kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第30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！


is　teeth　at　the　massive　bruising　across　the　left　ribcage。　Another　bruise　purpled　the　top　of　the　right　thigh　in　the　precise　outline　of　a　horseshoe。　Istelyn　could　even　see　the　prints　of　the　nails　which　had　held　the　shoe　in　place。
〃That　one　looks　much　worse　than　it　is；〃　Dhugal　said；　brushing　the　bruise　lightly　with　his　right　hand。　〃Which　is　not　to　say　it　doesn't　hurt；　or　that　I　won't　limp　for　a　while；　but　at　least　I　didn't　break　my　leg。　If　they'll　give　you　bandages；　or　if　something　can　be　improvised；　I　need　you　to　bind　my　chest。　Without　support；　even　breathing　can　be　an　agony　if　I　move　the　wrong　way。　And　coughing　…　〃
As　Dhugal　braced　both　hands　over　his　ribcage　to　draw　a　deeper　breath　carefully；　Istelyn　looked　alarmed。
〃You　haven't　punctured　a　lung；　have　you？〃
Dhugal　shook　his　head　and　winced　as　he　pulled　the　furs　back　up　to　his　waist。　〃I　don't　think　so。　I'm　not　coughing　blood。　I'd　give　a　lot　for　a　good　night's　sleep；　though。〃
〃Loris　said　I　might　have　medical　supplies；〃　Istelyn　said。　〃Perhaps　they'll　have　something　to　help　you　sleep。　What　about　your　head？　Any　actual　wounds？〃
Dhugal　flinched　as　the　bishop　pulled　the　bandage　from　his　head　and　began　probing　gently　beneath　the　reddish　hair。
〃No　…　and　I　don't　think　I've　missed　any　fractures。　It's　just　the　headaches；　and　they're　letting　up。〃
〃All　right。〃　Istelyn　managed　a　shaky　smile　as　he　rose　and　glanced　apprehensively　at　the　door。　〃Let's　see　whether　Loris　meant　what　he　said　about　medical　supplies。〃
An　hour　later；　bundled　in　a　cloak　against　the　cold；　Dhugal　was　sitting　gingerly　in　a　chair　beside　the　fire　and　feeling　more　fortable　than　he　had　since　before　his　capture。　So　long　as　he　did　not　breathe　too　deeply；　the　bandages　Istelyn　had　bound　around　his　chest　gave　him　enough　support　so　that　his　ribs　no　longer　hurt　beyond　a　dull　ache　…　and　that　was　fast　receding　as　he　sipped　at　the　cup　of　wine　he　had　directed　Istelyn　to　prepare。
〃This　should　make　me　sleep　at　least　through　the　night；〃　he　told　the　bishop；　as　he　took　another　swallow　of　the　drugged　wine　and　let　the　bitter　undertaste　roll　over　the　back　of　his　tongue。　〃If　they'll　let　you　have　more；　I　want　you　to　keep　me　sedated　for　at　least　another　day　and　night　beyond　that。　I　don't　like　leaving　myself　so　vulnerable；　but　unfortunately　sleep　and　rest　are　still　the　best　treatments　I　know　for　head　injuries　like　mine。〃　He　sighed　dismally。　〃It's　too　bad　Kelson　isn't　here。　He　could　…　？〃
He　broke　off　and　glanced　at　the　bishop　furtively　as　he　realized　what　he　had　almost　said；　afraid　even　a　veiled　reference　to　the　king's　newfound　powers　might　offend　the　human　Istelyn。　To　his　horror；　Istelyn　seemed　to　know　exactly　what　he　had　been　about　to　say。
〃He　could　do　what？〃　the　bishop　asked。　〃Help　you　in　some　way　with　his　magic？〃
Dhugal　swallowed　audibly；　trying　to　stay　on　guard。　The　drug　was　loosening　his　tongue　as　well　as　damping　the　pain。　Istelyn　seemed　trustworthy；　but　this　was　hardly　the　time　to　begin　so　controversial　a　discussion　with　a　man　whose　sympathies　were　unknown。
〃I　…　don't　want　to　offend　you。　Excellency；　but　most　clergy　aren't　altogether　tolerant　of　…　ah　…　magic。　Please　forget　I　said　anything。〃
〃Ah；　then　his　magic　frightens　you。〃
〃I　…　I'd　rather　not　talk　about　it；〃　Dhugal　whispered；　feeling　trapped。
Istelyn　cocked　his　head；　then　glanced　back　at　the　closed　door　before　leaning　closer　to　Dhugal。
〃Why　not？〃　he　asked。　〃You　spoke　of　the　king　with　affection　and　familiarity；　as　if　you　were　his　friend。　Do　you　think　there's　something　wrong　with　his　…　ah　…　let's　call　them　'talents；'　if　you　don't　like　the　term　'magic；'　shall　we？〃
〃It　isn't　that；〃　Dhugal　murmured。
〃Is　it　that　you　aren't　sure　of　me；　then？〃　Istelyn　persisted。　〃You've　already　trusted　me　with　your　life。〃
〃That　trust　is　mine　to　give；　Kelson's　isn't。〃
〃I　can　appreciate　that。〃
The　bishop's　eyes　did　not　leave　Dhugal's　as　he　sipped　at　his　wine　…　which　made　Dhugal　increasingly　anxious　…　　but　after　a　few　seconds　the　man　sighed　and　gave　a　tiny　smile；　raising　his　cup　in　resigned　salute。
〃I　don't　blame　you　for　trying　to　shield　the　king；　son；　but　why　don't　you　let　me　tell　you　how　I　feel　about　him？　I　can't　prove　that　I'm　telling　the　truth；　but　you're　smart　enough　to　judge　for　yourself。　I　wasn't　present　at　Dhassa　when　Loris　and　the　rebel　bishops　split　off　from　the　Curia；　but　I　sided　with　the　king　as　soon　as　I　learned　of　it。　I　was　with　his　army　at　Dol　Shaia。　It　was　I　who　had　to　bring　him　the　news　that　Loris　had　exmunicated　him　and　placed　the　kingdom　under　Interdict。〃
He　sighed　again；　then　went　on。　〃Now　I've　put　myself　on　the　line　again　where　His　Majesty　is　concerned。　Loris　wants　me　to　help　him　consecrate　Judhael　of　Meara　a　bishop。　I've　refused；　and　he'll　probably　kill　me　for　it。　I　swear　by　all　I　hold　sacred　that　I'm　not　lying；　Dhugal。　I　don't　care　that　the　king's　Deryni　…　not　the　way　Loris　does；　at　any　rate。　It　seems　to　me　that　Kelson's　done　only　good　with　his　powers。　Or　are　you　going　to　try　to　tell　me　differently？〃
〃Of　course　not。〃
Dhugal　looked　away　into　the　flickering　flames　and　made　himself　take　another　swallow　of　the　drugged　wine；　even　though　he　knew　it　would　make　him　only　more　vulnerable　to　the　bishop's　questioning。　He　believed　Istelyn。　And　even　if　the　bishop　were　no　better　than　the　others　ensconced　here　at　Ratharkin；　it　could　do　little　further　harm　to　Kelson's　already　checquered　reputation　for　Dhugal　to　report　that　he　had　seen　the　king　put　an　injured　man　to　sleep　with　magic。　Far　worse　had　been　alleged　in　the　past　two　years；　and　by　far　more　important　people　than　a　fifteen…year…old　border　lord。
〃About　a　fortnight　ago。　Kelson　rode　out　from　Culdi　to　pay　a　surprise　visit　on　one　of　his　local　barons；〃　Dhugal　said　carefully。　〃It　was　Brice　of　Trurill。　Trurill　borders　on　Transha　lands；　so　I　was　riding　with　a　Trurill　patrol。〃　He　grimaced。　〃That's　another　story。　Those　same　men；　including　the　baron　himself；　were　the　escort　that　met　Loris　when　he　landed　on　the　coast　near　my　father's　castle；　hardly　a　week　later。　They're　probably　still　here　in　Rhatharkin。〃
〃Brice　of　Trurill　supports　Loris？〃
Istelyn　sounded　genuinely　surprised　and　shocked；　which　reassured　Dhugal。
〃Aye。　It　was　Brice　himself　who　captured　me。　He　had　the　audacity　to　hold　a　blade　to　my　throat。〃
At　Istelyn's　low　whistle　under　his　breath；　Dhugal　took　another　pull　at　his　wine；　making　a　face　at　the　increasingly　bitter　taste　as　he　got　closer　to　the　bottom。　He　could　feel　himself　being　more　and　more　detached　as　the　drug　gently　entered　his　system。
〃Anyway；　when　the　king　met　us　a　fortnight　ago；　we　were　in　the　middle　of　routing　a　band　of　brigands　who'd　been　stealing　sheep。〃　He　paused　to　yawn。　〃Afterward；　it　was　my　job　to　patch　up　the　wounded。　One　of　our　lads　was　in　a　pretty　bad　way。　Kelson　…　put　him　to　sleep　so　I　could　work　on　him。　It　was　like　a　miracle。〃
Istelyn's　eyes　had　grown　as　round　as　the　moon　at　full。
〃Did　he　heal　him；　then？
〃No。　He　only　laid　his　hand　on　his　forehead　and　made　him　go　to　sleep。　He　says　that　General　Morgan　and　Father　Duncan　can　heal　sometimes；　though。〃　Dhugal　forced　himself　to　look　Istelyn　in　the　eyes。　〃That　can't　be　wrong　either；　can　it。　Excellency？〃
〃No；〃　Istelyn　whispered。　〃No；　son；　I　don't　see　how　it　could　be。〃
The　bishop　seemed　troubled　by　his　question；　however；　and　soon　rose　to　seek　the　fort　of　prayer。　Kneeling　at　a　prie…dieu　set　in　one　of　the　window　embrasures；　he　signed　himself；　then　bowed　his　head　in　his　hands　and　was　still。　Dhugal　stared　after　him　for　several　minutes；　forming　a　prayer　in　his　own　mind　that　Istelyn　was　what　he　appeared；　but　when　he　caught　himself　starting　to　nod　off；　he　drained　the　last　of　his　wine　and　lowered　himself　gingerly　to　his　pallet　once　more；　grimacing　at　the　bitterness　of　the　dregs。
It　was　being　harder　and　harder　to　concentrate　with　the　full　dose　of　the　sedative　in　him；　but　as　he　settled　himself　under　the　sleeping　furs；　he　tried　to　think　of　ways　to　better　his　situation　when　he　awoke。　He　wondered　vaguely　whether　Kelson　knew　yet　of　his　capture。
Not　that　there　was　much　hope　Kelson　could　do　anything　about　it。　The　fate　of　one　man　balanced　ill　against　that　of　an　entire　realm。　But　perhaps　Dhugal　could　find　a　way　to　help　himself；　once　he　had　regained　some　of　his　strength。
That　they　regarded　him　as　a　valuable　hostage　was　apparent；　not　only　from　the　fact　that　they　had　taken　him　in　the　first　place　but　from　his　continued　treatment　since　arriving　in　Ratharkin。　Had　his　usefulness　ended　once　they　were　safely　out　of　Transha；　they　would　have　cut　his　throat　long　ago。　He　also　recalled　some　reference　to　wanting　his　support　when　they　reunited　Transha　with　old　？？？？？　…　an　unthinkable　defection　for　one　loyal　to　the　king　…　but　perhaps　that　meant　that　no　one　was　aware　of　his　renewed　friendship　with　Kelson。　Nor　was　anyone　likely　to　connect　the　young　Master　of　Transha　with　the　then　second　son　of　Transha's　chief　who　had　served　at　King　Brion's　court　as　a　page。
Also　in　DhugaFs　favor　was　his　boyish　appearance。　Given　anything　approaching　luck；　he　thought　he　might　play　on　that　to　convince　them　that　he　was　as　naive　and　pliable　as　he　looked　…　a　mistake　even　Istelyn　had　made　at　first。　It　was　a　dangerous　game；　but　if　he　could　play　it　well；　he　might　mislead　them　enough　to　lower　their　guard。　Then　he　could　escape　to　warn　Kelson。
He　was　thinking　of　ways　that　might　be　acplished　as　he