kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第23部分

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om　from　the　Order's　Rule　of　speaking　in　a　whisper　save　during　Divine　Office。
〃I　cannot　explain　it。　Father　Abbot。　He　is　simply　gone。　He　asked　to　attend　Vespers；　so　that　he　might　hear　Brother　Jeroboam　preach；　and　I　myself　locked　his　door　when　he　returned。　Here　is　the　key。〃　He　extended　it　in　both　hands；　not　looking　up。　〃I　will　swear　on　whatever　holy　relics　you　require　that　it　has　not　been　out　of　my　possession。〃
Another　monk　stepped　forward　from　the　ranks　and　knelt　beside　the　distraught　man。
〃It　is　true。　Father　Abbott。　Brother　Wenceslaus　had　the　key　when　he　returned　from　escorting　Father　Loris　back　to　his　room。　He　and　I　kept　vigil　in　the　Lady　Chapel　until　pline。　Both　of　us　looked　in　on　Father　Loris　before　retiring；　but　he　seemed　to　be　asleep　…　and　he　often　omits　the　early　morning　offices。　There　was　no　occasion　to　check　on　him　again　until　we　came　to　rouse　him　for　Prime。〃
The　abbot；　rumpled　and　disheveled　in　a　hastily　donned　mantle　pulled　over　his　sleeping　gown；　sank　wearily　onto　a　stool　and　sighed。
〃Then；　he　could　have　been　missing　for　many　hours；〃　he　murmured。　〃How　can　this　have　happened？　Brother　Wenceslaus；　please　believe　that　I　do　not　hold　you　personally　to　blame；　but　could　there　possibly　have　been　a　second　key？〃
Another　brother；　bending　to　inspect　the　door　latch　by　the　light　of　a　candle　another　monk　held；　tut…tutted　primly　to　himself　and　shook　his　head　as　he　glanced　up　at　the　abbot。
〃I　doubt　there　was　another　key。　Father　Abbot。　The　lock　shows　definite　signs　of　tampering　…　perhaps　one　of　the　tinkers　who　paid　us　visit　in　the　last　few　days。〃　He　paused　a　beat。　〃Or　some　other　stranger。　I　don't　suppose　anyone　has　questioned　Brother　Jeroboam？〃
The　abbot　shook　his　head　miserably。　〃Unfortunately；　I　am　informed　that　Brother　Jeroboam　is　also　missing。　Alas；　it　appears　the　good　preacher　was　not　what　he　appeared。　That　we　did　not　recognize　this　is　the　fault　of　no　one　in　this　Order；　but　the　fact　remains　that　the　prisoner　entrusted　to　our　charge　has　escaped。　We　have　failed　in　our　duty。〃
As　he　sighed　again；　the　assembled　brethren　hung　their　heads　guiltily。
〃Well；　there　is　no　help　for　it　but　to　tell　the　king；　my　brethren　…　and　told　he　must　be；　though　I　weep　at　the　shame　of　it。〃
〃The　shame　is　all　ours。　Father　Abbot；〃　one　of　the　monks　murmured。
〃Yes；　yes。〃　The　abbot　shook　his　head　and　sighed　a　third　time。　〃Search　a　final　time；　my　brothers。　Perhaps　we　will　find　some　further　clue　as　to　how　this　was　acplished。　Meanwhile；　I　shall　draft　a　letter　to　the　king。　Brother　Hospitaller；　I　shall　need　a　messenger　to　leave　for　Rhemuth　at　dawn。　Do　you　see　to　his　provisioning。〃
〃Yes；　Father　Abbot。〃

At　a　noon　Mass　that　same　day；　the　Feast　of　Saint　Andrew；　the　Most　Reverend　Henry　Istelyn　of　Rhemuth　was　officially　proclaimed　Bishop　of　Meara　and　invested　with　the　symbols　of　his　office。　Enthroned　in　his　cathedral　of　Saint　Uriel　and　All　Angels；　flanked　by　his　archbishops　and　brother　prelates；　and　witnessed　by　King　Kelson；　he　received　the　homage　and　obedience　of　every　Mearan　clergyman　present；　no　one's　more　gracefully　or　humbly　offered　than　Judhael's。　The　king　himself　begged　the　favor　of　the　new　bishop's　first　blessing；　for　he　had　fond　memories　of　Istelyn's　loyalty　during　the　campaign　against　Torenth；　and　he　and　his　closest　confidants　knelt　with　bowed　heads　as　the　age…tried　words　were　spoken。　That　night　there　was　feasting　in　the　bishop's　hall。
The　citizenry　seemed　reasonably　content　with　their　new　prelate；　but　just　to　ensure　a　peaceful　winter。　Kelson　gave　Istelyn　the　loan　of　twenty　sergeants　and　men…at…arms　from　his　own　warband；　Cardiel　gave　a　like　number　of　episcopal　troops。　These　were　to　augment　the　garrison　remaining　from　the　tenure　of　the　deceased　Bishop　Carsten；　which　had　already　been　swelled　by　a　score　hand…picked　from　Bishop　Creoda's　levies。　Creoda　himself　offered　to　remain　in　Ratharkin　for　a　few　weeks　to　assist　Istelyn's　peaceful　assumption　of　the　real　reins　of　power。　It　was　a　brotherly　gesture　which　no　one　had　cause　to　question。
The　worsening　weather　allowed　no　over…long　lingering　on　the　part　of　the　king；　however。　With　Istelyn　apparently　stable　in　his　new…gained　office。　Kelson　must　return　to　Rhemuth　to　resume　the　governing　of　the　rest　of　his　kingdom。　Troubles　there　might　be　during　the　long　winter　to　e；　but　the　king　felt　his　new　bishop　tolerably　well　protected。　He　was　merry　as　he　rode　out　the　Ratharkin　city　gates　the　following　morning；　he　and　his　party　in　good　spirits　despite　the　light　rain　which　was　falling。　Several　of　the　other　bishops　who　had　e　from　Culdi　for　the　installation　intended　to　travel　with　the　royal　party　until　it　was　time　to　head　off　for　their　own　holdings；　so　the　journey　had　taken　on　almost　a　festival　air。　As　the　cavalcade　made　its　way　south；　to　broach　the　mountain　passes　near　Cuil…teine　before　bad　weather　should　force　a　longer　route；　neither　Deryni　nor　human　in　the　royal　van　dreamed　of　the　treachery　brewing　in　the　city　they　left　behind　…　or　the　further　treachery　afoot　but　a　few　days　farther　north。


CHAPTER　SEVEN
The　words　of　his　mouth　were　smoother　than　butter；　but　war　was　in　his　heart；
his　words　were　softer　than　oil；　yet　were　they　drawn　swords。
Psalms　55：21
In　the　predawn　stillness　of　the　following　day；　the　curragh　carrying　the　once　and　future　Primate　of　Gwynedd　pulled　away　from　a　ship　standing　to　off　the　Transha　coast　and　glided　silently　toward　a　sheltered　cove。　The　fragile　craft　bobbed　and　bucked　as　it　ploughed　through　the　breakers　closer　to　shore；　and　its　two　passengers　gripped　the　hide…covered　gunwales　a　little　anxiously；　huddled　deep　in　heavy　mantles　against　the　icy　spray。　As　sand　hissed　under　the　keel；　two　seamen　leaped　into　the　surf　to　pull　the　craft　farther　onto　the　beach。　Torches　emerged　from　the　early　morning　fog；　gradually　revealing　armed　men；　darkly　clad。　Beyond；　just　audible　above　the　crash　of　the　surf；　horses　stamped　and　snorted　and　harness　jingled。
〃Hello；　the　boat；〃　a　low　voice　from　among　the　torches　called。
As　Loris　stood　a　little　unsteadily；　the　curragh　teetered　in　the　surf。
〃Brice？〃
Immediately；　the　band's　leader　and　one　of　the　torch…bearers　detached　themselves　from　the　rest　and　came　forward。
〃Wele　to　freedom。　Your　Excellency；〃　said　Brice　of　Trurill。　He　handed　Loris　out　of　the　boat　and　bowed　over　his　gloved　hand。　〃I　hope　your　journey　was　not　exceptionally　tiring。〃
Loris　staggered　a　little　on　the　wet　sand　as　he　found　his　land　legs；　but　Brice　steadied　him　with　a　hand　under　his　elbow　as　together　they　trudged　up　the　steep　incline　of　the　beach。　His　panion　assisted　Gorony　from　the　boat。　As　soon　as　both　men　were　ashore；　the　seamen　began　pushing　the　craft　back　into　the　breakers。　Offshore；　the　waiting　ship　briefly　showed　a　light。
〃My　thanks　for　your　assistance；　my　son；〃　Loris　murmured；　puffing　a　little　from　the　exertion　of　the　climb。　〃Your　service　shall　not　go　unrewarded。　Is　everything　in　order？〃
〃All　in　order。　Excellency。　We've　purposely　kept　your　escort　small；　to　avoid　arousing　undue　attention；　but　Gendon　managed　to　locate　several　of　your　former　guards　from　Valoret。　All　of　us　are　sworn　to　your　service。〃
He　gestured　toward　his　rades；　waiting　dark　and　faceless　by　the　fidgeting　greathorses；　and　as　one；　they　bowed　their　heads　in　homage。　With　a　satisfied　nod；　Loris　raised　his　right　hand　in　benediction　and　murmured　the　words　of　a　blessing。　Brice　and　Gendon　also　bowed　their　heads　to　receive　it。　When　he　had　done；　one　of　the　men　brought　a　pair　of　horses　forward。　Brice；　after　donning　a　helm　with　a　baron's　coronet　embossed　around　its　crown；　himself　held　the　renegade　archbishop's　stirrup　so　he　could　mount。
〃What　is　our　destination？〃　Loris　asked；　as　he　swung　up　and　gathered　the　reins　in　gloved　hands。
Baron　Brice　of　Trurill　smiled　as　he　mounted　his　own　steed。
〃We　ride　to　Ratharkin；　Excellency；　where　more　of　your　allies　await　us。〃
Loris'　answering　chuckle　of　grim　pleasure　was　the　only　response　he　allowed　himself　as　the　rest　of　the　party　mounted　up。　As　the　men　one　by　one　hurled　their　torches　into　the　surf；　their　dark　forms　blended　with　the　rising　fog　once　more。　Jingling　harnesses　made　but　faint　counterpoint　to　the　waves　as　they　quit　the　beach　and　headed　south。　Beyond　the　breakers；　the　ship　lingered　a　moment　longer；　riding　the　long　swells　like　a　ghostly　seabird；　then　was　gone　in　the　mist。　Soon；　the　only　sign　of　the　predawn　meeting　was　a　scattering　of　burnt…out　torch　stubs　drifting　out　to　sea　on　the　tide。
Their　passage　had　not　gone　unmarked；　however。　The　pair　of　bearded　scouts　observing　from　their　bellies　on　a　cliff　above　the　cove　had　tracked　the　black…clad　warband　since　just　before　midnight。　The　presence　of　any　group　of　armed　men　on　Transha　soil　would　have　been　cause　for　suspicion；　these　seemed　deliberately　arrayed　to　disguise　their　identities　and　were　certainly　there　without　the　leave　of　the　MacArdry　chief。　The　arrival　of　the　ship　had　only　increased　the　watchers'　suspicions。　One　of　them　studied　the　landing　party　through　a　long　spyglass；　hissing　in　breath　through　his　teeth　as　he　watched　the　taller　of　the　newers　raise　his　hand　in　blessing。
〃I　dinnae　know　who　he　is；　but　I　like　not　th'　feel　o'　this；〃　he　whispered；　handing　off　the　spyglass　to　his　panion。　〃Wha'　d'ye　think　they're　about？〃
The　other　grunted　and　put　the　spyglass　to　his　own　eye；　watching　silently　for　several　seconds　before　replying。