kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第29部分

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Judhael　said　nothing；　though　his　jaw　tightened　in　resentment；　but　Creoda　smiled　pleasantly　and　inclined　his　head。
〃We　perceive　no　betrayal　of　Mother　Church；〃　he　said　amiably。　〃Rather；　we　perceive　the　actions　of　the　consistory　and　the　king　as　a　betrayal　of　the　Mearan　people。　Father　Judhael　should　have　been　bishop　here　…　not　you。　It's　as　simple　as　that。　And　Archbishop　Loris　ought　never　to　have　been　relieved　of　his　office　and　imprisoned　like　a　mon　felon。　We　feel　that　the　time　has　e　to　rectify　the　error。　Henry。〃
〃What　error？〃　Istelyn　demanded。　〃His　own　brother　bishops　pronounced　judgment　on　him；　Creoda。　You　were　there。　Nor　do　I　recollect　any　outbursts　of　righteous　indignation　on　your　part　at　the　time。〃
Creoda　raised　an　unconcerned　eyebrow。　〃I　was　ill…informed。〃
〃You　mean　you've　since　been　bought！　What　did　he　offer　you；　Creoda？　You're　Bishop　of　Culdi；　for　God's　sake！　What　could　a　disgraced　archbishop　possibly　have　offered　you　that　was　better　than　that？〃
〃You　would　do　well　to　remember　who　and　where　you　are。　Bishop；〃　Loris　said　pointedly。　〃And　you　will　either　cooperate　or　pay　the　price　reserved　for　traitors。　We　shall　begin　with　Meara：　the　seating　of　a　Mearan　priest　upon　an　episcopal　throne　in　Meara；　the　restoration　of　the　legitimate　Mearan　royal　line；　and　the　extension　of　Meara's　borders　to　her　previous　boundaries。　Meara　shall　be　an　independent　princedom　once　more；　with　her　own　ecclesiastical　hierarchy…〃
〃Headed　by　yourself；　no　doubt；〃　said　Istelyn。
〃Yes；　headed　by　myself。　And　then　we　shall　cleanse　error　from　the　land　in　Meara　and　eventually　in　Gwynedd　and　the　rest　of　the　Eleven　Kingdoms。　Deryni　heresy　has　corrupted　even　the　mighty。　It　must　be　obliterated。　This　time；　we　shall　not　fail。〃
〃But　the　king　is　part　Deryni；〃　Istelyn　murmured。
〃A　crown　does　not　confer　immunity　from　the　just　wrath　of　an　offended　God！〃　Loris　thundered；　drawing　himself　to　self…righteous　attention。　〃The　king　has　erred；　the　king　must　be　chastised。　If　it　would　change　the　past；　I　would　strike　off　my　own　hand　which　poured　the　sacred　oil　upon　his　head！　His　error　must　be　burned　from　him；　even　unto　death；　if　necessary　for　the　sake　of　his　immortal　soul！　The　Lord's　trust　has　been　betrayed。　The　Lord　will　repay！〃
〃He's　gone　mad；〃　Istelyn　murmured　under　his　breath；　shaking　his　head　as　he　turned　half　away。　〃They've　all　gone　utterly　mad。〃
He　heard　the　rustle　of　episcopal　silk　ing　nearer　and　glanced　back　to　see　Loris　almost　within　reach　of　him；　Creoda　and　Judhael　flanking　him　to　either　side。
〃I　give　you　one　chance　and　one　chance　only　for　clemency；〃　Loris　said；　raising　a　single　finger　to　illustrate　his　point。　〃If　you　will　assist　Creoda　and　myself　in　consecrating　Father　Judhael　a　bishop；　I　shall　permit　you　the　same　kind　of　'honorable　retirement'　to　which　you　so　generously　consigned　me　for　the　past　two　years。　It　is　more　than　you　deserve。〃
〃And　all　I　must　do　to　be　granted　this　magnanimous　favor　is　betray　my　archbishop　and　my　king　by　raising　a　traitor　in　my　stead；〃　Istelyn　said。　〃I　decline　the　honor。〃
〃I　should　not　be　too　hasty；　if　I　were　you；〃　Loris　warned。　〃Do　not　let　misplaced　loyalties　lead　you　to　your　death。〃
〃Do　not　threaten　me！〃　Istelyn　snapped。　〃I'll　not　turn　traitor　for　offices　or　riches　or　even　to　save　my　own　life。　Nor　will　I　lift　one　finger　to　assist　your　illegal　consecration　of　that　man。〃
〃I　beg　of　you。　Henry；　be　reasonable；〃　Creoda　said。
〃Oh；　I　am。　I'm　being　quite　reasonable。　And　it　occurs　to　me　that　there's　only　one　reason　you'd　be　courting　my　assistance　to　consecrate　your　Mearan　traitor。　You　need　another　bishop's　hands　to　make　it　valid；　don't　you？〃
Eyes　narrowed　and　dangerous；　Loris　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃There　is　nothing　I　need　from　you；　Istelyn。　Judhael　shall　have　his　sacring　whether　you　will　it　or　no。〃
〃Not　by　my　hand。〃
〃If　defiance　gives　you　fort；　then　so　be　it；〃　Loris　replied。　〃But　do　not　make　the　mistake　of　thinking　that　your　refusal　will　make　it　impossible　to　consecrate　Judhael。　Surely　you　do　not　think　I　would　embark　upon　this　holy　crusade　if　I　did　not　have　further　support　among　the　episcopate　of　a　reunited　Meara？　The　Bishop　of　Cashien　and　two　itinerant　bishops　are　within　Ratharkin's　walls　even　as　we　speak；　and　Lachlan　and　Calder　arrive　with　the　Lady　Caitrin's　party　within　a　few　days　…　so　we　will　have　twice　the　number　needed　to　make　Judhael's　consecration　valid。〃
〃Twice　the　number　of　traitors；〃　Istelyn　countered。
Loris'　eyes　narrowed。　〃You　are　as　stiff…necked　as　ever；　Istelyn。　I　believe　I　am　being　bored　with　this　conversation。　Judhael；　ask　the　guards　to　e　in；　please。　Father　Istelyn　will　be　going　to　his　new　quarters　now。〃
〃In　the　dungeons？〃　Istelyn　asked；　as　Judhael　bowed　and　moved　past　him　to　obey。
Loris　returned　him　a　prim　smile。　〃I　am　not　a　man　wholly　lacking　of　a　sense　of　propriety。　Henry。　Out　of　respect　for　the　office　you　still　technically　hold；　you　shall　be　detained　in　reasonable　fort　until　after　Judhael's　consecration　as　bishop。〃　He　signed　to　the　entering　guards　to　wait　just　inside　the　doors。　〃For　the　sake　of　propriety；　however；　I　shall　require　that　you　remove　your　vestments　before　going　to　your　new　quarters。　We　should　not　want　sacred　raiment　soiled；　should　you　decide　to　resist　your　escort。〃
The　mere　suggestion　that　guards　might　lay　hands　upon　him　while　still　vested　for　the　altar　sent　a　chill　up　Istelyn's　spine；　but　he　knew　the　threat　was　not　an　idle　one。　Loris'　hard　eyes　had　convinced　him　early　on　that　there　would　be　no　quarter；　even　had　he　agreed　to　terms。　Slowly　he　removed　the　violet　chasuble　with　its　somber　symbols　of　Advent　and　laid　it　across　the　waiting　arms　of　Judhael；　followed　by　maniple；　cincture；　stole；　amice；　and　alb。　Finally　he　stood　before　them　clad　only　in　the　violet　cassock；　slippers；　and　skullcap　of　a　bishop；　clasping　the　jewelled　pectoral　cross　on　his　breast　in　silent　affirmation　of　his　continued　defiance。　A　guard　came　from　behind　and　laid　a　fur…lined　cloak　around　his　shoulders；　and　Istelyn　nodded　surprised　thanks　as　he　drew　it　around　himself　against　the　cold。
〃Bishop　Istelyn　is　to　lodge　temporarily　with　the　young　Master　of　Transha；〃　Loris　told　the　guard　captain。　〃Please　escort　him　there　with　such　respect　as　his　behavior　warrants。　He　is　to　receive　no　visitors。　He　has　our　leave　to　celebrate　Mass　privately　and　to　minister　to　the　boy；　and　may　have　what　he　needs　for　either　intention。　You　may　go　now。〃
The　guards　started　toward　him；　but　Istelyn　ignored　them　to　shoulder　numbly　past　Loris　and　Creoda　and　make　a　reverent　obeisance　before　the　altar。　He　wore　his　dignity　like　a　mantle　as　he　rose　and　went　to　his　captors；　even　though　he　was　sick　with　fear　inside；　but　the　guards　responded　to　the　outward　nobility　of　the　man　and　fell　into　step　as　a　true　escort　rather　than　a　custodial　force。　He　managed　not　to　start　shaking　until　they　had　closed　the　door　of　his　prison　chamber　behind　him。　He　did　not　know　how　long　he　stood　there　with　his　back　against　the　door；　trembling　and　fighting　down　the　nausea　of　defeat；　until　gradually　he　became　aware　of　eyes　watching　him　from　the　shadows　of　a　fur…covered　pallet　near　the　pleasant　fire。
〃Who's　there？〃　he　called　softly。
〃Forgive　me　for　not　rising　to　greet　you。　Excellency；〃　a　young　voice　answered；　〃but　my　ribs　hurt　me　if　I　move　too　much。　You　must　be　Bishop　Istelyn。〃
〃I　am。〃
Cautiously　Istelyn　moved　closer。　The　boyish　face　the　firelight　revealed　was　far　younger　than　he　had　been　expecting。　Below　a　greyish　bandage　tied　around　the　boy's　forehead；　tawny　eyes　gazed　up　at　him　with　disconcerting　directness；　though　a　reddish　smudge　of　mustache　marked　him　as　a　little　older　than　Istelyn　had　first　thought　…　perhaps　fourteen　or　fifteen。　Dark　circles　stained　the　fair　skin　underneath　the　eyes。　It　was　evident　the　lad　had　lived　with　pain　for　some　time。
〃You　must　be　the　young　Master　of　Transha；〃　Istelyn　said；　crouching　down　beside　the　pallet。
〃Almost　the　late　Master　of　Transha；　thanks　to　Loris'　escort；〃　the　boy　replied；　offering　a　hand　from　underneath　his　sleeping　furs　and　essaying　a　tentative　smile。　〃I'm　called　Dhugal　by　my　friends。　This　hardly　seems　the　place　for　overmuch　formality。〃
Istelyn　took　the　extended　hand　briefly　and　returned　the　smile。　〃Then　I　shall　call　you　Dhugal；　young　laird；　since　we　seem　to　be　destined　at　least　to　be　colleagues。　Did　they　hurt　you　very　badly？〃
〃The　horses　hurt　me　about　as　much　as　the　men；　I　suppose；〃　Dhugal　admitted；　settling　back　against　his　mound　of　pillows　with　a　barely　bitten…back　grimace。　〃After　I　got　knocked　off　my　pony；　I　was　kicked　a　couple　of　times　and　nearly　trampled。　The　men　only　hit　me　in　the　head。　I've　some　cracked　ribs；　but　at　least　the　headaches　seem　to　be　letting　up。　What　day　is　it？〃
〃The　fifth　of　December；〃　Istelyn　responded。　〃We're　in　Advent　season。　Shall　I　look　at　your　injuries？　I　haven't　much　skill　in　such　matters；　but　perhaps　I　can　do　something。〃
Dhugal　closed　his　eyes　briefly　and　managed　a　slight　nod。　〃Thank　you。　I　can　tell　you　what　to　do。　I've　had　training　as　a　battle　surgeon　myself；　but　there's　only　so　much　one　can　do　on　oneself　as　patient。　Have　a　look。　My　ribs　are　the　worst　just　now。〃
Dhugal　was　nude　beneath　the　sleeping　furs；　his　slender　torso　and　limbs　displaying　the　number　of　old　scars　one　might　expect　of　a　lad　trained　in　warrior　disciplines；　but　Istelyn　sucked　in　breath　between　his　teeth　at　the　massive　bruising　acro