kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第57部分

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〃Something　else　was　melted　down　to　make　it；〃　Morgan　ventured。　〃Do　you　know　what　it　was？〃
Duncan　nodded　wistfully。　〃A　piece　of　altar　plate；　I　think。　Maybe　a　chalice　or　a　paten。〃　He　shivered。　〃I'm　not　sure　I　want　to　say　aloud　whose　I　think　it　was。〃
〃Well；　I'll　say　it　if　you　won't；〃　Morgan　said　carefully。　'I　caught　two　separate　and　distinct　identities。　One　was　only　a　priestly　presence；　but　the　other　…　well；　who　could　it　have　been　besides　Saint　Camber？〃
Duncan　nodded；　leaning　the　heels　of　both　hands　on　the　edge　of　the　altar　to　gaze　down　at　the　ring　again。　〃It　wasn't　a　manifestation　this　time；　though　…　just　a　memory。〃　He　flashed　a　smile。　〃But　it　may　be　the　only　true　relic　of　Saint　Camber　that　we　have　…　something　he　actually　touched。　I　wonder　what　it　was。〃
〃Well；　if　Istelyn's　ring　really　was　made　from　melted…down　altar　plate；　maybe　it　could　be　traced；〃　Morgan　said。　〃It's　said　Camber's　son　was　a　priest。　Perhaps　the　chalice　or　paten　belonged　to　him。　Perhaps　Camber　gave　it　to　him　…　an　ordination　gift　or　something　of　that　sort。　In　any　case；　it　might　be　possible　to　find　out　where　they　got　the　gold　to　make　the　ring。〃
〃Perhaps。〃　Duncan　smiled　again。　〃Incidentally；　did　I　tell　you　that　Kelson's　keen　to　restore　the　cult　of　Saint　Camber？〃
〃Oh？　He's　never　mentioned　that　to　me。〃
〃Me　either。　I　just　happened　to　overhear。　Perhaps　it's　only　just　begun　to　take　shape　in　his　own　mind。　He　was　telling　Dhugal　about　it　when　I　met　them　in　the　cathedral；　just　before　you　found　us。　And　Dhugal　…　has　Kelson　told　you　about　him？〃
〃About　his　shields？　Oh；　yes。　I　was　on　the　receiving　end　when　he　pushed　Kelson　out　of　the　link；　the　night　you　nearly　got　killed。　There　hasn't　been　time　to　investigate　further；　since　we　got　back。〃
〃Well；　I've　had　a　go　at　him；　if　only　briefly；〃　Duncan　said。　〃Oddly　enough；　he　doesn't　recoil　from　my　probe　the　way　he　does　from　Kelson's；　I　simply　can't　get　through。　I've　no　idea　where　he　got　shields　like　that。　Unfortunately；　Kelson　tried　to　join　in　on　my　probe　after　the　first　few　seconds　…　with　rather　devastating　consequences　for　poor　Dhugal。　If　you've　gotten　the　impression　he's　been　trying　to　avoid　us　these　past　two　days；　that's　undoubtedly　why。〃
Morgan　nodded。　〃I　can't　say　I　blame　him。　I'll　try　to　speak　with　Kelson　about　it　this　evening；　though。　I　suspect　you're　going　to　be　too　busy　for　the　next　few　days　to　do　too　much　about　it。〃
〃If　it's　important；　we'll　make　time　somehow。〃　Smiling；　Duncan　scooped　up　the　ring　and　hefted　it　in　his　hand。　〃Meanwhile；　I　seem　to　recall　I　have　an　appointment　with　some　bishops　…　and　you；　with　a　king；　I　think。〃
〃The　next　time　I　see　you；　you'll　be　a　bishop；〃　Morgan　quipped。　〃I；　on　the　other　hand；　shall　never　be　a　king。〃　Grinning　uninhibitedly；　he　took　Duncan's　right　hand　and　dropped　to　one　knee。　〃Still；　I　should　like　to　be　the　first　to　greet　you　as　a　bishop；　even　if　it　is　a　few　hours　premature。　We'll　repeat　this　officially　later　this　afternoon；　Your　Excellency。〃
When；　over　Duncan's　exasperated　but　smiling　protests；　he　had　kissed　the　soon…to…be　episcopal　hand；　Morgan　left　to　join　the　king's　party　for　the　ride　to　the　cathedral。　The　interlude　with　Duncan　had　given　him　much　to　ponder。
As　it　had　been　three　days　before；　Morgan's　place　was　at　Kelson's　right　hand　when　they　knelt　in　the　cathedral　a　little　while　later。　It　was　the　same　stall　they　had　occupied　for　the　exmunication；　though　a　few　places　closer　to　the　altar；　with　Morgan　on　the　end。　Nigel　and　his　wife　and　three　sons　knelt　behind　them　this　time；　but　Dhugal　was　again　to　Kelson's　left。　Others　of　the　royal　household　occupied　the　stalls　farther　west　and　on　the　north　side　of　the　choir；　along　with　such　other　nobles　as　could　be　acmodated。　As　the　minutes　passed　and　the　cathedral　filled；　Morgan　prayed　for　the　man　about　to　be　consecrated　to　even　greater　work；　asking　mercy　and　guidance　both　for　himself　and　for　Duncan　in　the　times　ahead。　Beyond　the　still；　vigilant　flame　of　psychic　strength　and　control　which　was　Kelson；　at　his　left；　he　could　sense　the　darkly　shuttered　presence　of　Dhugal。　As　the　entry　procession　began　and　all　of　them　stood；　Morgan　resolved　to　speak　to　Kelson　about　him　before　the　night　was　over。
The　ceremony　proceeded　without　notable　incident；　so　far　as　Morgan　could　determine；　though　he　readily　acknowledged　his　relative　ignorance　of　liturgical　intricacies。　Everyone　seemed　to　be　in　the　right　place　at　the　right　time　and　to　know　the　proper　responses；　no　one　dropped　anything；　and　Duncan　looked　genuinely　moved　as　he　made　his　responses　to　Archbishop　Bradene's　ritual　questions。
〃Beloved　brother；　art　thou　resolved　by　the　grace　of　the　Holy　Spirit　to　discharge　to　the　end　of　thy　life　the　office　entrusted　to　us　by　the　apostles　which　is　about　to　be　passed　°n　to　thee　by　imposition　of　our　hands？〃
〃I　am。〃
〃Art　thou　resolved　to　keep　faith　with　our　Holy　Mother　the　Church；　and　to　guard　and　guide　her　children　as　thine　own？〃
〃I　am。〃
As　the　dialogue　continued；　Morgan　put　the　words　aside　and　let　his　mind　extend　gently　toward　Kelson　beside　him。　It　was　not　their　part　to　share　directly　in　what　Duncan　was　about　to　experience；　but　it　occurred　to　him　that　Kelson　probably　ought　to　be　aware　of　what　had　happened　when　Duncan　put　on　Istelyn's　ring；　just　in　case　something　else　unforseen　occurred　when　the　action　was　repeated。　Kelson　felt　the　light　tendril　of　his　thought　and　glanced　at　him　in　question；　but　Morgan　only　gave　a　slight　nod　and　opened　the　contact　further　as　all　of　them　knelt　for　the　litany　of　blessings　for　the　now…prostrate　Duncan。　What　he　had　to　say　was　not　the　sort　of　thing　which　might　even　be　whispered　safely　in　a　church。
〃Kyrie　eleison。〃
〃Kyrie　eleison〃
〃Chris　te　eleison。。。。〃
What's　wrong？　Kelson's　thought　drifted　into　his　mind。
Morgan　leaned　his　elbows　on　the　prayer　desk　in　front　of　him　and　bowed　his　head；　resting　his　forehead　on　the　heels　of　his　hands　as　he　let　the　link　deepen。
Nothing's　wrong；　so　far　as　I　know；　he　returned。　I　thought　you'd　like　to　know　about　something　that　happened　a　little　while　ago；　however。　Apparently　Istelyn's　ring　is　more　than　it　seems。
Istelyn's　ring？
He　shared　the　vision　of　the　forging　then；　and　all　he　could　recall　about　what　Duncan　had　experienced　when　he　put　the　ring　on　his　finger。　When　he　had　finished；　he　felt　Kelson　shiver　a　little　beside　him。
Camber；　eh？　Kelson　sent。
Maybe。　It　was　certainly　an　impression　of　great　power。　Where　did　Istelyn　get　his　ring？
I　don't　know。　Maybe　Duncan　can　find　out。
Maybe。
The　litany　had　ended　while　they　conferred；　and　as　both　of　them　raised　their　heads；　physical　vision　was　superimposed　over　psychic　Sight；　though　both　remained　in　rapport。　Now　Duncan　knelt　before　the　archbishop's　throne；　head　bowed　and　hands　joined　in　prayer　as　Bradene；　Cardiel；　and　then　each　of　the　other　bishops　silently　laid　their　hands　on　his　head；　willing　him　the　fulfillment　of　total　and　perfected　priesthood　which　was　a　bishop's　portion。　Morgan　could　sense　the　heightened　energy　levels　pulsing　from　their　midst　as　Cardiel　stood　and　took　the　open　Gospel　book　from　an　attending　deacon；　holding　it　ceremonially　over　Duncan's　bowed　head　like　a　sheltering　roof　as　he　began　the　prayer　of　consecration。
〃Lord　God；　merciful　God；　bringing　fort　to　all；　now　pour　out　upon　this　chosen　one　that　power　which　floweth　from　Thee；　the　perfect　spirit　which　Thou　gavest　to　Thy　beloved　Son；　the　Christ；　the　Spirit　whom　He　gave　to　the　apostles。　Inspire　the　heart　of　Thy　servant　whom　Thou　hast　chosen　to　make　a　bishop。　May　he　feed　Thy　holy　flock　and　exercise　the　high　priesthood　without　blame；　ministering　to　Thee　day　and　night　to　reconcile　us　with　Thee　and　to　offer　the　gifts　of　Thy　Church。　By　the　Spirit　of　this　priesthood　may　he　have　the　power　to　forgive　sins；　as　Thou　hast　manded。　May　he　assign　the　duties　of　the　flock　according　to　Thy　will　and　loose　every　bond　by　the　power　Thou　gavest　the　apostles。　May　his　gentleness　and　singleness　of　purpose　stand　before　Thee　as　an　offering　through　Thy　Son　the　Christ。　Through　Him　glory　and　power　and　honor　are　Thine；　with　the　Holy　Spirit；　now　and　forever。〃
〃Amen。〃
Even　twenty　yards　away；　Morgan　could　feel　Duncan's　anticipation　mounting　as　Cardiel　removed　the　Gospel　and　Bradene　prepared　to　anoint　his　head　with　chrism。　All　in　an　instant；　though　he　had　not　tried　to　do　it；　he　was　in　Duncan's　mind；　feel