kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第21部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　if　the　two　of　them　stood　once　more　by　the　sacred　well；　high　on　a　wind…scoured　hilltop　at　the　edge　of　Candor　Rhea。　Kelson　had　been　ten；　Dhugal　nearly　nine。
〃Are　you　sure　you　really　want　to？〃　Dhugal　had　asked；　as　they　washed　their　grimy　hands　in　water　from　the　well。　〃My　people　count　an　oath　as　strong　as　blood；　when　blood　has　been　shed。　And　what　will　your　father　say？〃
〃I　don't　care　what　he　says；　after　it's　done；〃　Kelson　had　replied。　〃He　can't　undo　it；　can　he？〃
〃No。　Nothing　can　undo　it　unless　one　of　us　is　dead。〃
〃Then　we　don't　have　to　worry；〃　Kelson　had　said　with　a　grin；　〃because　you　and　I　are　going　to　live　forever；　aren't　we？〃　He　paused　a　beat。　〃Does　it　hurt　much；　do　you　know？〃
Dhugal　had　looked　a　little　greenish　under　his　freckles。
〃I　dunno；〃　he　confided。　〃My　brother　Michael　made　blood…oath　with　his　friend　Fulk　when　they　were　younger　than　we　are；　and　he　said　it　hurt　terribly　…　but　I　think　Michael　makes　things　up　to　scare　me　sometimes。〃　He　swallowed。　〃It's　only　a　little　cut；　after　all。　If　we're　going　to　be　knights；　we　have　to　learn　not　to　be　afraid　of　getting　wounded；　don't　we？〃
〃I'm　not　afraid；〃　Kelson　had　retorted；　handing　Dhugal　his　silver…mounted　dagger。　〃Here。　Do　it！〃
He　had　actually　been　very　much　afraid；　and　so　had　Dhugal；　but　he　had　not　allowed　himself　to　flinch　as　Dhugal's　inexperienced　hand　drew　the　blade　across　his　flesh。　Fascinated；　Kelson　held　his　wrist　and　watched　the　blood　well　in　his　palm；　only　dragging　his　eyes　from　it　when　Dhugal　laid　the　black…carved　hilt　of　his　own　dagger　across　Kelson's　bloody　fingers。　The　pommel　had　clasped　a　water…pale　amethyst；　and　he　remembered　the　blood　staining　it　a　darker　hue　as　he　drew　the　blade　across　Dhugal's　palm　in　a　wound　to　match　his　own。
〃Say　the　words　after　me；〃　Dhugal　had　whispered；　clasping　his　bloody　hand　to　Kelson's　and　looping　a　handkerchief　to　bind　them。　〃I　take　you　as　my　brother；　of　blood　and　of　life。〃
〃I　take　you　as　my　brother；　of　blood　and　of　life；〃　Kelson　had　repeated。
〃I　call　to　witness　the　four　airts　…　those　are　winds；〃　Dhugal　added。
〃I　call　to　witness　the　four　airts；〃　Kelson　agreed。
〃That　so　long　as　I　have　breath；　I　will　stand　by　my　brother　with　my　life　and　my　honor。。。。〃
With　a　little　smile；　the　adult　Kelson　clasped　his　free　hand　around　their　joined　ones　and　nodded。
〃I'll　expect　you　in　the　spring；　then；　my　brother；〃　he　said　quietly；　not　wanting　to　break　the　mood。　〃Do　your　filial　duty　through　the　winter；　and　keep　the　peace　here　in　Transha　for　me；　and　then　e　to　me　at　Culdi　as　soon　as　the　passes　are　clear。〃
〃I　will；　my　lord；〃　Dhugal　whispered。　〃And　God　keep　us　both　safe　until　then。〃


CHAPTER　SIX
They　only　consult　to　cast　him　down　from　his　excellency：　they　delight　in　lies：　
they　bless　with　their　mouth；　but　they　curse　inwardly。
Psalms　62：4
By　special　request　of　the　Archbishop　of　Rhemuth；　the　bishops　at　Culdi　met　in　closed　convocation　early　the　next　morning。　In　Duncan's　absence；　Istelyn　was　drafted　to　serve　as　secretary　for　the　proceedings。　No　one　was　more　surprised　than　he　when　Cardiel　proposed　him　as　the　next　Bishop　of　Meara。
To　the　relief　of　Cardiel　and　Arilan；　support　for　Istelyn's　candidacy　quickly　grew。　Once　the　stunned　Istelyn's　praises　had　been　sung　by　a　bemused　Archbishop　Bradene；　who　had　more　cause　than　any　other　man　to　know　Istelyn's　work；　hardly　a　prelate　in　the　room　did　not　join　actively　in　his　support；　for　Istelyn's　nomination　provided　an　elegant　solution　to　the　Mearan　problem。　By　noon；　when　the　entire　munity　met　for　High　Mass；　Archbishop　Bradene　was　able　to　announce　a　unanimous　decision　from　the　pulpit。　With　few　exceptions；　the　news　was　received　with　relief　and　general　approval。
One　of　those　who　did　not　approve　of　the　bishops'　choice　was　Judhael　of　Meara；　though　his　public　reception　of　the　news　was　gracious　and　obedient。　As　soon　as　was　seemly　after　Mass；　however；　he　tapped　discreetly　on　the　door　of　his　patron；　Creoda　of　Carbury。　The　bishop's　secretary　admitted　him　at　once。
〃You　could　have　warned　me；〃　he　said；　when　the　secretary　had　shown　him　into　Creoda's　presence　and　the　formalities　had　been　observed。
Sighing；　Creoda　motioned　Judhael　to　take　a　seat　across　from　him；　staying　the　priest…secretary　with　a　similar　gesture。　Judhael　sat。　He　was　a　youngish…looking　man　of　ramrod…straight　carriage；　with　hair　gone　prematurely　silver；　in　stark　contrast　to　his　clerical　black。　The　pale；　sea　blue　eyes　measured　Creoda　accusingly；　the　hands　also　betraying　his　agitation　as　he　played　with　a　ring　on　his　right　hand。
〃These　things　happen；〃　Creoda　muttered。　〃If　it's　any　consolation；　you　reacted　precisely　as　you　should　have。　Cardiel　sprang　the　remendation　on　us　at　an　early　meeting　this　morning。　There　was　no　way　to　warn　you　between　then　and　Mass。　I'm　sorry。〃
〃So　am　I。〃　Judhael　worried　at　his　ring　a　moment　longer；　then　glanced　aside　at　the　fire　in　the　stone　fireplace。　The　silver　signet　on　his　hand　was　more　befitting　a　secular　lord　than　a　cleric。
〃What　happens　next；　then？〃　Judhael　asked。　〃Is　this　the　end　of　it？　Will　the　king　ratify　Istelyn's　appointment？〃
〃I　don't　know；　to　all　three　questions；〃　Creoda　replied。　〃Istelyn　has　been　in　the　king's　favor　for　several　years；　so　I　doubt　there　will　be　any　objection　on　the　part　of　His　Majesty。　That　does　not　necessarily　spell　an　end　to　things；　however。〃
〃No？〃
Creoda　snapped　his　fingers　in　the　direction　of　the　secretary　and　held　out　his　hand　for　the　folded　square　of　parchment　which　the　man　immediately　produced。　Judhael　sat　forward　expectantly；　but　Creoda　took　his　time　unfolding　the　missive。
〃This　came　late　last　night；〃　the　bishop　said；　holding　it　at　arm's　length　and　squinting　at　the　text　before　handing　it　over　to　Judhael。　〃The　gist　of　it　is　that　our　brother　in　Saint　Iveagh's　is　prepared　to　support　you；　and　awaits　the　guide　who　will　escort　him　to　freedom。〃
〃And　how　much　is　that　support　worth；　now　that　someone　else　has　been　chosen　for　the　See　of　Meara？〃　Judhael　said　bitterly；　as　he　scanned　the　closely　penned　script。
〃It　will　be　as　useful　as　it　needs　to　be；〃　Creoda　replied。　〃At　very　least；　he　can　pull　the　ecclesiastical　factions　together　for　the　reunification　of　Old　Meara。〃
〃You　really　think　he　still　wields　that　much　influence？〃
〃He　might　surprise　you；〃　Creoda　countered。　〃Granted；　he's　a　bit　fanatic　for　some　people's　tastes；　but　I　have　always　known　him　to　be　an　upright　and　godly　man。　His　treatment　at　the　hands　of　the　king　rankled　many；　myself　among　them。　He　was　our　elected　primate；　after　all。〃
〃And　a　fanatic；〃　Judhael　reminded　his　superior；　as　he　handed　the　missive　back　to　the　priest　beside　him。　〃You　yourself　have　conceded　that。〃
Creoda　shrugged　narrow　shoulders　and　smiled　a　thin；　smug　smile。　〃Please；　Father。　Grant　me　credit　for　some　mon　sense。　Just　because　one　describes　our　one…time　master　as　a　godly　man　does　not　necessarily　mean　one　thinks　he　should　be　primate　once　again。〃
〃Not　primate？〃　Judhael　stared　at　the　bishop　in　blank　astonishment。　〃But；　I　thought　…　〃
〃Don't　think。　Father。〃　Creoda　replied　softly。　〃Let　me　do　the　thinking。　There　are　other　things　at　stake　besides　your　Mearan　See。　The　less　you　know；　the　better。〃
〃But　…　〃
〃It　is　said　that　the　king　can　force　a　man　to　speak　the　truth。　Father；〃　Creoda　went　on。　〃And　God　alone　knows　what　unholy　things　his　Deryni　friends　can　do。　But　one　cannot　speak　of　what　one　does　not　know；　now；　can　one？　My　silence　is　for　your　protection　as　well　as　mine；　my　son。〃
Judhael's　face　turned　pale　beneath　his　silver　hair；　and　he　hugged　his　arms　across　his　chest　as　he　suppressed　a　shiver。
〃Dear　God　in　heaven；　you're　right！　General　Morgan　stopped　me　on　the　way　out　of　chapel　last　night。　I　couldn't　avoid　him。　He　wanted　to　know　whether　I　had　any　knowledge　of　an　assassination　attempt　on　McLain。〃
〃An　assassination　attempt？〃
〃You　weren't　behind　it；　then？〃
〃Certainly　not！　What　happened？〃
Judhael　looked　confused　as　he　shook　his　head。　〃i　don't　know　for　certain。　Apparently　there　was　a　boy　with　a　knife。　It　can't　have　been　too　serious；　though。　McLain　attended　Mass　this　morning。　I　saw　him　sitting　next　to　Morgan。〃
〃So　he　was。〃　Creoda　stared　into　space　for　a　few　seconds；　then　shook　his　head。　〃No　matter。　It　doesn't　concern　us。　Any　number　of　people　might　want　a　Deryni　priest　dead。〃
〃Or　a　Deryni　duke；〃　Judhael　added。　〃He's　that；　too；　don't　forget。　My　aunt　and　my　cousins　wouldn't　mind。〃
When　Creoda　looked　puzzled；　Judhael　continued　a　little　disdainfully。
〃Can　you　have　forgotten；　Excellency？　Because　it　has　no　immediate　ecclesiastical　significance　doesn't　mean　it　isn't　important。　As　Duke　of　Cassan　and　Earl　of　Kierney；　Duncan　McLain　has　no　direct　heir。　By　strict　right　of　succession；　his　lands　should　pass　to　Ithel　after　he　dies　…　　not　that　the　king　would　allow　it。〃
〃Ah；　then；　Morgan　felt　you　had　a　motive；〃　Creoda　breathed。　〃Which；　in　fact；　you　did。　That's　why　he　wanted　to　question　you。　Aren't　you　glad　you　knew　nothing　to　tell　him？〃
〃I'll　confess　to　that。　He　did　want　to　know　how　long　it　had　been　since　I'd　heard　from　my　aunt。　And　he　has　to　be　aware　how　my　elevation　to　the　See　of　Meara　could　have　helped　the　cause　of　Mearan　independence。〃
〃That　is　hardly　any　secret；〃　Creoda　observed　dryly。　〃But；　very　well。　We　must　assume　that　in　the　future　he'll　be　even　more　observant　…　which　simply　confirms　my　instinct　that　you　should　know　as　little　about　the　rest　of　our