kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第54部分

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e。〃
〃We　will　deal　with　Judhael；　my　lord；〃　Arilan　said　pointedly。　〃You　need　not　worry　about　a　renegade　priest。　The　marriage　does　have　its　merits；　though。　Sire；　from　what　has　been　said；　I　assume　that　you　would　be　willing　to　enter　such　a　union。　Is　that　a　correct　assumption？〃
Kelson　shrugged；　making　a　game　attempt　to　appear　casual。　〃If　I　must。　However；　a　great　deal　depends　upon　the　lady。　She　may　not　want　to　marry　me。〃
Ewan　snorted。　〃She'll　do　as　she's　told；　if　she　knows　what's　good　for　her！〃
〃And　suppose　she　doesn't？〃　Kelson　asked。
Jodrell　shrugged。　〃She　is　your　hostage。　Sire。　If　such　is　your　desire；　I　hardly　think　she　has　much　choice　in　the　matter。〃
〃Oh？　And　if　I　drag　her　to　the　altar　against　her　will；　how　then　for　the　sanctity　of　our　marriage　vows？〃　Kelson　retorted。　〃What　say　you。　Archbishop？〃
As　Bradene　squirmed　under　the　royal　scrutiny；　Arilan　shook　his　head。　〃It　is　not　required　that　the　bride　be　eager；　Sire；　only　willingly　resigned。　And　if　the　wooing　is　carried　out　with　…　the　proper　delicacy；〃　he　arched　an　eyebrow　knowingly　at　the　king；　〃I　think　she　would　not　be　unwilling。〃
His　glance　at　Kelson　conveyed　all　the　potential　of　a　Deryni　king's　ability　to　persuade；　without　even　resorting　to　his　own　Deryni　abilities。　Kelson　read　his　meaning　instantly；　a　little　sick　at　heart；　and　knew　by　Morgan's　quickly　damped　flare　of　indignation　that　he　had　read　it；　too。
With　a　chill　smile。　Kelson　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　allowed　himself　a　resigned　sigh。
〃I　take　your　meaning。　Bishop；〃　he　said　quietly；　trying　to　put　out　of　mind　the　temptation　Arilan　had　just　presented　him。　〃If　wooing's　to　be　done；　however；　I'll　do　it　in　my　own　fashion。　For　the　sake　of　my　kingdom；　I'll　even　take　her　by　force　if　I　must。　I'm　sure　a　priest　could　be　found　who　would　turn　a　blind　eye　to　her　protests；〃　he　added　dryly。　〃But　if　peace　can　be　secured　some　other　way；　without　much　loss　of　life；　then　I　would　as　soon　not　wed　for　now。　We　still　have　time。〃
〃And　does　Istelyn　have　time？〃　Bradene　demanded。　〃How　do　you　intend　to　answer　that？〃
As　he　gestured　angrily　toward　the　box　across　from　him　and　Kelson；　the　king　slapped　his　open　palm　against　the　table　in　consternation。
〃Obviously　I　cannot　answer　it。　Archbishop！　I　have　already　said　that　I　can　do　nothing　for　Istelyn。　I　shall　reiterate　our　demand　that　Caitrin　and　her　son　submit　to　me　by　Christmas。〃
〃And　if　she　does　not？〃
Kelson　sighed　heavily；　his　momentary　anger　deflated。
〃If　she　does　not；　then　I　shall　take　the　Princess　Sidana　to　wife　at　Twelfth　Night　and　send　out　summons　of　array　for　a　spring　campaign。〃
〃Alas；　I　fear　that　will　mean　Istelyn's　death；〃　Cardiel　said；　as　murmurs　of　concurrence　rippled　around　the　table。
〃We　must　count　Istelyn　as　dead　already；　my　lords；〃　Morgan　said　softly。　〃And　if　he　dies；　then　we　must　make　his　death　count　for　something。　I　know　he　would　support　the　king's　wish　to　settle　all　as　bloodlessly　as　possible；　but　if　necessary；　the　spring　shall　see　his　murderers　confounded　with　the　sword。〃
〃Very　well；〃　Bradene　replied。　〃I　see　that　there　is　no　appeal　for　that。　Fortunately；　the　Church　has　weapons　other　than　the　sword　with　which　to　confound　Loris　and　his　would…be　Mearan　queen。　Nor　need　we　wait　until　the　spring　to　use　them。〃
As　Bradene　swept　his　fellow　bishops　with　his　hard　glance；　almost　in　challenge。　Kelson　knew　with　a　chill　certainty　what　was　ing　next。
〃I　propose　a　rite　of　general　exmunication；〃　Bradene　went　on。　〃That　we　formally　strip　Loris　of　his　rank　and　priesthood　…　something　we　should　have　done　two　years　ago　…　that　we　suspend　the　bishops　who　have　taken　his　part；　and　that　we　exmunicate　the　lot　of　them；　including　the　Mearan　royal　family。〃
The　other　bishops　nodded　gravely；　murmuring　among　themselves；　but　Kelson's　stomach　did　a　slow；　queasy　roll；　even　though　he　had　been　half…expecting　someone　to　bring　up　the　subject　before　they　were　done。　Having　been　exmunicated　himself　at　one　time；　if　only　for　reason　of　Loris'　spite。　Kelson　could　not　but　feel　pity　for　those　about　to　incur　the　same　fate。　He　glanced　at　Morgan　and　Duncan；　who　had　felt　the　cold　breath　of　exmunication　even　more　directly　than　himself；　and　caught　their　similar　recoil　at　the　very　notion；　but　it　needed　to　be　done。　Exmunication　was　a　language　Loris　would　understand；　though　it　would　also　enrage　him。
〃I　agree；〃　Cardiel　said　quietly。　〃The　measure　es　after　much　provocation。　Do　you　also　remend　a　general　Interdict　of　Meara；　my　lord？〃
As　the　others　drew　in　breath　…　for　Interdict　would　bar　everyone　in　Meara　from　all　sacraments　and　solace　of　the　Church；　even　the　innocent　…　Bradene　shook　his　head。
〃I　would　not　place　that　burden　upon　the　entire　Mearan　people　at　this　time　…　though　it　may　prove　necessary　in　the　future；　if　exmunication　does　not　bring　the　principals　to　heel。　No；　what　I　have　outlined　is　sufficient　for　the　present；　I　think　…　unless　you　have　some　valid　objection。　Sire？〃
Kelson　bowed　his　head。　〃I　would　not　presume　to　dictate　the　conscience　of　my　bishops。　Excellency；〃　he　whispered。　〃If　you　feel　this　action　warranted；　then　so　be　it。〃
〃It　should　be　done　as　soon　as　possible；　then；〃　Bradene　said　decisively。　〃Tonight；　I　think；　after　pline　…　so　that　our　response　may　go　to　Loris　and　the　Lady　Caitrin　along　with　His　Majesty's。〃
Cardiel　nodded。　〃The　necessary　documents　can　be　drawn　up　by　nightfall。　My　monks　will　assist　us。　Sire；　we　would　count　it　a　particular　favor　if　you　and　the　rest　of　the　lords　of　state　could　lend　us　your　support　by　your　presence。〃
〃We　shall　attend　you；〃　Kelson　replied。
Bradene　nodded；　relieved。　〃Thank　you。　Sire。　I　should　like　your　support　in　a　happier　matter　as　well。　I　have　had　no　opportunity　to　consult　with　my　brother　Cardiel；　but　I　feel　certain　he　will　concur　with　what　I　should　like　to　propose。〃
As　he　turned　his　glance　across　the　table　to　Duncan　and　smiled；　his　intention　immediately　became　clear。
〃Father　McLain；　you　know　that　I　was　in　plete　sympathy　with　your　wish　to　delay　your　consecration　until　the　spring；　so　that　you　might　better　prepare　yourself　for　your　increased　responsibilities；　but　our　changed　circumstances　are　such　that　I　feel　we　need　you　now。　Confirmation　of　your　rank　will　also　underline　the　authority　of　the　bishops　who　elected　you　and　help　to　strengthen　our　present　position　regarding　Loris'　bid　for　power。　Will　you　consent　to　be　consecrated　immediately？　Or　as　soon　as　may　conveniently　be　arranged？〃
As　Cardiel　nodded　agreement；　Arilan　and　Hugh　also　turning　expectant　eyes　on　Duncan；　Kelson　allowed　himself　to　relax　just　a　little。　This　he　could　support　without　a　qualm。　He　sensed　Morgan's　support　as　well；　as　he　turned　his　keen　Haldane　gaze　on　Duncan。　The　Deryni　priest　folded　his　hands　precisely　on　the　table　before　him　and　let　out　a　long；　resigned　sigh　before　looking　up　at　his　superior。
〃I　will　consent。　Excellency；　but　I　would　ask　one　indulgence　on　your　part：　I　wish　to　be　invested　with　Bishop　Istelyn's　ring。〃　He　glanced　around　defensively。　〃It　would　mean　a　great　deal　to　me。　We　may　be　helpless　to　save　his　physical　body；　but　I　would　at　least　do　honor　to　the　courage　and　conviction　of　his　soul。〃
〃Well　said；〃　Kelson　murmured；　as　Bradene　and　Cardiel　exchanged　approving　glances。
〃It　shall　be　done　as　you　have　asked；〃　Bradene　said。　〃We　shall　set　your　consecration　for　three　days　hence。　But　for　now。　Sire；　by　your　leave；　I　think　we　must　all　retire　to　prepare　our　various　answers　to　Loris　and　his　cohorts。〃

The　bishops'　answer　was　given　substance　later　that　night。　Kelson　did　not　relish　his　part　in　it；　but　he　attended　as　he　had　promised。　Kneeling　in　the　front　row　of　the　south　choir　stalls；　Dhugal　and　Morgan　to　either　side　of　him　and　the　rest　of　his　council　behind；　he　listened　to　Bradene　sing　the　opening　invocation；　answered　by　the　circle　of　cowled　monks　and　priest…bishops　around　him。　Duncan　stood　among　them。
〃In　nomine　Patris　et　Filii　et　Spiritus　Sancti。。。。〃
〃Amen〃
The　cathedral　was　darkened　save　for　the　candles　in　the　hands　of　the　gathered　clergy　and　the　red　glow　of　the　Presence　Lamp　above　the　altar　behind　them。　A　draft　curled　down　the　nave　and　through　the　choir；　making　the　candlelight　dance　fitful　shadows　on　vestments；　choir　screens；　and　stalls。　Bradene　stood　with　Cardiel　on　the　lowest　altar　step；　both　of　them　wearing　black　copes　and　mitres　and　also　holding　a　candle　apiece。　A　long