kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第47部分

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ed　chalice　of　gold。　The　crystal　was　cold　and　sleek　in　his　hand；　the　ciborium　seeming　oddly　light　for　all　its　contents　of　pale；　unconsecrated　hosts。　He　could　feel　Duncan　watching　him　as　he　slowly　passed　to　the　foot　of　the　altar　steps　and　knelt　before　him　and　the　two　archbishops；　aware　that　something　was　amiss。　The　sense　of　what　he　planned　passed　between　himself　and　Duncan　like　a　spark　as　he　offered　up　the　gifts　and　their　hands　touched。
Dhugal　Saw　something。　I'm　taking　him　to　your　old　study。　e　there　with　Kelson　as　soon　as　you　can　break　away；　Morgan　sent。
He　felt　Duncan's　startled　agreement　like　a　caress　as　he　rose　and　bowed　and　turned　to　go　back　to　his　place。　The　stark；　disruptive　pulse　of　Dhugal's　distress　welled　up　almost　like　a　wall　as　he　knelt　once　more　and　slipped　a　supporting　arm　under　Dhugal's　elbow。
〃Say　that　Dhugal　became　ill；〃　he　whispered　across　to　Kelson；　〃and　meet　us　afterward　in　Duncan's　old　study。　I'll　do　what　I　can　until　then。　I've　already　told　Duncan。〃
He　did　not　look　back　as　he　led　Dhugal　stumbling　from　the　choir。　The　words　of　Archbishop　Bradene's　prayer　chased　them　in　hollow　echo；　embracing　with　depths　of　meaning　which　neither　could　appreciate　at　the　time。
〃Lord；　accept　these　gifts　which　we　offer　for　Thy　chosen　servant；　Duncan；　Thy　chosen　priest。　Enrich　him　with　the　gifts　and　virtues　of　a　true　apostle；　for　the　good　of　Thy　people。　Amen。〃


CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
In　the　valley　of　vision。。。
Isaiah　22：5
With　Dhugal　clinging　dazedly　to　his　arm；　so　pale　that　his　freckles　seemed　painted　on　in　blood。　Morgan　managed　to　navigate　the　curved　aisle　around　the　back　of　the　cathedral　apse　without　arousing　any　more　attention　that　was　his　usual　wont。　Several　monks　not　involved　in　the　ceremonies　eyed　them　curiously；　but　Morgan's　grim　expression　precluded　any　offers　of　assistance。　Morgan　was　known　and　at　least　grudgingly　respected　even　by　most　clergy　after　three　years'　active　and　visible　service　with　the　new　young　king；　but　he　still　inspired　a　certain　amount　of　fear　in　some。
But　Dhugal's　fear　worried　Morgan　far　more　than　that　of　any　anonymous　monks　lurking　in　the　shadowy　aisle　…　　and　it　was　likely　to　get　worse　before　it　got　much　better。　He　could　feel　the　stark　terror　throbbing　just　beneath　the　surface　like　floodwaters　only　barely　held　in　check　by　a　failing　dam；　and　realized　Dhugal's　awareness　of　the　precarious　balance　was　only　adding　to　the　pressure。　The　only　way　Dhugal　was　managing　to　hold　his　panic　in　check　at　all　was　by　watching　his　feet；　concentrating　all　his　attention　on　the　simple　act　of　putting　one　foot　in　front　of　the　other。
〃We've　got　to　get　you　away　from　here；〃　Morgan　muttered；　guiding　Dhugal　toward　the　door　to　the　sacristy。　〃Can　I　trust　you　to　do　exactly　as　I　say？〃
Dhugal　stumbled　and　nearly　fell　as　he　gave　Morgan　an　odd；　pinched　look。
〃You're　…　assuming　I　have　a　choice；〃　he　managed　to　whisper；　as　Morgan　braced　him　and　reached　for　the　door　latch。　〃What's　happening　to　me？〃
〃That's　exactly　what　I'd　like　to　know。〃
Morgan　had　hoped　that　the　sacristy　might　be　unoccupied　during　the　ceremony；　but　the　presence　of　Saint　George's　elderly　sacristan　was　not　unexpected。　The　old　man　had　been　nodding　in　the　meager　sunshine　of　an　oriel　window　at　the　other　end　of　the　room　when　they　entered　and　woke　with　a　start　as　the　door　closed　behind　them。
〃Who's　that？〃
〃Ah；　Brother　Jerome；　is　that　you？〃　Morgan　said；　shifting　his　grip　on　the　tottering　Dhugal。　〃The　boy's　been　taken　ill。　He　needs　to　sit　down。〃
Frail　and　failing　of　eyesight；　the　old　monk　shuffled　closer　to　squint　quizzically　at　Morgan　and　his　obviously　ailing　panion。
〃Why；　'tis　the　Duke　o'Corwyn　…　an'　who's　this？〃　the　old　man　said；　his　tone　conveying　just　a　trace　of　wariness　along　with　surprised　respect。　〃Here；　laddie；　sit　ye　doon。　Ye　look　a　trifle　peaked。　What's　wrong　with　the　boy；　Yer　Grace？〃
〃Nothing　serious；　I　hope；〃　Morgan　replied；　letting　Jerome　help　him　seat　Dhugal　on　a　low　settle　next　to　a　vestment　press。　〃I　think　it　was　just　the　closeness　of　the　air　in　the　choir。　Maybe　the　incense　was　too　much　for　him。〃　He　ventured　a　sidelong　glance　at　Jerome　as　he　felt　for　the　pulse　in　Dhugal's　wrist。　〃I'm　sure　he'll　be　all　right　in　a　few　minutes。　Do　you　think　the　archbishop　would　mind　if　you　raided　his　sacramental　wine　for　a　wee　dram？〃
〃Ach；　o'course　not；　Yer　Grace。　Twill　be　just　th'　thing。　Wait　ye　here。〃
As　the　old　man　shuffled　across　the　room；　fumbling　with　a　ring　of　keys　hanging　at　his　waist；　Morgan　leaned　closer　to　Dhugal's　ear。　The　boy's　breathing　was　shallow；　his　head　leaned　against　the　side　of　the　press；　eyes　closed。
〃Dhugal；　sit　still　and　don't　be　surprised　at　anything　you　see；〃　he　whispered；　touching　a　forefinger　to　his　lips　for　silence　as　the　boy　opened　his　eyes。　〃I　think　Brother　Jerome　is　going　to　take　a　little　nap。〃
Morgan　could　sense　Dhugal's　startled　question　through　the　fog　of　his　distress；　but　he　put　it　out　of　mind　as　he　crossed　to　where　Jerome　was　trying　to　match　a　key　to　the　lock　on　the　wine　cabinet。
〃I　know　I　hae　th'　key　here　somewhere；〃　Jerome　was　muttering。
〃Why　don't　you　try　that　one？〃　Morgan　said；　deftly　slipping　one　arm　around　the　stooped　shoulders　as　if　to　point　one　out；　before　he　pressed　his　other　hand　over　the　old　man's　forehead　and　eyes。
〃Never　mind；　old　friend。　Just　go　to　sleep　and　forget　all　this；〃　he　whispered。　〃That's　right。。。〃
The　old　man　was　no　challenge　at　all。　As　he　started　to　buckle　at　the　knees；　already　deep　asleep；　Morgan　shifted　control　and　steadied　him　enough　to　walk　him　carefully　back　to　the　seat　in　the　oriel　window。　Soft　snoring　followed　Morgan　as　he　returned　to　the　dazed　and　awestruck　Dhugal。
〃Don't　touch　me；〃　Dhugal　whispered；　going　rigid　as　Morgan　took　his　hand　and　pulled　him　to　his　feet。　〃Please。　What　did　you　do　to　that　old　man？　Where　are　we　going？〃
〃I　didn't　hurt　Brother　Jerome；　and　I'm　not　going　to　hurt　you；〃　Morgan　said；　only　tightening　his　grip　on　Dhugal's　wrist。　〃e　stand　here　with　me。　If　you　don't　cooperate；　it　will　only　be　more　difficult　for　both　of　us。〃
〃No。　Please！〃
Shaking　his　head　sympathetically；　for　there　was　no　time　to　explain；　Morgan　half…dragged　the　reluctant　Dhugal　to　the　center　of　the　room　where　the　floor　tiles　marked　out　a　squared　cross　just　large　enough　for　two　people　to　stand　side　by　side。　As　he　spun　Dhugal　away　from　him；　clamping　his　hands　on　the　boy's　shoulders；　Dhugal　tried　again　to　pull　away。
〃If　you　can　let　yourself　relax；　this　will　be　a　great　deal　easier；〃　Morgan　murmured；　slipping　one　arm'around　the　boy's　neck　from　behind　for　a　choke　hold　if　he　did　not　stop　struggling。　〃One　way　or　another；　I'm　going　to　take　you　through　something　called　a　Transfer　Portal。　It's　a　Deryni　way　of　getting　somewhere　in　a　hurry。〃
〃It's　…　magic？〃　Dhugal　gasped；　panic　flaring　around　him　with　an　almost　physical　resistance。
Morgan　sensed　him　drawing　breath　to　cry　out。　The　last　thing　they　needed　was　to　attract　more　attention。　Biting　back　his　annoyance；　for　it　was　hardly　Dhugal's　fault　he　was　frightened；　he　tightened　his　arm　across　the　boy's　throat　and　clapped　his　other　hand　over　the　gasping　mouth　reaching　out　with　his　mind　for　the　controls　that　would　bring　unconsciousness。　Dhugal　only　struggled　harder；　his　fear　and　his　now　wildly　pulsing　shields　making　psychic　control　all　but　impossible　unless　Morgan　wanted　to　risk　really　hurting　him。　He　nearly　had　to　wrestle　Dhugal　to　the　floor　before　he　could　feel　the　choke　hold　starting　to　take　its　toll。
〃I'm　sorry　son；〃　he　murmured；　as　he　felt　the　dark　start　to　swoop　down　on　the　boy's　mind　and　Dhugal　ceased　his　squirming。　〃But　I　told　you；　one　way　or　the　other；　you're　going。　I　don't　have　time　for　niceties。　That's　right；〃　he　finished；　as　Dhugal　slumped　in　his　arms。
He　could　feel　the　Portal　tingling　beneath　his　feet　as　he　straightened　once　again；　shifting　both　arms　to　a　firm　hold　around　Dhugal's　chest。　Drawing　a　deep　breath　and　closing　his　eyes；　he　visualized　his　destination　and　opened　his　mind　to　the　energies　binding　the　two　locations；　reaching　out　to　shift　their　balance。　Abruptly　he　was　standing　elsewhere　in　close　darkness；　Dhugal　a　dead　weight　in　his　arms。
Cautiously　he　felt　along　one　er　of　the　parment　for　the　stud　that　would　let　them　out；　conjuring　handfire　with　an　impatient　gesture　when　he　could　not　readily　locate　the　stud　by　touch　alone。　By　the　greenish　light；　he　found　the　stud　at　last　…　he　had　been　searching　the　wrong　er　initially。　When　he　pushed　it；　the　adjacent　wall　pivoted　away　from　him　with　a　soft　hush　of　still　air　stirred；　also　pushing　back　a　heavy　tapestry　that　ordinarily　concealed　the　door's　outline。
The　room　beyond　was　deserted；　softly　lit　by　daylight　filtering　through　the　amber　glass　mullions　of　the　window　to　their　right。　A　fireplace　dominated　the〃　left…hand　wall；　with　a　thick　carpet　covering　the　stone　floor　before　it。　There　Morgan　laid　the　unconscious　Dhugal；　making　a　pillow　of　his　cloak　to　cushion　the　boy's　head。　A　few　soft…spoken　words　closed　the　door　to　the　Portal　chamber　and　brought　flame　to　torches　set　in　wall　cressets。　As　an　afterthought；　as　Morgan　knelt　down　beside　the　boy；　he　quenched　the　handfire　hovering　at　his　shoulder；　no　sense　having　that　frighten　Dhugal　when　he　came　to。
And　there　was　certainly　enough　to　frighten　him　without　that。　Even　in　unconsciousness；　the　reaction　triggered　in　the　cathedral　continued　to　pulse　around　Dhugal's　tight…locked　shields。　An　added　plication　was　the　constant　ache　of　his　injuries；　only　aggravated　by　Morgan's　less　than　gentle　handling　…　but　for　that；　at　least；　Morgan　might　have　a　solution。
〃Let's　just　see　if　I　can　heal　around　those　shields；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　quickly　unlacing　the　thongs　closing　Dhugal's　tunic　front　and　the　shirt　beneath。
A　wide　bandage　bound　the　bruised　chest；　but　if　Morgan　took　the　time　to　remove　it；　Dhugal　might　regain　consciousness　before　he　was　finished。　No　matter。　He　could　work　around　it。　Laying　his　palms　on　Dhugal's　chest　above　and　below　the　turns　of　greyish　linen；　hands　rising　and　falling　with　Dhugal's　shallow　breathing；　he　slid　his　fingertips　as　far　under　the　bandage　from　either　side　as　he　could；　already　reaching　out　with　his　mind　to　read　the　damage　as　he　closed　his　eyes　and　let　out　a　long；　slow　breath。　Dhugal's　shields　were　avoidable　at　this　level　…　　perceivable　as　an　annoyance；　a　distraction；　but　they　did　not　interfere。　Without　further　hesitation；　Morgan　shifted　into