kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第62部分

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〃But；。　I'm　not　D…〃
〃Dhugal；　you　don't　know　what　you　are　right　now；〃　Kelson　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃All　we　know　for　sure　is　that　you've　got　those　bloody　shields！〃
Duncan　returned　to　the　table；　undoing　the　strings　of　a　small　leather　bag；　and　withdrew　a　wad　of　age…yellowed　silk　As　he　carefully　unwrapped　it　and　Dhugal　craned　his　neck　to　see　what　was　inside；　loops　of　a　fine　leather　thong　sprang　free；　strung　through　the　center　of　a　honey…colored　lump　the　size　of　an　almond。
〃I've　had　this　since　I　was　younger　than　Dhugal；〃　Duncan　said；　holding　it　to　the　light　by　its　thongs　as　he　tossed　bag　and　silk　on　the　table。　〃It　isn't　the　clearest　of　crystals；　but　it's　always　been　sufficient　for　my　purposes。〃
As　Dhugal　stared；　half　afraid　and　half　intrigued；　Arilan　caught　the　dangling　stone　against　his　sleeve　and　peered　at　it　more　closely；　quenching　his　handfire　with　a　gesture；　then　released　it　and　sat　back；　giving　Duncan　a　nod。
〃I'd　hoped　for　better；　but　it　will　do。　Go　ahead　and　test　him。　You　know　what's　involved。〃
〃But　I　don't　know　what's　involved；〃　Dhugal　protested；　as　Duncan　moved　back　behind　his　chair　and　extended　the　crystal　over　his　shoulder。
〃I　assure　you；　there's　even　less　chance　of　disfort　from　this　than　there　was　from　what　we　just　did；〃　Duncan　murmured。　〃Just　hold　the　stone　in　your　hand…either　hand。　Physically；　it　won't　feel　different　from　any　other　stone。〃
Hesitantly；　Dhugal　reached　up；　flinching　when　the　stone　first　touched　his　skin。　But　then　he　closed　it　resolutely　in　his　palm　and　dared　another　questioning　glance　at　Duncan。
〃What　next？〃
〃Close　your　eyes　and　try　to　ignore　what's　in　your　hand；〃　Duncan　said　with　a　smile；　slipping　his　hands　to　Dhugal's　shoulders　and　bearing　him　back　in　the　chair　again。　〃I'm　not　going　to　do　anything　different　from　what　I　did　before；　so　there　isn't　a　thing　to　be　anxious　about。　Take　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out　slowly。　This　won't　take　long。〃
With　a　nervous　nod；　Dhugal　obeyed；　gradually　calming　again　as　Duncan　droned　on；　soothing　and　reassuring。　When　Arilan　at　length　reached　across　the　table　to　touch　the　boy's　closed　fist　lightly；　the　hand　relaxed　enough　for　all　present　to　see　golden　light　streaming　from　the　crystal　clutched　inside。　Arilan　pursed　his　lips　as　he　glanced　at　Morgan　and　Kelson；　then　nodded　for　Duncan　to　bring　the　test　to　an　^d。　The　light　in　Dhugal's　hand　flickered　and　died；　but　　not　before　Dhugal's　eyes　fluttered　open　and　he　caught　just　a　glimpse。
〃It　was　glowing！　I　saw　it！〃
As　his　hand　jerked　open　in　reflex；　Duncan　leaned　down　to　snatch　the　crystal　before　it　could　be　spilled　onto　the　table。　Kelson　nodded；　a　grin　creasing　his　face。
〃We　saw　it；　too。　You're　not　going　mad。　Guess　what　it　means。〃
〃It　means　that　he's　probably　another　rogue　Deryni　like　the　rest　of　you；〃　Arilan　muttered；　pushing　back　his　chair　with　a　jarring　scrape　of　wood　on　stone　floor　before　Dhugal　could　reply。　〃And　where　does　his　power　e　from？〃
As　he　stood　and　turned　to　face　the　fire。　Kelson　laid　a　protective　hand　on　the　awed　Dhugal's　shoulder。
〃I　can't　answer　that；　Arilan；　but　I　don't　think　I　really　care　right　now；〃　the　king　said　pointedly。　〃Nor　do　I　think　we　should　pursue　this　more　right　now。　He's　been　through　enough　for　one　day。〃
〃I　agree；　my　prince；〃　Morgan　said；　following　Kelson's　lead。　〃Not　only　that；　I　seem　to　recall　we're　supposed　to　be　celebrating　the　creation　of　a　new　bishop　this　evening。〃
〃The　feast；　I　think；　does　not　begin　until　well　after　sunset；〃　Arilan　answered　curtly。　〃We　still　have　time　to　…　〃
〃We　still　have　time　for　Dhugal　to　have　some　rest　before　the　feast；　if　he　wishes；〃　Kelson　said　as　he　rose。　〃Right　now；　that　takes　precedence。〃
〃But　the　Council　will　want　…　〃
〃What　the　Council　wants　is　not　at　issue　here；〃　Kelson　replied　sharply；　eliciting　a　near…gasp　from　Arilan　and　an　exchange　of　stunned　glances　between　Morgan　and　Duncan。　〃Nor　do　I　think　this　is　the　time　or　the　place　to　discuss　it　further；　do　you？〃
Arilan　could　have　no　answer　to　that；　with　the　others　in　the　room。　As　the　king　drew　Dhugal　to　his　feet　and　they　started　toward　the　door；　Arilan　made　a　sparse　bow。
〃I　apologize　if　I　seemed　to　press　the　issue。　Sire。〃
Kelson　paused　with　Dhugal　in　the　open　doorway　to　look　back　at　all　three　of　them。
〃Apology　accepted。　And　Father　Duncan；　I　suspect　you　could　also　use　some　rest。　This　has　been　a　long　day　for　you　as　well。〃
Duncan　shrugged。　〃I　have　no　plaints。　Sire。〃
〃I　see。　Nonetheless；　we'll　all　plan　to　meet　again　at　the　feast。　Morgan；　Arilan；　are　you　ing？〃
Morgan　would　have　stayed；　for　his　curiosity　about　the　afternoon's　varied　events　was　far　stronger　than　any　real　need　for　rest；　but　if　he　had；　Arilan　also　might　have　wanted　to　…　and　if　Arilan　stayed；　conversation　was　sure　to　e　round　eventually　to　the　old　disagreements　about　half…Deryni　and　the　Camberian　Council。　Besides；　the　king's　tone　put　the　question　almost　in　the　form　of　a　mand。　Both　Morgan　and　Arilan　went；　the　Deryni　bishop　all　but　muttering　under　his　breath。
When　they　had　gone；　Duncan　sat　back　in　the　chair　Dhugal　had　just　vacated　and　closed　the　shiral　crystal　in　his　hand；　letting　his　mind　wander　back　to　boyhood　and　the　giver　of　the　stone。　The　memories　were　sweet；　and　he　sat　dreaming　into　the　firelight　until　the　shadows　lengthened　and　the　golden　light　died　from　behind　the　amber　glass　at　his　back。


CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
He　that　justifieth　the　wicked；　and　he　that　condemneth　the　just；　even　they　both　are　abominations　to　the　Lord。
Proverbs　17：15
The　news　of　Duncan's　consecration　to　the　episcopate　came　as　no　great　surprise　to　the　would…be　Mearan　court　in　Ratharkin。　Creoda　had　warned　them　to　expect　that。　It　was　merely　another　justification　for　war；　so　far　as　Caitrin　and　Sicard　were　concerned；　though　it　vexed　Loris　and　Judhael　greatly。　Equally　anticipated　was　Kelson's　renewed　demand　for　Caitrin's　submission　by　Christmas；　with　its　hints　of　dire　consequences　to　his　hostages　if　Caitrin　did　not　ply　or　if　further　harm　came　to　Istelyn。
But　Archbishop　Bradene's　writ　of　exmunication；　read　aloud　with　increasing　disbelief　and　horror　by　an　appalled　Judhael；　came　as　a　total　shock。　So　enraged　was　Loris　that　he　overturned　his　chair　in　his　haste　to　get　to　Judhael　and　snatch　the　offending　document。
〃How　dare　they？〃　he　gasped；　his　breath　ing　in　sharp；　rasping　wheezes　as　he　scanned　the　signatures　and　seals　appended　at　the　bottom；　little　droplets　of　spittle　spattering　the　parchment　and　his　purple　casssock。　〃Who　do　they　think　they　are？〃
Brandishing　the　writ　as　if　he　wished　it　were　a　physical　weapon；　Loris　stalked　across　the　room　to　where　Caitrin　and　Sicard　stood　staring　blindly　out　an　oriel　window；　arms　around　one　another's　waists　for　fort；　devastated　by　the　treble　blow。　Back　a　few　paces；　a　pasty…faced　Ithel　divided　his　attention　between　watching　his　parents；　Loris；　and　Judhael；　and　nervously　twisting　the　end　of　one　of　his　cloak　strings。
〃How　dare　they？〃　Lons　repeated。　〃Exmunicated；　by　God！　Me！　And　by　my　own　former　subordinates！　I　am　outraged！　I　am　speechless！〃
〃Hardly　that；〃　Sicard　muttered；　though　Loris　did　not　hear　him；　caught　up　as　he　was　in　further　diatribes　against　the　bishops　in　Rhemuth　and　the　Haldane　royal　house。
But　Sicard　shared　the　tight…lipped　anxiety　of　his　wife　and　liege　lady；　and　the　helpless　confusion　of　his　son。　When　Loris　at　last　ran　out　of　expletives　and　holy　oaths；　Sicard　let　fall　the　drapery　he　had　withdrawn　to　gaze　out　at　the　morning　snowfall　and　turned　back　into　the　room；　taking　Caitrin's　elbow　to　guide　her　back　to　the　chairs　before　the　fireplace。　At　his　gesture；　Ithel　hurried　to　upend　the　chair　Loris　had　overturned。
〃Enough　of　self…indulgence　…　on　all　our　parts；〃　Sicard　said；　glancing　pointedly　at　Loris　and　signing　for　Judhael　to　join　them。　〃We　have　heard　the　response　from　Gwynedd。　Now　we　must　decide　what　to　do　about　it。　Sit　here；　my　dear。〃
posing　herself　deliberately；　Caitrin　sat；　carefully　spreading　her　fur…lined　skirts　around　her　feet　and　arranging　her　hands　just　so　in　her　lap。　When　she　looked　up；　Sicard　had　dropped　to　one　knee　beside　her；　one　hand　resting　on　her　chair　arm；　and　Judhael　stood　expectantly　behind　him。　Ithel　waited　at　her　right。　Loris；　with　ill…disguised　resentment　at　Sicard's　tone；　came　to　stand　in　front　of　the　chair　Ithel　had　just　set　back　in　place　…　though　something　in　the　family