kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第10部分

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n　right　…　and　his　lands　have　not　always　gone　by　their　present　names。〃
Arilan's　deep　blue…violet　eyes　lit　in　sudden　prehension。　〃The　other　half　of　ancient　Meara；〃　he　said　with　a　nod。　〃Now；　wouldn't　that　be　a　power　base；　if　one　wanted　to　break　away　from　one's　overlord　and　establish　an　independent　holding？　The　two　Mearas　reunited！〃
〃And　Duncan　has　no　direct　heir；〃　Cardiel　added；　catching　the　gist　of　what　they　were　suggesting。　〃Who　is　his　heir…at…law；　Alaric？　You？　You're　cousins；　aren't　you？〃
Morgan　grimaced。　〃Not　in　the　right　degree　for　this；　I　fear　…　and　I　say　that　not　out　of　any　greed　to　amass　more　titles　and　land；　but　out　of　concern　about　who　es　ahead　of　me。　There　are　three；　actually　…　though　I'd　only　thought　about　the　first　two　until　today。　Neither　Duncan's　father　or　his　grandfather　had　any　brothers；　but　his　grandfather　had　two　sisters。　The　younger；　my　paternal　grandmother；　produced　one　son：　my　father。　The　elder　sister　also　produced　a　son；　however；　and　he　married　the　Princess　Annalind　of　Meara。〃
〃Queen　Roisian's　twin　sister；〃　Cardiel　whispered。　〃Then；　Caitrin's　eldest　son　is　Duncan's　heir！〃
Morgan　nodded。　〃Ithel；　and　after　him；　his　brother　Llewell。　The　girl　isn't　in　the　succession；　though　any　eventual　son　others　would　be；　if　her　brothers　failed　to　produce　heirs。〃　He　paused　to　moisten　his　lips　as　the　two　bishops　stared　at　him　expectantly。
〃You're　still　wondering　who　the　third　heir　is；　then。　I'm　surprised　you　haven't　guessed。〃　He　paused。　〃Caitrin　also　had　a　sister；　and　that　sister　had　a　son。　Who　else　could　he　be　but　your　good　Father　Judhael　of　Meara？〃
As　Cardiel's　jaw　dropped　in　disbelief；　Arilan　slapped　an　open　palm　against　the　arm　of　his　chair　and　swore　softly。
〃I'm　not　saying　he　had　anything　to　do　with　the　attack　on　Duncan；　mind　you；〃　Morgan　went　on。　〃I　simply　point　out　that　if　it　had　succeeded；　Judhael　and　his　kin　certainly　stood　to　gain。　All　we　really　know　about　his　politics　at　this　point　is　that　he　wants　very　badly　to　be　Bishop　of　Meara。　If　one　of　his　Mearan　cousins　were　Duke　of　Cassan　and　Earl　of　Kierney；　that　might　make　the　whole　thing　fall　together。　The　Bishop　of　Ballymar　would　have　no　choice　but　to　support　the　candidate　of　his　new　duke's　choice：　Cousin　Judhael。　And　with　Judhael　in　the　bishopric；　that's　added　leverage　to　put　his　aunt　on　the　throne　of　Meara　…　　a　united　Meara；　once　she's　gone　and　her　son　succeeds　her　in　the　south。　It's　ingenious；　really。〃
〃Its　diabolical；　if　you　ask　me；〃　Cardiel　muttered；　〃not　to　mention　treasonous。　Denis；　there　must　be　something　we　can　do。　Perhaps　we　ought　to　call　Judhael　in　and　question　him。〃
Arilan　considered　the　suggestion；　running　his　pectoral　cross　back　and　forth　distractedly　on　its　chain；　then　lowered　his　gaze。
〃On　what　grounds；　Thomas？　We've　been　interviewing　the　man　all　week。　Other　than　the　fact　that　he's　ambitious；　he　almost　shimmers；　he's　so　pure。　What　Duke　Alaric　has　just　outlined　is　a　theory　only　…　an　incredibly　brilliant　one；　if　we　were　Mearan　…　but　we　have　no　proof　it　has　occurred　to　Judhael。〃
〃Well；　use　your　powers　to　find　out；　then！〃　Cardiel　blurted。　〃What　good　are　they；　if　you　don't　use　them？〃
As　Arilan　sighed　patiently；　preparing　to　go　into　the　argument　he　had　used　so　often　when　trying　to　explain　things　Deryni　to　Cardiel；　Morgan　forced　himself　to　put　the　temptation　from　his　own　mind。　He　had　wrestled　with　this　particular　ethical　problem　before；　not　always　successfully。
〃Ultimately；　it's　a　matter　of　ethics；〃　Arilan　finally　said；　echoing　Morgan's　rationale。　〃I　have　used　my　powers　all　this　week；　Thomas　…　to　gauge　whether　our　candidates　were　lying　about　their　qualifications。　That　I　could　do　without　their　knowledge；　and　without　revealing　myself　as　Deryni。〃　He　smiled；　〃Besides；　they　suspected　Duncan　was　Deryni；　and　that　helped　to　keep　them　honest：　wondering　whether　he　could　read　their　minds　…　which　he　couldn't；　of　course；　under　those　conditions；　but　they　didn't　know　that。〃
〃Then；　let　Duncan　be　present；　if　you　feel　you　need　a　decoy；〃　Cardiel　insisted。　〃Or　Alaric；　since　Duncan　is　temporarily　out　of　action。　Between　the　two　of　you；　you　should　be　able　to　get　at　the　truth。〃
〃And　if　he　really　is　just　a　godly　man；　with　ecclesiastical　ambition　but　no　interest　in　politics？〃　Arilan　asked。　〃Then　we've　made　another　enemy　for　Deryni。〃
'Then；　make　him　forget；　afterward；　if　he's　innocent！〃
〃And　that　begins　to　enter　really　hazy　areas　of　conscience；〃　Arilan　replied。　〃Truth…Reading　is　one　thing。　Using　our　powers　to　detect　whether　a　man　is　lying　can　be　justified；　since　it　doesn't　force　action　against　a　person's　will。　To　make　someone　tell　the　truth；　however　…　well；　I　think　that　requires　more　than　just　a　vague　suspicion　that　he　may　be　hiding　something。　So　does　making　him　forget。　Sometimes　such　measures　can　be　justified　in　a　life　and　death　situation；　or　where　the　subject　is　willing；　but　where　does　one　draw　the　line？〃
〃Are　you　so　unsure　of　that　line；　then？〃　Cardiel　snapped。
〃Of　course　not。　At　least　I　pray　to　God　that　I'll　never　be　tempted　to　cross　over　and　misuse　my　powers。　But　it　was　abuse　of　power　that　gave　us　the　atmosphere　of　the　past　two　hundred　years。　It's　what　the　Camberian　Council　was　created　to　prevent。〃
Morgan　looked　up　sharply　at　that；　for　Arilan　had　scrupulously　avoided　discussion　of　the　mysterious　Camberian　Council　for　the　past　two　years。　His　reaction　apparently　reminded　Arilan　that　he　was　beginning　to　speak　of　things　best　left　unsaid　to　humans；　even　one　as　close　as　Cardiel。　The　Deryni　bishop　paused　to　regroup；　shaking　his　head　as　he　laid　a　hand　on　Cardiel's　arm。
〃Listen　to　me；　Thomas。　I'm　flattered　at　your　confidence　in　me；　but　you　mustn't　think　all　Deryni　are　like　me；　or　Alaric；　or　Duncan；　or　you　may　get　hurt　one　day。　We've　tried　to　be　very　careful　not　to　do　anything　which　might　frighten　you　unduly；　but　you　have　to　admit　that　we've　made　you　more　than　a　little　nervous　on　more　than　one　occasion　…　and　you　know　and　trust　us。　Think　about　the　ones　who　don't　have　a　strict　moral　code　like　the　one　we　follow。　How　many　feet　in　the　door　does　it　take　to　produce　a　Charissa　or　a　Wencit　of　Torenth？　Or　an　Interregnum？　Alaric　knows　what　I'm　talking　about；　don't　you；　Alaric？〃
Grudgingly；　Morgan　had　to　agree；　though　sometimes　Arilan's　scruples　seemed　to　him　to　be　rigid　almost　to　the　point　of　crippling。　But　in　front　of　Cardiel　was　not　the　place　to　pursue　that　old　argument。　Cardiel　himself　required　additional　persuasion；　but　eventually　he；　too；　had　to　admit　that　forcing　Judhael　to　the　question　was　premature。
〃I　still　think　Kelson　should　be　told　what　has　happened；〃　Cardiel　said　stubbornly。　〃And　I　don't　think　it　should　wait　until　he　gets　back　in　three　or　four　days；　either。　That　was　fine　when　we　were　only　talking　about　Istelyn；　but　now　…〃
For　that；　at　least；　Morgan　had　a　Deryni　solution。
〃Not　all　of　our　powers　are　forbidden。　Excellency；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃It's　possible　I　might　be　able　to　reach　Kelson　in　his　sleep；　later　tonight。　He　won't　be　expecting　it；　but　I　can　try。〃　Cardiel　nodded　happily　as　Morgan　went　on。　〃If　that　doesn't　work；　I'll　leave　for　Transha　in　the　morning；　after　I've　seen　to　Duncan　…　unless　you　have　a　better　idea；　sir？〃　he　queried；　glancing　at　Arilan。
The　Deryni　bishop　shook　his　head。　〃No；　none。　Given　the　bond　I　know　binds　you　and　Kelson；　I　shouldn't　be　at　all　surprised　if　your　plan　works。　However；　I　also　know　how　difficult　it　is　to　make　the　link　at　such　a　distance　and　without　preparation　at　both　ends。　If　you　don't　succeed；　we'll　make　the　time　you　need　to　get　there　physically。〃
Arilan's　confidence　in　his　ability　helped　to　take　the　edge　off　Morgan's　earlier　resentment　at　having　to　back　off　on　questioning　Judhael；　but　now　that　his　own　course　was　set　for　the　next　few　hours；　he　needed　some　time　alone。　When　he　had　assured　himself　that　Duncan　was　resting　more　easily；　and　slipped　briefly　inside　the　priest's　mind　to　deepen　his　sleep；　he　took　his　leave　of　the　two　prelates　and　headed　for　his　own　quarters。　He　tried　not　to　think　about　how　close　Duncan　had　e　to　death；　or　the　mortal　helplessness　Duncan　had　suffered　under　the　influence　of　merasha；　concentrating　instead　on　the　calm　he　would　need　if　he　hoped　to　succeed　in　reaching　the　king。
But　distraction　in　the　form　of　Judhael　of　Meara　met　him　as　he　passed　the　open　door　of　the　chapel　in　the　guest　wing。　Morgan　stiffened　as　he　saw　him；　mentally　berating　himself　for　even　having　glanced　inside。　Judhael　and　another　vaguely　familiar…looking　priest　were　just　ing　out。　The　temptation　at　least　to　test　whether　Judhael　had　heard　about　the　attack　on　Duncan　was　too　enticing　to　resist。
〃Your　Grace；〃　Judhael　murmured；　as　Morgan　loomed　in　the　doorway　and　blocked　his　exit；　all　diffidence　and　courtly　courtesy　to　the　king's　champion。
〃Father　Judhael；〃　Morgan　acknowledged。　〃I　wonder　whether　I　might　have　a　word　with　you　in　private；〃　he　said；　glancing　pointedly　at　Judhael's　panion。　〃Perhaps　we　could　step　back　into　the　chapel。〃
Judhael　looked　puzzled　and　a　little　uneasy；　but　he　agreed　readily　enough。　When　one　aspired　to　high　office　in　the　confirmation　of　the　king；　one　did　not　decline　the　invitation　of　the　king's　friend　and　confidant。　He　watched　dispassionately　as　Morgan　closed　the　chapel　door　behind　them；　inclining　his　head　and　preceding　him　down　the　short　aisle　when　Morgan　gestured　toward　the　front　of　the　chapel。　Both　men　genuflected　and　signed　themselves　when　they　reached　the　altar　rail；　Morgan　and　then　Judhael　easing　onto　the　kneelers　which　lay　along　its　length。　Morgan　bowed　his　head　for　a　moment　as　if　in　prayer；　letting　Judhael's　curiosity　and　apprehension　grow；　then　glanced　at　the　priest　sidelong。
〃You're　acquainted　with　my　cousin。　Father　Duncan　McLain；　I　believe；〃　he　said　softly。
Judhael　cocked　his　head　and　stared　at　Morgan　in　surprise。
〃Why；　I'm　aware　that　he　is　secretary　to　the　Lord　Archbishop　of　Rhemuth；　Your　Grace。　He's　been　keeping　the　accounts　of　the　interviews　this　week。〃
〃That　he　has；〃　Morgan　murmured；　opening　his　mind　to　Truth…Read。　〃Are　you　aware　that　he　was　set　upon　by　a　boy　with　a　knife　earlier　this　evening？〃
Judhael's　eyes　widened　at　the　news；　then　shuttered　behind　a　quickly　posed　mask　of　concern。
〃Father　McLain　is　a　priest　like　myself。　Your　Grace；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　uninflected　voice。　〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　that　someone　would　attempt　his　sacrilegious　murder；　but　it　grieves　me　far　more　to　think　that　you　mig