kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第46部分

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ng　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；　feeling　what　he　felt；　seeing　what　he　saw。　The　impression　was　blurred　by　the　double　perception　of　Kelson　in　the　link　with　him；　also　one　with　Duncan　in　that　instant。
〃God　hath　made　thee　a　sharer　in　Christ's　priesthood；〃　Bradene　said；　pouring　the　holy　chrism　on　the　crown　of　Duncan's　head。　〃May　He　pour　upon　thee　this　oil　of　mystical　anointing　and　make　thee　fruitful　with　spiritual　blessing。〃
As　Bradene　cleansed　his　hands；　first　with　scraps　of　fine　white　bread　and　then　with　a　linen　napkin；　Morgan　basked　in　the　joy　welling　over　from　Duncan；　feeling　a　little　of　the　warmth　even　as　a　physical　thing。
〃Receive　thou　the　Gospel　and　preach　the　word　of　God；〃　Cardiel　said；　putting　the　great　book　briefly　in　Duncan's　hands；　〃always　teaching　with　the　greatest　of　patience。〃
The　book　was　taken　away；　to　be　replaced　by　a　silver　salver　bearing　the　ring。　As　Bradene　traced　a　cross　above　it；　Morgan　thought　he　saw　it　glint　from　more　than　candlelight。　It　flashed　with　a　fire　of　its　own　as　the　archbishop　held　it　briefly　before　Duncan's　extended　right　hand。
〃Take　thou　this　ring　as　a　seal　of　faith；　and　keeping　faith；　guard　and　protect　the　Holy　Church　which　is　the　bride　of　God；〃　Bradene　said。
Morgan　was　not　surprised；　as　Bradene　slid　it　onto　Duncan's　finger；　to　sense　reiteration　of　the　images　he　and　Duncan　had　seen　before：　the　placing　of　the　ring　on　another　hand；　in　days　gone　by　…　and　vague　impressions　of　a　ghostly　Other；　clad　in　priestly　vestments　of　a　deep；　royal　blue；　offering　up　the　ring　…　no；　a　cup　…　in　ritual　sacrifice　of　the　Mass。
But　there　was　more　…　a　misty　aureole　of　silver　shimmering　around　Duncan's　head　for　just　an　instant；　its　boundaries　contained　between　half…sensed　hands　which　Morgan　had　known　half　a　dozen　times　before；　and　Duncan　as　well。　It　vanished　as　Bradene　and　Cardiel　placed　the　mitre　on　Duncan's　head；　leaving　Morgan　to　blink　and　glance　at　Kelson　in　question；　wondering　whether　the　glimpsed　vision　had　been　only　his　imagination。
If　imagination；　however；　it　had　not　been　his　alone；　or　even　his　and　Kelson's。　From　the　king's　other　side　pulsed　a　more　discordant　note　of　shock　and　stark　panic：　Dhugal；　his　face　drained　of　color；　shoulders　rigid　with　blind　fear。　Kelson　caught　the　echo　of　Dhugal's　distress　in　the　same　instant　and　immediately　slipped　to　Dhugal's　other　side；　supporting　him　between　himself　and　Morgan。　Behind　them；　Nigel　half…rose　in　concern；　but　Kelson　shook　his　head。
〃It's　all　right。　Uncle；〃　he　whispered　lamely。　〃He's　a　little　ill；　is　all。　He'll　be　all　right。〃
As　Nigel　subsided；　shushing　Conall　and　the　curious　Pavne　and　Rory　and　no　doubt　suspecting　there　was　more　to　it　than　that；　Morgan　slid　his　arm　around　Dhugal's　shoulder　and　tried　to　shield　him　from　curious　eyes。
〃Are　you　in　pain；　Dhugal？〃　he　whispered。
Shuddering；　Dhugal　broke　his　rigid　stare　at　the　pageant　still　proceeding　before　the　altar　and　ducked　his　head。
〃What's　happening　to　me？〃　he　managed　to　gasp。　〃My　head　feels　like　it's　about　to　burst。〃
〃Take　a　deep　breath　and　try　to　let　go　what's　frightening　you；〃　Kelson　urged　softly。　〃Try　to　flow　with　it。〃
〃Oh；　God；　I　can't！　Didn't　you　see　it？〃
Alaric；　he　picked　up　the　same　thing　we　did！　Kelson　whispered　in　Morgan's　mind。　We've　got　to　get　him　out　of　here　…　and　I　can't　leave　until　it's　over。
His　thought　was　mixed　with　consternation；　caution；　and　even　a　little　joy；　but　Nigel　was　jostling　Morgan　from　behind；　gesturing　toward　the　altar。　With　the　consecration　itself　pleted；　the　bishops　had　rearranged　themselves　to　continue　with　the　Mass　…　and　Morgan　had　a　part　in　what　came　next。
It's　time　for　the　offertory；　Morgan　sent　back；　glancing　sidelong　at　Kelson　and　the　still　trembling　Dhugal　and　rising　as　the　choir　monks　began　the　hymn　which　was　his　cue。　If　I　don't　go　forward；　it　will　look　even　worse　than　this。　Keep　him　quiet　until　I　can　get　back。
With　eyes　averted　and　hands　folded　as　was　seemly；　Morgan　moved　down　into　the　aisle　and　paused　before　a　small；　white…draped　table；　gracefully　returning　the　solemn　bow　that　a　waiting　deacon　gave　as　he　handed　over　a　crystal　cruet　of　wine　and　a　lidded　chalice　of　gold。　The　crystal　was　cold　and　sleek　in　his　hand；　the　ciborium　seeming　oddly　light　for