kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第59部分

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〃He's　going　to　be　fine；〃　Duncan　called；　grinning　as　he　helped　Dhugal　cross　the　room　and　sit　gingerly　in　his　former　place。　〃He　isn't　nearly　as　drunk　now　as　he　was　a　few　minutes　ago；　are　you；　son？　I　think　he's　learned　a　valuable　lesson；　too。〃
〃Aye。　Never　again；〃　Dhugal　nodded　miserably。　〃What　kind　of　wine　was　that；　anyway？　I've　never　felt　this　awful　before；　just　from　drinking。〃
Lazily；　Morgan　raised　his　cup　to　sniff　at　its　contents。　〃Fianna　red。　It's　quite　good；　actually。　Does　your　head　hurt？〃
〃Like　a　smithy's　forging　swords；〃　Dhugal　muttered；　palming　across　both　his　eyes　and　tipping　his　head　against　the　chair　back。　〃I　may　die。〃
Duncan；　perching　casually　on　Dhugal's　chair　arm；　slipped　one　hand　behind　the　back　of　Dhugal's　head　and　began　to　massage　at　the　base　of　his　skull；　steadying　him　with　his　other　hand　on　a　shoulder　as　Dhugal　sighed　and　immediately　began　to　relax。　Morgan；　guessing　what　Duncan　was　about　and　sensing　that　Dhugal　did　not；　glanced　at　Kelson　and　prepared　to　divert　Dhugal's　attention　further。　At　least　they　might　salvage　something　for　Dhugal　from　this　evening's　work。
〃Well；　I　suppose　we　all　know　that　feeling；〃　he　said　with　a　smile；　sending　the　king　a　hint　of　their　intentions。　〃Red　wine　is　the　worst　offender；　too。　I　remember　one　night　with　Derry　in　Jennan　Vale　…　long　before　you　were　king。　Kelson　…　when　he　and　I　got　so　drunk　on　the　local　vintage　that　I　was　sure　it　was　the　end　of　both　of　us。　Derry　can　really　drink；　too。　He　got　up　on　a　table　and　sang　a　song。。。。〃
He　spun　the　yam　for　several　minutes；　he　and　Kelson　watching　Dhugal　fall　increasingly　under　Duncan's　influence　all　unawares；　the　hands　slowly　sinking　to　rest　on　his　lap；　the　lines　disappearing　from　his　forehead　as　he　relaxed　in　sleep。　After　a　few　more　minutes；　Duncan　shifted　one　hand　briefly　to　cover　Dhugal's　closed　eyes。　When　he　looked　up　at　Morgan　and　Kelson；　he　grinned。
〃Well　done。　He　isn't　exactly　controlled；　but　he's　asleep。　I　didn't　want　to　push　my　luck。　The　shields　are　still　very　much　in　place。　And　if　he　thought　he　had　a　headache　just　now；　wait　until　morning！〃
〃I'd　rather　not　think　about　that；〃　Kelson　muttered。
〃Ah；　but　you　have　a　choice；〃　Morgan　said；　shifting　back　in　his　chair　and　setting　aside　his　cup　with　a　grin。　〃One　of　the　side…benefits　of　having　healing　talents　is　being　able　to　ease　the　morning　after。　Actually；　we　could　probably　help　Dhugal；　too；　but　it's　much　harder　having　to　work　around　shields。　Maybe　that　will　be　an　incentive　for　him　to　learn　to　lower　them。〃
〃I　hope　something　soon　is！〃　Kelson　murmured。　Sighing；　he　stood　and　ran　a　hand　through　his　rumpled　hair。　〃But　it's　time　we　all　got　some　sleep；　I　suppose。　Duncan；　why　don't　you　bring　Dhugal　on　into　my　room；　there's　plenty　of　room　for　two　in　my　bed；　at　least　until　tomorrow　night　…　and　then　you　and　Alaric　can　put　me　out　of　my　misery　as　well。〃
A　little　unsteadily；　but　declining　Morgan's　offer　of　assistance；　the　king　led　the　way　into　the　sleeping　chamber　and　shed　his　outer　garments。
〃Make　everything　be　right　when　I　wake　up；　Alaric；〃　ne　whispered；　as　he　lay　back　and　Morgan　sat　down　beside　him。　〃Please。〃
〃Close　your　eyes　and　go　to　sleep；　my　prince；〃　Morgan　said　softly。
He　let　himself　sink　into　trance　as　Kelson　obeyed；　spreading　his　hand　across　Kelson's　forehead　to　touch　the　closing　eyelids　with　thumb　and　middle　finger；　wrapping　his　consciousness　lovingly　around　that　of　his　king　and　guiding　it　into　stillness。　After　a　few　seconds；　Duncan　joined　him　in　rapport；　the　two　Deryni　gradually　extending　ease　and　healing　upon　the　king；　fort　to　soul　and　mind　as　well　as　body。

Epiphany　dawned　cold　but　clear　for　the　royal　nuptials。　Shortly　after　dawn；　Morgan　was　already　attending　to　the　few　remaining　details　that　must　be　resolved　before　the　start　of　the　bridal　procession；　which　would　wind　its　way　from　Rhemuth　Keep　down　to　the　cathedral　below。　He　did　not　mind　rising　early；　since　his　bed　was　empty　anyway　…　　though　in　a　good　cause。　Richenda　had　spent　the　night　with　the　nervous　royal　bride。　Two　hours　before　the　wedding　procession　was　to　begin；　heading　down　the　corridor　that　led　past　Kelson's　apartments；　he　met　Duncan　just　emerging。
〃How　is　he？〃　Morgan　asked；　as　the　two　of　them　continued　on　down　the　corridor。
Duncan　smiled。　〃Well　enough。　I've　just　heard　his　confession　…　and　he's　as　nervous　as　I've　ever　seen　him　over　something　that　isn't　mortally　dangerous　…　but　he's　in　good　spirits。　'Hopeful'　is　probably　be　the　best　word　to　describe　him。〃
〃Well；　that's　reassuring；〃　Morgan　said。　〃How　about　Dhugal？〃
〃I　don't　know。　He'd　gone　to　change　before　I　arrived。　I　gather　that　loud　noises　and　sudden　movements　are　not　his　favorite　things　just　now；　however。　Poor　lad。〃
〃Well；　we　all　had　to　learn　that　the　hard　way；　didn't　we？〃　Morgan　replied。　〃Incidentally；　and　on　a　far　more　optimistic　note；　did　you　know　that　Llewell's　consented　to　lead　his　sister's　horse　this　morning；　and　to　stand　witness　to　the　marriage？〃
Duncan　chuckled。　〃I'm　not　surprised　to　hear　it。　I'm　told　he　had　Bradene　hear　his　confession　yesterday。　Apparently　he's　quite　contrite。〃
〃More　likely；　Nigel　sat　him　down　and　had　a　little　chat　about　the　realities　of　being　a　hostage　prince；〃　Morgan　snorted。　〃But　…　well；　look　who's　still　alive　despite　his　hangover！〃　he　added　jovially；　as　Dhugal　came　around　a　er　at　the　far　end　of　the　corridor；　headed　in　their　direction。
The　boy　wore　formal　border　garb　this　morning：　bright　MacArdry　tartan　pleated　around　his　body　and　caught　at　the　shoulder　of　his　doublet　with　silver；　hair　braided　and　knotted　in　customary　border　fashion　and　tied　with　black　silk。　He　sketched　a　half…hearted　bow　as　they　met；　but　the　movement　obviously　distressed　him。　Morgan　laid　a　radely　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　leaned　down　to　peer　into　the　bloodshot　eyes；　giving　him　a　speculative　smile。
〃What's　wrong；　Dhugal？〃
〃That　isn't　funny；　sir；〃　Dhugal　whispered；　grimacing。　〃It　isn't　fair；　either。　Kelson　acts　like　he　didn't　have　a　thing　to　drink　last　night。　I　feel　like　the　top　of　my　head　is　going　to　e　off。〃
Morgan　raised　one　eyebrow　and　clucked　his　tongue　sympathetically。　〃Well；　when　you　learn　to　lower　those　shields　of　yours；　we'll　be　able　to　cure　your　hangover；　too；　won't　we；　Duncan？〃　he　quipped。
But　Duncan's　face　was　still　and　devoid　of　expression；　his　mind　suddenly　shut　tight　to　Morgan's　tentative　and　surprised　probe。　Morgan　could　isolate　no　one　thing　which　made　him　aware　of　something　not　quite　right；　but　the　shadow　was　there。　Duncan　blinked　as　he　felt　their　eyes　on　him；　as　if　dragging　himself　up　from　contemplation　of　something　grim　and　even　soul…shaking。
〃Duncan？〃
〃I'm　sorry。　I　was　thinking　about　something　else。　What　was　it　you　asked？〃
〃I　was　just　teasing　Dhugal　about　his　hangover；〃　Morgan　said；　trying　to　make　light　of　Duncan's　sudden　change　of　mood。　〃Did　you　forget　to　do　something？〃
〃Yes；　I　did；〃　Duncan　replied；　seizing　gratefully　on　the　excuse　Morgan　offered。　〃I　need　to　go　back　to　my　quarters　for　a　few　minutes。　Could　you　give　me　a　hand？〃
〃Of　course。　Do　you　think　it　will　take　very　long？〃
〃No。　Just　something　I　need　you　for。〃　Duncan　glanced　back　at　Dhugal。　〃We're　probably　keeping　you　from　your　duties　as　well；　Dhugal。　I　must　say　that　it's　pleasant　to　see　formal　border　garb　at　court　again；　however。　Is　your　cloak　clasp　a　MacArdry　design？〃
〃This？〃　Dhugal　pulled　the　cloak　clasp　away　from　his　body　with　a　thumb　and　glanced　down　at　it。　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　My　father　had　it　when　he　was　a　boy。　I　don't　know　where　he　got　it。　He　gave　it　to　my　mother　the　day　they　were　married；　and　she　left　it　to　me　when　she　died。　I　don't　wear　it　very　often；　but　Kelson　thought　it　was　appropriate　for　a　wedding。　It　is　rather　striking；　isn't　it？〃
〃Yes　it　is。〃　Duncan　glanced　at　Morgan　even　more　urgently。　〃But；　I　really　must　take　care　of　that　errand。　Alaric；　are　you　ing？〃
The　Deryni　bishop　would　say　nothing　else　as　he　led　Morgan　not　to　his　apartments　but　to　the　little　study　where　they　had　met　after　his　consecration。　Nor　would　he　lower　his　shields。　Only　when　they　were　inside　did　he　relax　a　little；　though　he　still　was　like　a　tightly　wound　spring　as　he　crossed　to　the　little　prie…dieu　in　the　er　by　the　window　and　dropped　to　his　knees。　Morgan　watched　him　curiously　from　the　center　of　the　chamber；　not　pressing　a　contact。　Finally；　Duncan　crossed　himself　and　stood；　turning　a　grave　profile　toward　the　amber　glass　of　the　window。
〃You're　owed　an　explanation　for　the　last　little　while；〃　he　said　softly；　beckoning　Morgan　to　e　closer。　〃I　can　only　say　that　this　is　something　that　never　occurred　to　me　in　my　wildest　dreams。　It's　…　going　to　take　some　getting　used　to。〃
Morgan　frowned　as　he　stopped　within　arm's　reach　of　Duncan；　afraid　to　touch　him。
〃Would　you　please　tell　me　what　you're　talking　about？　What's　wrong？　You　look　like　you've　seen　a　ghost。〃
〃In　a　way；　I　suppose　I　have。〃　Duncan　chewed　on　his　lower　lip　and　sighed。　〃Alaric；　I　wasn't　just　being　courteous　when　I　plimented　Dhugal　on　his　border　garb　and　asked　about　that　cloak　clasp。　And　then；　when　he　told　me　where　he'd　gotten　it　…　〃
He　sighed　again；　dropping　his　gaze　to　the　violet　slippers　showing　at　the　hem　of　his　cassock。
〃That　clasp　used　to　be　mine；　Alaric。　I　gave　it　to　Dhugal's　sister　many　years　ago；　under　exactly　the　circumstances　he　described。〃　He　paused　to　swallow　with　difficulty。
〃Only　…　now　I　think　the　'brother'　born　a　little　while　later　may　not　have　been　her　brother　at　all。　I　…　think　Dhugal　may　be　her　son　…　and　mine。〃


CHAPTER　TWENTY
Yet　will　I　bring　an　heir　unto　thee。
Micah　1：15
As　Duncan　raised　his　eyes　to　Morgan's；　he　did　not　need　Deryni　abilities　to　read　the　shock　and　astonishment　written　there。　He　knew　that　he　must　be　projecting　much　the　same　feeling　himself。　He；　like　Morgan；　was　finding　it　hard　to　believe；　but　the　clasp　spoke　for　itself　…　and　Dhugal　would　be　exactly　the　right　age。
The　memories　of　those　long…ago　years　started　to　well　into　consciousness；　but　Duncan　pushed　them　down　for　just　another　moment　as　he　gestured　toward　the　two　chairs　facing　the　fireplace。　He　tried　to　keep　his　shields　closed　and　not　to　think　much　at　all　as　he　made　his　feet　move　in　that　direction　and　Morgan　followed；　and　could　not　quite　decide　whether　it　was　elation　or　stark　terror　threatening　to　overwhelm　him　when　he　unleashed　the　memories　at　last。　He　sat；　eyes　unfocused　through　the　fire　on　the　hearth；　and　was　only　dimly　aware