　my　nephew。〃　She　favored　Judhael　with　a　fond　smile；　which　he　returned。　〃How　soon　are　you　prepared　to　proceed　with　his　consecration　as　bishop；　my　Lord　Loris？〃
Loris　inclined　his　head。　〃Tomorrow；　if　you　wish。　Highness。　It　is　regrettable　that　Bishop　Istelyn　continues　to　resist　the　inevitable；　but　Bishop　Creoda　and　several　others　will　be　honored　to　assist　me　in　that　happy　task。〃
〃So　you　said　in　your　letter；〃　Caitrin　replied；　glancing　at　her　husband。　〃You　said　also　that　the　Master　of　Transha　is　in　your　custody。　Would　you　care　to　explain　that？〃
Blinking　in　surprise；　Loris　glanced　from　one　to　the　other　of　them；　husband　and　wife；　then　at　Creoda；　who　shrugged。
〃I　landed　near　Transha；　Highness；　as　I　am　certain　I　informed　you；〃　Loris　said　cautiously。　〃The　boy　led　a　patrol　which　tried　to　intercept　me。　My　Lord　Brice　took　him　hostage　to　insure　our　escape；　and　we　kept　him　because　Transha's　support　could　be　valuable　in　the　future。　The　boy's　young；　he　might　be　won　over。　If　you　don't　agree；　it　isn't　too　late　to　kill　him。〃
〃Kill　him？〃　Sicard　gasped；　half…rising　from　his　chair。
As　Loris　jerked　back　in　surprise　and　Brice　and　Creoda　poised　to　intervene；　Caitrin　caught　at　her　husband's　hand。
〃Peace；　Sicard。　He　obviously　does　not　know。　Peace；　my　lords　…　please。〃
As　all　of　them　subsided；　Caitrin　returned　her　attention　to　Loris；　at　the　same　time　gently　stroking　her　husband's　hand。
〃In　all　the　intensity　of　your　own　escape；　you　obviously　have　forgotten　my　husband's　clan。　Archbishop；〃　she　said　carefully。　〃The　young　Master　of　Transha　is　my　husband's　nephew。　My　Lord　Sicard　has　not　spoken　to　his　brother；　the　boy's　father；　for　many　years；　but　you　must　realize　that　blood　is　very　important　to　border　folk。　The　fact　that　Sicard　and　Caulay　had　a　falling　out　does　not　lessen　my　husband's　affection　for　his　only　surviving　blood　nephew。〃
Loris　smiled　and　relaxed；　nodding　his　understanding。　〃Ah；　then；　we　have　no　quarrel；　dear　lady；　since　young　Dhugal　is　in　good　health　and　waits　upon　your　pleasure。　Would　you　like　to　see　him？〃
〃Immediately；〃　Sicard　murmured。
〃But；　of　course　…　though　I　assure　you；　he　is　honorably　detained。　He　presently　shares　quarters　with　Bishop　Istelyn；　who　has　been　seeing　to　the　injuries　he　received　when　he　was　captured。　Nothing　too　serious；　I　assure　you。　e。　I'll　take　you　to　him。〃

Dhugal　MacArdry　stretched　carefully；　then　moved　one　of　his　archers　on　the　gameboard　set　between　himself　and　Istelyn；　glancing　up　to　see　the　bishop's　reaction。　Istelyn　raised　an　eyebrow　and　passed　a　ringed　hand　across　his　mouth　and　lower　jaw　as　he　studied　the　new　tactical　situation；　deep　in　thought。
It　was　now　more　than　a　week　since　Dhugal's　capture；　and　his　injuries　were　healing　with　the　swiftness　often　granted　to　the　young　and　healthy。　His　head　still　throbbed　a　little　if　he　moved　too　quickly　or　tried　to　stay　awake　for　too　long　at　a　stretch；　but　the　constant　ache　of　his　ribs　had　eased　to　only　an　occasional　twinge。　Nor　did　it　hurt　to　breathe。　For　the　last　day　or　two；　he　had　even　begun　light　exercise　to　start　getting　back　into　shape。
He　flexed　his　sword　hand　and　made　a　fist；　heartened　by　the　increased　strength　he　felt；　then　stiffened　and　looked　up　as　footsteps　approached　the　outer　door。　Istelyn　pursed　his　lips　in　resignation　but　rose　as　the　door　opened；　gesturing　for　Dhugal　to　rise　as　well。　Dhugal　obeyed；　for　it　would　do　no　good　to　antagonize　their　captors。
〃You　have　visitors。　Lord　Dhugal；〃　Loris　said；　moving　through　the　doorway　as　the　guard　stepped　back。　〃I　assured　them　you've　been　treated　with　all　the　proper　respect　due　your　rank。〃
As　Dhugal's　eyes　darted　to　the　figures　entering　behind　Loris；　his　heart　sank。　The　rather　plain…looking　older　woman　he　did　not　know；　but　he　could　guess　her　identity　from　her　pany。　Even　had　the　man　at　her　side　not　worn　a　shoulder　plaid　of　MacArdry　tartan；　Dhugal　would　have　recognized　the　unmistakable　stamp　of　kindred　blood。　It　could　only　be　his　black…sheep　uncle；　Sicard　MacArdry；　and　the　woman；　the　Pretender　Caitrin。
〃Kinsman；〃　Dhugal　murmured　neutrally；　in　case　he　was　mistaken；　inclining　his　head　in　a　polite　bow。
White　teeth　flashed　in　the　man's　heavy　beard　and　mustaches　as　he　chuckled　delightedly。
〃So；　my　brother's　son　has　grown　to　manhood；　eh？　We　hear　you　gave　His　Excellency's　escort　a　hard　time；　lad。〃
Dhugal　merely　inclined　his　head　again。　〃I　but　did　my　duty　to　my　father；　sir。　As　his　heir；　I　could　do　no　other。〃
The　woman　raised　an　eyebrow　and　glanced　over　at　her　husband；　apparently　pleased　with　his　answer。
〃The　boy　speaks　well；　Sicard；　and　seems　to　know　how　to　guard　his　tongue。　Perhaps　blood　will　show　him　his　new　duty　as　well。　Will　you　introduce　my　nephew？〃
Sicard　gave　her　a　little　bow　and　called　Dhugal　closer　with　a　gesture。　Dhugal　approached　slowly；　all　too　aware　why　they　had　sought　him　out。
〃An'　it　please　my　Liege　Lady；〃　Sicard　murmured；　〃I　beg　leave　to　present　my　brother's　son。　Lord　Dhugal　MacArdry：　heir　to　the　Earldom　of　Transha　and　tanist　of　Clan　MacArdry。　Dhugal；　Her　Royal　Highness　The　Princess　Caitrin　of　Meara。　If　you　are　wiser　than　your　father；　I　hope　you　will　acknowledge　her　as　your　future　liege。　Transha　was　once　part　of　Old　Meara；　and　shall　be　again；　if　the　fates　are　kind。〃
Dhugal's　heart　was　chilled　by　the　implication；　but　it　was　only　what　he　had　expected。　Putting　on　what　he　hoped　was　one　of　his　most　wide…eyed　and　naive　expressions；　he　took　the　hand　Caitrin　extended　and　brushed　the　knuckles　with　his　lips　in　polite　salute。　He　could　feel　Istelyn　stiffen　behind　him　in　disapproval。
〃I　am　honored　to　make　your　acquaintance；　Lady；〃　he　said；　turning　earnest　eyes　shyly　upon　her。　〃Often　while　I　was　growing　up；　I　mourned　the　fact　that　my　father's　quarrel　with　his　brother　had　robbed　me　of　uncle　and　aunt　and　cousins。　I　hope　you　will　not　hold　his　quarrel　against　me。〃
〃A　wise　lad；〃　she　replied；　taking　him　by　the　shoulders　to　formally　kiss　him　on　either　cheek。　〃We　shall　talk　more　of　this　after　your　cousin　Judhael's　consecration　tomorrow；　if　you　port　yourself　as　the　well…bred　lad　you　appear　to　be。〃　She　drew　back　to　glance　at　Istelyn；　who　returned　her　gaze　stonily；　then　nodded　to　Loris。
〃I　wish　Lord　Dhugal　to　have　an　honored　place　at　the　ceremony　tomorrow；　my　Lord　Archbishop。　He　is　family。　I　wish　him　treated　as　such。〃
Loris　bowed。　〃If　the　Lord　Dhugal　will　give　his　word　not　to　interfere　with　the　proceedings；　I　am　certain　that　can　be　arranged。　Highness。〃
〃Well；　Dhugal？〃　She　glanced　at　him　pointedly。　〃Can　we　trust　you　to　conduct　yourself　befitting　your　blood？〃
Dropping　to　one　knee；　Dhugal　bowed　his　head　and　murmured　his　wholehearted　agreement。　If　that　were　all　the　oath　required；　he　could　give　it　in　clear　conscience　…　　for　his　blood　and　honor　bound　him　to　his　king　and　brother　above　all。　And　by　gaining　their　trust；　he　might　yet　escape　to　warn　Kelson。
〃Swear　on　the　Cross；　then；〃　Loris　said；　not　unexpectedly；　starting　to　extend　his　pectoral　cross　for　Dhugal　to　kiss；　〃Nay；　on　second　thought；　you　shall　swear　on　Istelyn's　cross；　lest　you　harbor　some　scruple　about　the　one　I　wear。　Istelyn；　attend。〃
As　Loris　snapped　his　fingers　toward　Istelyn　and　held　out　his　hand；　Dhugal　thought　the　bishop　might　refuse　at　first　…　Istelyn　was　looking　thoroughly　disapproving　at　what　must　surely　appear　to　be　a　defection。　But　Loris'　mand　left　no　room　for　disobedience。　Defiance　would　only　mean　the　taking　of　the　cross　by　force。　Unlooping　the　chain　from　around　his　neck；　Istelyn　averted　his　eyes　and　held　out　the　sacred　relic。　Loris　glanced　at　the　kneeling　Dhugal　and　plicated　the　matter。
〃I　think　Bishop　Istelyn　should　administer　the　oath　as　well；〃　he　said　softly；　seizing　Istelyn's　wrist　and　bringing　the　hand　and　cross　down　to　Dhugal's　eye…level。　〃Place　your　hand　on　this　holy　symbol　and　swear　the　oath　to　Istelyn；　young　Dhugal。　And　know　that　if　you　are　forsworn；　you　will　bum　in　hell　for　your　sin！〃