kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第27部分
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。 Did they hurt you very badly？〃
〃The horses hurt me about as much as the men； I suppose；〃 Dhugal admitted； settling back against his mound of pillows with a barely bitten…back grimace。 〃After I got knocked off my pony； I was kicked a couple of times and nearly trampled。 The men only hit me in the head。 I've some cracked ribs； but at least the headaches seem to be letting up。 What day is it？〃
〃The fifth of December；〃 Istelyn responded。 〃We're in Advent season。 Shall I look at your injuries？ I haven't much skill in such matters； but perhaps I can do something。〃
Dhugal closed his eyes briefly and managed a slight nod。 〃Thank you。 I can tell you what to do。 I've had training as a battle surgeon myself； but there's only so much one can do on oneself as patient。 Have a look。 My ribs are the worst just now。〃
Dhugal was nude beneath the sleeping furs； his slender torso and limbs displaying the number of old scars one might expect of a lad trained in warrior disciplines； but Istelyn sucked in breath between his teeth at the massive bruising across the left ribcage。 Another bruise purpled the top of the right thigh in the precise outline of a horseshoe。 Istelyn could even see the prints of the nails which had held the shoe in place。
〃That one looks much worse than it is；〃 Dhugal said； brushing the bruise lightly with his right hand。 〃Which is not to say it doesn't hurt； or that I won't limp for a while； but at least I didn't break my leg。 If they'll give you bandages； or if something can be improvised； I need you to bind my chest。 Without support； even breathing can be an agony if I move the wrong way。 And coughing … 〃
As Dhugal braced both hands over his ribcage to draw a deeper breath carefully； Istelyn looked alarmed。
〃You haven't punctured a lung； have you？〃
Dhugal shook his head and winced as he pulled the furs back up to his waist。 〃I don't think so。 I'm not coughing blood。 I'd give a lot for a good night's sleep； though。〃
〃Loris said I might have medical supplies；〃 Istelyn said。 〃Perhaps they'll have something to help you sleep。 What about your head？ Any actual wounds？〃
Dhugal flinched as the bishop pulled the bandage from his head and began probing gently beneath the reddish hair。
〃No … and I don't think I've missed any fractures。 It's just the headaches； and they're letting up。〃
〃All right。〃 Istelyn managed a shaky smile as he rose and glanced apprehensively at the door。 〃Let's see whether Loris meant what he said about medical supplies。〃
An hour later； bundled in a cloak against the cold； Dhugal was sitting gingerly in a chair beside the fire and feeling more fortable than he had since before his capture。 So long as he did not breathe too deeply； the bandages Istelyn had bound around his chest gave him enough support so that his ribs no longer hurt beyond a dull ache … and that was fast receding as he sipped at the cup of wine he had directed Istelyn to prepare。
〃This should make me sleep at least through the night；〃 he told the bishop； as he took another swallow of the drugged wine and let the bitter undertaste roll over the back of his tongue。 〃If they'll let you have more； I want you to keep me sedated for at least another day and night beyond that。 I don't like leaving myself so vulnerable； but unfortunately sleep and rest are still the best treatments I know for head injuries like mine。〃 He sighed dismally。 〃It's too bad Kelson isn't here。 He could … ？〃
He broke off and glanced at the bishop furtively as he realized what he had almost said； afraid even a veiled reference to the king's newfound powers might offend the human Istelyn。 To his horror； Istelyn seemed to know exactly what he had been about to say。
〃He could do what？〃 the bishop asked。 〃Help you in some way with his magic？〃
Dhugal swallowed audibly； trying to stay on guard。 The drug was loosening his tongue as well as damping the pain。 Istelyn seemed trustworthy； but this was hardly the time to begin so controversial a discussion with a man whose sympathies were unknown。
〃I … don't want to offend you。 Excellency； but most clergy aren't altogether tolerant of … ah … magic。 Please forget I said anything。〃
〃Ah； then his magic frightens you。〃
〃I … I'd rather not talk about it；〃 Dhugal whispered； feeling trapped。
Istelyn cocked his head； then glanced back at the closed door before leaning closer to Dhugal。
〃Why not？〃 he asked。 〃You spoke of the king with affection and familiarity； as if you were his friend。 Do you think there's something wrong with his … ah … let's call them 'talents；' if you don't like the term 'magic；' shall we？〃
〃It isn't that；〃 Dhugal murmured。
〃Is it that you aren't sure of me； then？〃 Istelyn persisted。 〃You've already trusted me with your life。〃
〃That trust is mine to give； Kelson's isn't。〃
〃I can appreciate that。〃
The bishop's eyes did not leave Dhugal's as he sipped at his wine … which made Dhugal increasingly anxious … but after a few seconds the man sighed and gave a tiny smile； raising his cup in resigned salute。
〃I don't blame you for trying to shield the king； son； but why don't you let me tell you how I feel about him？ I can't prove that I'm telling the truth； but you're smart enough to judge for yourself。 I wasn't present at Dhassa when Loris and the rebel bishops split off from the Curia； but I sided with the king as soon as I learned of it。 I was with his army at Dol Shaia。 It was I who had to bring him the news that Loris had exmunicated him and placed the kingdom under Interdict。〃
He sighed again； then went on。 〃Now I've put myself on the line again where His Majesty is concerned。 Loris wants me to help him consecrate Judhael of Meara a bishop。 I've refused； and he'll probably kill me for it。 I swear by all I hold sacred that I'm not lying； Dhugal。 I don't care that the king's Deryni … not the way Loris does； at any rate。 It seems to me that Kelson's done only good with his powers。 Or are you going to try to tell me differently？〃
〃Of course not。〃
Dhugal looked away into the flickering flames and made himself take another swallow of the drugged wine； even though he knew it would make him only more vulnerable to the bishop's questioning。 He believed Istelyn。 And even if the bishop were no better than the others ensconced here at Ratharkin； it could do little further harm to Kelson's already checquered reputation for Dhugal to report that he had seen the king put an injured man to sleep with magic。 Far worse had been alleged in the past two years； and by far more important people than a fifteen…year…old border lord。
〃About a fortnight ago。 Kelson rode out from Culdi to pay a surprise visit on one of his local barons；〃 Dhugal said carefully。 〃It was Brice of Trurill。 Trurill borders on Transha lands； so I was riding with a Trurill patrol。〃 He grimaced。 〃That's another story。 Those same men； including the baron himself； were the escort that met Loris when he landed on the coast near my father's castle； hardly a week later。 They're probably still here in Rhatharkin。〃
〃Brice of Trurill supports Loris？〃
Istelyn sounded genuinely surprised and shocked； which reassured Dhugal。
〃Aye。 It was Brice himself who captured me。 He had the audacity to hold a blade to my throat。〃
At Istelyn's low whistle under his breath； Dhugal took another pull at his wine； making a face at the increasingly bitter taste as he got closer to the bottom。 He could feel himself being more and more detached as the drug gently entered his system。
〃Anyway； when the king met us a fortnight ago； we were in the middle of routing a band of brigands who'd been stealing sheep。〃 He paused to yawn。 〃Afterward； it was my job to patch up the wounded。 One of our lads was in a pretty bad way。 Kelson … put him to sleep so I could work on him。 It was like a miracle。〃
Istelyn's eyes had grown as round as the moon at full。
〃Did he heal him； then？
〃No。 He only laid his hand on his forehead and made him go to sleep。 He says that General Morgan and Father Duncan can heal sometimes； though。〃 Dhugal forced himself to look Istelyn in the eyes。 〃That can't be wrong either； can it。 Excellency？〃
〃No；〃 Istelyn whispered。 〃No； son； I don't see how it could be。〃
The bishop seemed troubled by his question； however； and soon rose to seek the fort of prayer。 Kneeling at a prie…dieu set in one of the window embrasures； he signed himself； then bowed his head in his hands and was still。 Dhugal stared after him for several minutes； forming a prayer in his own mind that Istelyn was what he appeared； but when he caught himself starting to nod off； he drained the last of his wine and lowered himself gingerly to his pallet once more； grimacing at the bitterness of the dregs。
It was being harder and harder to concentrate with the full dose of the sedative in him； but as he settled himself under the sleeping furs； he tried to think of ways to better his situation when he awoke。 He wondered vaguely whether Kelson knew yet of his capture。
Not that there was much hope Kelson could do anything about it。 The fate of one man balanced ill against that of an entire realm。 But perhaps Dhugal could find a way to help himself； once he had regained some of his strength。
That they regarded him as a valuable hostage was apparent； not only from the fact that they had taken him in the first place but from his continued treatment since arriving in Ratharkin。 Had his usefulness ended once they were safely out of Transha； they would have cut his throat long ago。 He also recalled some reference to wanting his support when they reunited Transha with old ？？？？？ … an unthinkable defection for one loyal to the king … but perhaps that meant that no one was aware of his renewed friendship with Kelson。 Nor was anyone likely to connect the young Master of Transha with the then second son of Transha's chief who had served at King Brion's court as a page。
Also in DhugaFs favor was his boyish appearance。 Given anything approaching luck； he thought he might play on that to convince them that he was as naive and pliable as he looked … a mistake even Istelyn had made at first。 It was a dangerous game； but if he could play it well； he might mislead them enough to lower their guard。 Then he could escape to warn Kelson。
He was thinking of ways that might be acplished as he
