kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第39部分

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〃Then　let　him　think　he　will　succeed；〃　Caitrin　retorted。　〃Talk　is　cheap。　Perhaps　we　can　tantalize　him　with　the　hope　of　Istelyn's　return；　since　he　seems　to　care　for　the　man's　safety。　Now　that　Judhael　has　been　consecrated；　Istelyn　is　of　little　use　to　us　here。〃
Loris　raised　an　eyebrow　disdainfully　in　Istelyn's　direction。　〃Aye。　Any　worthy　priest　would　have　informed　his　superiors　that　one　under　his　charge　intended　to　break　a　sacred　oath。　Istelyn；　I　hold　you　personally　responsible　for　young　Dhugal's　escape。〃
Istelyn；　notably　grim　and　silent　until　then；　shook　his　head。
〃I　honestly　regret　that　I　cannot　take　credit　for　that；〃　he　said　softly。　〃As　for　his　oath…breaking；　I　suspect　there　are　far　worse　offenses　before　God　than　the　breaking　of　an　oath　taken　under　duress。　Perhaps　you　have　knowledge　of　a　few　of　them。〃
Loris'　eyes　lit　dangerously。
〃As　for　my　worthiness　as　a　priest；〃　Istelyn　went　on；　〃you　have　no　authority　to　judge　that　…　and　have　had　none　since　the　bishops　removed　you　from　office　and　sent　you　into　confinement。〃
As　much　from　reflex　as　volition；　Loris　was　on　his　feet　and　raising　his　hand　to　strike　the　defiant　Istelyn；　a　wordless　growl　rumbling　in　his　throat；　careless　of　the　goblet　which　toppled　from　his　chair　arm　to　smash　on　the　stone　flags。
〃Don't！〃　Caitrin　gasped；　as　Sicard　simultaneously　launched　himself　between　the　two　to　block　the　intended　blow。
The　word　and　the　sound　of　shattering　pottery　served　to　deflate　Loris'　blind　fury；　and　he　drew　himself　up　indignantly　before　Sicard　could　touch　him；　pointedly　dropping　his　hands　to　his　sides　and　inclining　his　head　in　a　grudging　bow　to　Caitrin　as　he　seated　himself　once　more。　Sicard；　with　an　explosive　sigh；　tugged　his　tunic　into　place　and　also　sat。　Ithel；　who　had　moved　to　his　father's　defense；　warily　resumed　his　place　behind　his　mother's　chair。　Judhael　clasped　his　hands　tightly　before　him　and　tried　not　to　look　torn　between　loyalty　to　his　aunt　and　obedience　to　the　man　who　had　made　him　a　bishop。　Istelyn　had　never　moved　from　his　stool　or　flinched　throughout　the　interchange。
〃Please　accept　my　apologies。　Your　Highness；〃　Loris　murmured　contritely。　〃I　don't　know　what　came　over　me。　His　insolence　is　…　unbeing　in　a　priest。〃
〃Indeed；　it　is；〃　Caitrin　replied　coldly。　〃However；　I　doubt　he　sees　his　behavior　in　quite　that　light。　Be　that　as　it　may；　the　Haldane　will　need　some　reassurance　of　Istelyn's　well…being。　His　ring；　I　think　…　and　perhaps　a　letter　from　his　hand；　which　you　shall　dictate。　Archbishop。〃
〃I　will　not　write　it；〃　Istelyn　said　quietly。
〃And　if　he　will　not　cooperate；〃　Caitrin　continued；　her　face　hardening；　〃I　shall　leave　it　to　you。　Archbishop；　to　decide　what　measures　should　be　taken　to　assure　the　king　that　we　have　his　bishop　and　will　deal　with　him　as　he　intends　to　deal　with　my　children；　if　agreement　cannot　be　reached。〃　She　smiled　grimly　at　Loris。　〃I　shall　ask　my　nephew　to　assist　you；　and　rely　on　your　joint　good　offices　to　see　that　our　intention　is　carried　out。〃
Loris　nodded　slowly；　a　grim　smile　ing　across　his　face。
〃Very　well；　Madame。　I　will　be　quite　pleased　to　carry　out　your　wishes。　I　think　you　will　not　be　disappointed。〃


CHAPTER　THIRTEEN
Yet　was　she　carried　away；　she　went　into　captivity。
Nahum　3：10
A　weary　but　satisfied　Kelson　led　his　warband　back　through　the　gates　of　Rhemuth　less　than　a　week　after　his　departure；　none　of　his　men　with　so　much　as　a　scratch；　Dhugal's　presence　at　his　side　proclaiming　at　least　the　partial　success　of　his　mission。　As　the　column　clattered　across　the　bridge　and　into　the　castle　yard；　several　elated　Transha　bordermen　darted　out　to　greet　their　new　young　chief　with　raucous　highland　yells。　Dhugal's　previous　injuries　had　been　aggravated　by　his　escape　and　the　enforced　march　of　the　past　three　days；　but　he　managed　a　grin　and　a　few　words　for　each　man　before　sliding　painfully　from　his　horse。
Nor　was　Dhugal　the　only　addition　to　Kelson's　pany。　Six　glum　prisoners　rode　with　the　warband；　the　youngest；　a　dark…haired；　aristocratic…looking　boy；　was　doing　his　best　to　put　up　a　brave　front；　his　wrists　bound　before　him　and　his　horse's　lead　secured　to　Conall's　saddle。　His　cheeks　flamed　with　embarrassment　under　the　stares　of　the　curious；　but　he　kept　his　eyes　pointedly　ahead；　disdaining　assistance　as　he　climbed　down　from　his　horse。　The　most　intriguing　addition　of　all　sat　limply　in　the　circle　of　Morgan's　arms；　apparently　asleep　…　a　heavily　cloaked　female　form　with　tangled　chestnut　hair　escaping　from　beneath　her　hood。
〃They're　the　pretender's　younger　children；〃　Kelson　told　Nigel；　as　he　dismounted　in　the　snowy　courtyard　and　helped　Morgan　hand　the　sleeping　girl　into　Duncan's　arms。　〃Now　all　we　need　are　Caitrin；　Sicard；　and　the　remaining　son。　And　Loris；　of　course。　The　girl's　name　is　Sidana。　Dhugal　stole　her　out　from　under　their　noses。〃
〃She　isn't　hurt；　is　she？〃　Nigel　asked。
Morgan；　relieved　of　his　burden；　swung　one　leg　over　his　horse's　neck　and　vaulted　to　the　ground；　shaking　his　head。
〃She'll　be　fine　by　morning。　I　…　ah　…　had　to　put　her　to　sleep。　She　started　to　get　hysterical　when　she　realized　she　wasn't　going　to　be　rescued。　I　doubt　she'll　even　remember　most　of　the　trip。〃
Nigel　nodded　slowly；　accepting　Morgan's　use　of　his　powers　without　batting　an　eye。
〃Aye；　that　was　probably　kindest。　Duncan；　why　don't　you　take　her　to　my　wife？　Unless　you　wish　otherwise；　of　course。　Kelson。　She'll　want　the　fort　of　another　woman's　pany　when　she　wakes　…　and　a　lady's　bower　seems　a　more　fitting　setting　for　this　Mearan　rose　than　a　cell。〃
〃A　briar　rose；　I　think；〃　Kelson　said；　smiling；　〃with　proper　thorns；　I'll　warrant。　But　no　matter。　Aunt　Meraude　will　be　a　suitable　panion；　I'm　sure。　Father　Duncan；　would　you　take　her；　please？〃
〃Of　course。〃
〃And　as　for　our　other　unexpected　guest；〃　Kelson　went　on；　with　a　glance　back　at　the　sullen　Llewell　as　Duncan　withdrew；　〃you'll　be　proud　to　learn　that　it　was　your　son　Conall；　who　captured　him。　Uncle。　His　name　is　Llewell。　He's　been　a　little　belligerent　from　the　start；　so　I　think　he'll　want　closer　guard。　No　cell；　though。　He's　a　noble　hostage；　not　a　criminal。〃
Kelson　took　a　few　more　minutes　seeing　to　the　disposition　of　his　other　prisoners　and　to　the　provisioning　of　his　men　and　horses；　then　went　with　Dhugal　and　Morgan　into　the　hall。　While　all　three　of　them　washed　down　mouthfuls　of　venison　pasties　with　mulled　ale；　he　gave　a　hastily　gathered　privy　council　his　impromptu　account　of　the　venture。　Dhugal　was　beginning　to　nod　over　his　food　by　the　time　they　finished；　and　even　Morgan　was　beginning　to　slow　down　as　food　filled　empty　stomachs　and　ale　lulled　aching　muscles。　Within　the　hour；　after　scheduling　a　formal　meeting　of　the　full　council　for　the　following　afternoon。　Kelson　dismissed　the　court　and　retired　for　the　night。　The　torches　in　Rhemuth　hall　burned　late　that　night　as　Nigel　and　the　others　tried　to　digest　what　the　king　had　told　them。
Kelson　woke　with　the　dawn；　however　…　not　yet　fully　refreshed；　but　unable　to　sleep　longer。　He　felt　the　need　to　do　something；　but　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　until　Caitrin　replied　to　his　demands。　He　sat　in　a　window　and　watched　the　snow　fall　for　a　while；　hoping　he　might　ease　himself　back　into　drowsiness；　but　he　only　grew　more　restless。　After　a　while　he　gave　up　the　notion　of　sleep　and　got　dressed；　pulling　on　plain　grey　breeches；　boots；　tunic；　and　fur…lined　overrobe。
Like　a　silent　ghost　he　prowled　the　precincts　of　his　castle；　inquiring　after　the　men　and　horses　that　had　returned　with　him　from　Ratharkin；　checking　on　his　prisoners　and　hostages；　and　breaking　his　fast　with　Morgan；　who　was　also　unable　to　sleep　into　the　day。　When　he　returned　to　his　own　apartments　a　few　hours　later；　still　on　edge；　he　found　Dhugal　also　awake　and　dressed；　wondering　where　he　had　gone。
〃I　couldn't　sleep；〃　Kelson　told　him。　〃I　talked　to　Morgan；　but　that　didn't　seem　to　help　much。　I　thought　I　might　pay　a　visit　to　my　father's　tomb　before　the　council　meeting。　Sometimes　doing　so　helps　me　clear　my　head　…　almost　as　if　I　could　still　ask　him　for　advice。　Would　you　e　with　me？〃
They　chose　the　most　mon…looking　horses　they　could　find　in　the　royal　stables；　for　Kelson　did　not　want　his　going　to　be　noticed。　Cloaked　and　closely　capped；　as　much　for　anonymity　as　for　warmth；　they　rode　the　half　mile　to　the　cathedral　along　silent；　nearly　deserted　streets　and　alleys。　The　weather　held　cold　and　clear；　the　snow　was　still　mostly　white　from　the　previous　night　when　they　dismounted　in　the　cathedral　yard。　Their　breath　fogged　on　the　air　before　them　as　they　made　their　way　through　a　slype　to　skirt　the　northern　side　of　the　cloister　garth。　Kelson　bounding　up　steps　to　a　side　door；　Dhugal　hobbling　a　little　stiffly　from　the　still…painful　bruise　on　his　thigh。
〃I　used　to　hate　this　place；〃　Kelson　said　as　he　led　the　way　down　the　south　aisle。　〃The　royal　crypt；　I　mean。　Archbishop　Cardiel　has　done　a　lot　to　make　it　more　bearable　in　the　two　years　he's　had　the　cathedral；　but　it's　still　a　little　creepy。　Did　I　ever　bring　you　here　before？〃
〃If　you　did；　I　don't　remember。〃
〃You'd　remember。〃　Kelson　paused　to　open　a　high；　gilded　brass　gate　far　enough　for　himself　and　Dhugal　to　slip　through；　then　pulled　it　to　behind　them。　〃I　suppose　the　best　part　about　it　is　that　it's　one　place　where　I　can　almost　always　be　sure　I'll　not　be　disturbed；〃　he　continued。　〃Such　places　are　rare　when　one　is　king。〃
Dhugal　allowed　himself　a　nonmittal　grunt　as　they　followed　the　corridor　around　a　left…hand　turn　and　started　down　a　flight　of　marble　steps；　hanging　back　to　ease　his　aching　leg。　By　the　time　he　reached　the　bottom；　he　found　Kelson　already　kneeling　beside　an　ornately　carved　sepulcher；　head　bowed　in　prayer；　so　he　eased　himself　to　a　sitting　position　on　the　lowest　step　and　breathed　a　prayer　for　his　own　father's　soul。　When　he　finished；　he　glanced　around　the　dimly　lit　chamber；　noting　the　rows　of　stone　sarcophagi　and　the　smooth　marble　of　the　walls。　The　stylized　stone　effigy　atop　the　tomb　where　Kelson　knelt　was　snowy…new　and　stiff；　very　little　like　the　King　Brion　whom　Dhugal　remembered。
〃I　suppose　this　is　the　way　most　people　will　remember　him；〃　Kelson　remarked；　when　he　had　crossed　himself　and　stood　to　glance　back　at　Dhugal；　one　hand　lingering　on　the　stone　king's　hand。　〃The　stem　Lord　of　Justice；　who　kept　the　peace　for　nearly　fifteen　years。〃　He　sighed　and　glanced　at　his　feet。　〃It　isn't　the　way　I　like　to　think　of　him；　though。　My　fathe