kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第50部分

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fist　lightly；　the　hand　relaxed　enough　for　all　present　to　see　golden　light　streaming　from　the　crystal　clutched　inside。　Arilan　pursed　his　lips　as　he　glanced　at　Morgan　and　Kelson；　then　nodded　for　Duncan　to　bring　the　test　to　an　^d。　The　light　in　Dhugal's　hand　flickered　and　died；　but　　not　before　Dhugal's　eyes　fluttered　open　and　he　caught　just　a　glimpse。
〃It　was　glowing！　I　saw　it！〃
As　his　hand　jerked　open　in　reflex；　Duncan　leaned　down　to　snatch　the　crystal　before　it　could　be　spilled　onto　the　table。　Kelson　nodded；　a　grin　creasing　his　face。
〃We　saw　it；　too。　You're　not　going　mad。　Guess　what　it　means。〃
〃It　means　that　he's　probably　another　rogue　Deryni　like　the　rest　of　you；〃　Arilan　muttered；　pushing　back　his　chair　with　a　jarring　scrape　of　wood　on　stone　floor　before　Dhugal　could　reply。　〃And　where　does　his　power　e　from？〃
As　he　stood　and　turned　to　face　the　fire。　Kelson　laid　a　protective　hand　on　the　awed　Dhugal's　shoulder。
〃I　can't　answer　that；　Arilan；　but　I　don't　think　I　really　care　right　now；〃　the　king　said　pointedly。　〃Nor　do　I　think　we　should　pursue　this　more　right　now。　He's　been　through　enough　for　one　day。〃
〃I　agree；　my　prince；〃　Morgan　said；　following　Kelson's　lead。　〃Not　only　that；　I　seem　to　recall　we're　supposed　to　be　celebrating　the　creation　of　a　new　bishop　this　evening。〃
〃The　feast；　I　think；　does　not　begin　until　well　after　sunset；〃　Arilan　answered　curtly。　〃We　still　have　time　to　…　〃
〃We　still　have　time　for　Dhugal　to　have　some　rest　before　the　feast；　if　he　wishes；〃　Kelson　said　as　he　rose。　〃Right　now；　that　takes　precedence。〃
〃But　the　Council　will　want　…　〃
〃What　the　Council　wants　is　not　at　issue　here；〃　Kelson　replied　sharply；　eliciting　a　near…gasp　from　Arilan　and　an　exchange　of　stunned　glances　between　Morgan　and　Duncan。　〃Nor　do　I　think　this　is　the　time　or　the　place　to　discuss　it　further；　do　you？〃
Arilan　could　have　no　answer　to　that；　with　the　others　in　the　room。　As　the　king　drew　Dhugal　to　his　feet　and　they　started　toward　the　door；　Arilan　made　a　sparse　bow。
〃I　apologize　if　I　seemed　to　press　the　issue。　Sire。〃
Kelson　paused　with　Dhugal　in　the　open　doorway　to　look　back　at　all　three　of　them。
〃Apology　accepted。　And　Father　Duncan；　I　suspect　you　could　also　use　some　rest。　This　has　been　a　long　day　for　you　as　well。〃
Duncan　shrugged。　〃I　have　no　plaints。　Sire。〃
〃I　see。　Nonetheless；　we'll　all　plan　to　meet　again　at　the　feast。　Morgan；　Arilan；　are　you　ing？〃
Morgan　would　have　stayed；　for　his　curiosity　about　the　afternoon's　varied　events　was　far　stronger　than　any　real　need　for　rest；　but　if　he　had；　Arilan　also　might　have　wanted　to　…　and　if　Arilan　stayed；　conversation　was　sure　to　e　round　eventually　to　the　old　disagreements　about　half…Deryni　and　the　Camberian　Council。　Besides；　the　king's　tone　put　the　question　almost　in　the　form　of　a　mand。　Both　Morgan　and　Arilan　went；　the　Deryni　bishop　all　but　muttering　under　his　breath。
When　they　had　gone；　Duncan　sat　back　in　the　chair　Dhugal　had　just　vacated　and　closed　the　shiral　crystal　in　his　hand；　letting　his　mind　wander　back　to　boyhood　and　the　giver　of　the　stone。　The　memories　were　sweet；　and　he　sat　dreaming　into　the　firelight　until　the　shadows　lengthened　and　the　golden　light　died　from　behind　the　amber　glass　at　his　back。


CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
He　that　justifieth　the　wicked；　and　he　that　condemneth　the　just；　even　they　both　are　abominations　to　the　Lord。
Proverbs　17：15
The　news　of　Duncan's　consecration　to　the　episcopate　came　as　no　great　surprise　to　the　would…be　Mearan　court　in　Ratharkin。　Creoda　had　warned　them　to　expect　that。　It　was　merely　another　justification　for　war；　so　far　as　Caitrin　and　Sicard　were　concerned；　though　it　vexed　Loris　and　Judhael　greatly。　Equally　anticipated　was　Kelson's　renewed　demand　for　Caitrin's　submission　by　Christmas；　with　its　hints　of　dire　consequences　to　his　hostages　if　Caitrin　did　not　ply　or　if　further　harm　came　to　Istelyn。
But　Archbishop　Bradene's　writ　of　exmunication；　read　aloud　with　increasing　disbelief　and　horror　by　an　appalled　Judhael；　came　as　a　total　shock。　So　enraged　was　Loris　that　he　overturned　his　chair　in　his　haste　to　get　to　Judhael　and　snatch　the　offending　document。
〃How　dare　they？〃　he　gasped；　his　breath　ing　in　sharp；　rasping　wheezes　as　he　scanned　the　signatures　and　seals　appended　at　the　bottom；　little　droplets　of　spittle　spattering　the　parchment　and　his　purple　casssock。　〃Who　do　they　think　they　are？〃
Brandishing　the　writ　as　if　he　wished　it　were　a　physical　weapon；　Loris　stalked　across　the　room　to　where　Caitrin　and　Sicard　stood　staring　blindly　out　an　oriel　window；　arms　around　one　another's　waists　for　fort；　devastated　by　the　treble　blow。　Back　a　few　paces；　a　pasty…faced　Ithel　divided　his　attention　between　watching　his　parents；　Loris；　and　Judhael；　and　nervously　twisting　the　end　of　one　of　his　cloak　strings。
〃How　dare　they？〃　Lons　repeated。　〃Exmunicated；　by　God！　Me！　And　by　my　own　former　subordinates！　I　am　outraged！　I　am　speechless！〃
〃Hardly　that；〃　Sicard　muttered；　though　Loris　did　not　hear　him；　caught　up　as　he　was　in　further　diatribes　against　the　bishops　in　Rhemuth　and　the　Haldane　royal　house。
But　Sicard　shared　the　tight…lipped　anxiety　of　his　wife　and　liege　lady；　and　the　helpless　confusion　of　his　son。　When　Loris　at　last　ran　out　of　expletives　and　holy　oaths；　Sicard　let　fall　the　drapery　he　had　withdrawn　to　gaze　out　at　the　morning　snowfall　and　turned　back　into　the　room；　taking　Caitrin's　elbow　to　guide　her　back　to　the　chairs　before　the　fireplace。　At　his　gesture；　Ithel　hurried　to　upend　the　chair　Loris　had　overturned。
〃Enough　of　self…indulgence　…　on　all　our　parts；〃　Sicard　said；　glancing　pointedly　at　Loris　and　signing　for　Judhael　to　join　them。　〃We　have　heard　the　response　from　Gwynedd。　Now　we　must　decide　what　to　do　about　it。　Sit　here；　my　dear。〃
posing　herself　deliberately；　Caitrin　sat；　carefully　spreading　her　fur…lined　skirts　around　her　feet　and　arranging　her　hands　just　so　in　her　lap。　When　she　looked　up；　Sicard　had　dropped　to　one　knee　beside　her；　one　hand　resting　on　her　chair　arm；　and　Judhael　stood　expectantly　behind　him。　Ithel　waited　at　her　right。　Loris；　with　ill…disguised　resentment　at　Sicard's　tone；　came　to　stand　in　front　of　the　chair　Ithel　had　just　set　back　in　place　…　though　something　in　the　family　tableau　before　him　cautioned　him　not　to　presume　by　sitting　until　invited。
〃My　queen；〃　Sicard　said　softly；　before　Loris　could　choose　a　suitable　remark；　〃we　are　yours　to　mand；　as　you　know　well；　but　I　fear　the　Haldane　has　struck　a　telling　blow　this　time。　Is　it　your　wish　to　continue　as　we　have　thus　far；　knowing　that　we　He　under　the　ban　of　the　Church？〃
〃Not　the　ban　of　the　Church！〃　Loris　snapped。　〃The　ban　of　a　handful　of　outlaw　bishops　who　have　betrayed　their　oath　of　obdience　to　me！　He　remembered　himself　sufficiently　to　bow　slightly　in　apology。　〃Forgive　me。　Highness；　but　there　can　be　no　question　of　capitulating　simply　because　of　a　bit　of　parchment　and　wax。　This　is　what　I　think　of　it！〃
With　a　grandiose　flourish；　he　flung　it　into　the　fireplace　but　at　Caitrin's　urgent　gasp；　Ithel　scrambled　onto　the　raised　hearth　and　rescued　it；　pinching　out　the　embers　along　the　edges　where　it　had　started　to　bum　and　stifling　an　oath　as　molten　wax　dripped　on　his　hand　from　one　of　the　seals。
〃That　is　not　the　answer；〃　Sicard　said；　rising　to　pull　a　straightbacked　chair　beside　his　wife's。　〃And　that　bit　of　parchment　and　wax；　as　you　call　it；　seemed　to　give　you　cause　for　consternation。　Archbishop。　Nor　does　denying　it　make　it　cease　to　exist；　unfortunately。〃
He　took　Caitrin's　hand　in　his　as　he　sat；　chafing　at　it　in　futile　attempt　to　fort。　Loris　scowled。
〃The　writ　is　an　annoyance。　It　has　no　force；〃　he　said。　'Those　who　issued　it　had　no　authority　to　do　so。〃
〃What　matters　authority？〃　Caitrin　whispered。　〃One　needs　no　authority　to　make　a　curse　…　and　that　is　what　it　is；　for　all　its　highflown　language。　We　folk　of　the　hills　understand　such　things。　Archbishop。　You　cannot　dismiss　a　curse　as　lightly　as　that。〃
〃Then　we　must　counter　it　as　you　think　appropriate；〃　Loris　said；　easing　into　the　chair　behind　him　and　studying　them　both　carefully。　〃Shall　I　curse　them　back？　It　would　give　me　great　personal　satisfaction。　I　can　and　shall　countermand　the　writ　and　proclaim　the　same　against　the　House　of　Haldane　and　her　outlaw　bishops。　But　you　must　do　your　part　as　well。　Highness。　Ibis　needs　must　be　the　spur　which　drives　you　to　give　the　king　the　answer　he　deserves。　We　must　not　be　intimidated　by　Haldane　threats　anymore。〃
〃The　Haldane　has　learned　to　threaten　well；　for　all　that　he　is　hardly　grown；〃　Caitrin　replied　dully；　picking　up　the　other　document　which　had　acpanied　the　exmunication：　Kelson's　answer　to　her　last　defiance。　〃He　repeats　his　demand　for　my　surrender。　Archbishop。　And　he　still　holds　my　Llewell　and　Sidana　to　hostage。〃
〃You　yourself　pointed　out　not　a　fortnight　ago　that　they　are　of　age。　Highness。　They　knew　the　dangers。〃
〃But　they　are　my　children！〃　Caitrin　said。　〃Shall　I　abandon　them　to　their　fate？　Shall　they　suffer　the　wrath　of　the　Haldane　usurpers　and　die　the　death　so　that　I　may　wear　a　crown？〃
Grim　and　determined；　Loris　slipped　to　his　knees　before　her；　lifting　his　palms　in　entreaty。
〃Do　you　not　think　they　would　willingly　give　their　lives　to　secure　the　throne　of　Meara　for　its　rightful　queen？〃　he　countered。　〃This　land　has　lain　under　the　rule　of　foreign　princes　for　far　too　long　already；　noble　lady。　Malcolm　Haldane　wrenched　it　from　the　lawful　heiress　a　century　ago；　and　he　and　his　heirs　have　kept　it　in　thrall　ever　since；　despite　the　cries　of　your　people。　You　have　the　means　to　bring　an　end　to　Haldane　tyranny。　For　the　sake　of　your　people；　you　dare　not　shrink　from　your　sacred　duty。〃
White…faced；　Caitrin　listened　to　his　words；　fingers　intertwined　with　those　other　husband；　her　one　remaining　son　crouched　beside　her　with　the　scorched　scroll　of　exmunication　all　but　forgotten　in　his　hands；　her　nephew　standing　silent　and　stricken　behind　them　in　his　episcopal　purple。　When　the　archbishop　had　finished；　Caitrin　bowed　her　head。　After　a　moment　tears　splashed　on　her　and　Sicard's　joined　hands。
〃It　appears　that　I　must　offer　my　children's　lives　on　the　altar　of　my　aspiration；〃　she　finally　said；　shaking　her　head　bitterly。　〃But　you　are　right。　Archbishop。　I　have　a　duty。〃
With　her　free　hand；　she　reached　across　to　take　Ithel's　and　bring　it　to　her　lips；　then　held　it　cradled　against　her　breast　as　she　looked　up。
〃Very　well。　The　wr