kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第31部分

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guard。　Then　he　could　escape　to　warn　Kelson。
He　was　thinking　of　ways　that　might　be　acplished　as　he　finally　abandoned　himself　to　sleep。　Unexpectedly；　he　dreamed　not　of　Kelson　but　of　his　father；　and　a　lone　MacArdry　piper　skirling　a　lament　atop　a　snow…covered　hill。


CHAPTER　NINE
But　thou；　mastering　thy　power；　Judgest　with　equity；　and　orderest　us　with　
great　favor：　for　thou　mayest　use　power　when　thou　wilt。
Wisdom　of　Solomon　12：18
Ciard　O　Ruane；　the　advance　messenger　from　Clan　MacArdry；　arrived　in　Rhemuth　late　the　following　afternoon；　stunning　the　court　with　his　doubly　woeful　news。
〃The　young　laird　does　n？？　know　about　his　father；　m'lord；〃　the　man　concluded；　nodding　exhausted　thanks　to　a　young　page　who　handed　him　a　full　tankard。　〃That's　assuming　he's　still　alive　himself；　of　course。〃
The　intimation　that　Dhugal　might　not　be　alive　was　like　a　blow　to　Kelson。　Before　that　instant；　he　had　not　allowed　himself　even　to　consider　the　possibility。　Shuttering　down　the　shadow　of　fear　that　flickered　at　the　back　of　his　eyes；　the　king　glanced　to　Morgan　and　Duncan　for　reassurance；　his　fingers　tightening　viselike　on　the　arms　of　his　throne。
〃He　has　to　be　alive；〃　he　murmured；　almost　to　himself。　〃I　know　he　is！　Ciard；　you're　sure　it　was　Trurill's　men　who　took　him？〃
The　gillie　gave　a　deprecating　flourish　with　one　hand　as　he　took　a　long　pull　at　his　ale。　If　his　own　son　had　been　taken；　he　could　not　have　been　more　devastated。
〃We　hae　ridden　wi'　those　men　all　summer；　sair。　D'ye　think　I　would　n？？　recognize　them？　It　were　the　Laird　Brice　himself　wha'　had　my　young　master　o'er　his　saddlebow。〃
〃And　this　prisoner　that's　ing　is　a　priest？〃
〃Aye；　m'lord。　And　an　impertinent　an'　close…mouthed　rascal　he　is；　too。　But　Caball　has　warned　him　he'll　sing　for　ye！〃
〃And　I'll　wager　I　can　tell　you　at　least　one　of　the　things　he'll　sing；〃　Morgan　murmured　so　that　only　Kelson　could　hear；　as　laughter　tinged　with　menace　rippled　through　the　chamber。
〃What's　that？〃
〃That　Loris　was　one　of　the　men　Trurill　was　escorting。　Remember；　Jodrell　told　us　he'd　land　on　the　coast。〃
〃That　isn't　funny；　Morgan　…　even　in　jest；〃　Kelson　whispered。
〃Do　you　really　think　I'd　jest　about　a　thing　like　this？〃　Morgan　returned。　〃Watch　the　priest　confirm　that　it's　Loris。　Who　else　would　dare　to　call　you　a　heretic　king？　And　if　you　want　my　guess；　they're　headed　for　Ratharkin；　just　as　we　suspected。　It's　on　a　direct　line　from　Carcashale　and　the　coast　where　they　landed；　and　the　landing　itself　was　a　day…and…a…half's　sail　from　Saint　Iveagh's。〃
Only　the　knowledge　of　the　prisoner　on　the　way；　surely　to　arrive　in　the　next　twenty…four　hours；　kept　Kelson　from　ordering　their　departure　for　Ratharkin　then　and　there。　He　was　snappish　and　preoccupied　by　turns　all　through　dinner；　inwardly　mourning　old　Caulay　even　as　he　fretted　about　Caulay's　son；　and　let　his　anger　build　against　Loris。
〃You're　right；　it　has　to　be　Loris；〃　he　told　Morgan　later　that　evening；　after　Duncan　had　excused　himself　to　confer　with　the　other　bishops　and　Nigel　had　retired　for　some　much　needed　sleep。　〃I　hold　him　personally　to　blame　for　Caulay's　death。　And　if　Dhugal　…　〃
He　would　not　let　himself　finish　the　thought；　shaking　his　head　in　fierce　denial　as　he　leaned　both　elbows　on　the　mantel　and　stared　down　into　the　crackling　fire。　Morgan；　looking　out　over　Rhemuth's　rain…slick　rooftops　from　a　window　embrasure；　glanced　sharply　at　the　king；　then　returned　his　gaze　to　the　darkness　outside。　His　breath　had　misted　the　blurred　grey　glass；　and　he　burnished　a　clear　spot　with　his　fingertip　to　peer　outside　once　more。　If　it　was　raining　this　hard　on　the　Gwynedd　plain；　then　Meara　was　probably　experiencing　heavy　snow。
〃Brice　of　Trurill's　defection　hurts；　too；〃　Kelson　said　after　a　moment；　breaking　into　Morgan's　more　practical　introspections。　〃I　was　going　to　visit　him　…　I'm　sure　I　would　have　seen　the　signs　if　I　had　…　but　I　let　personal　pleasure　call　me　from　my　duty。　I　never　should　have　gone　to　Transha　with　Dhugal。　Now　he's　been　taken　and　it's　all　my　fault。〃
〃It　isn't　your　fault；　and　if　you　insist　upon　blaming　yourself；　you're　only　going　to　make　yourself　less　effective。　What　possible　difference　could　your　visit　have　made？〃
〃I　still　should　have　gone　to　Trurill；〃　Kelson　said　stubbornly。　〃If　I　had　…　〃
〃If　you　had；　there's　no　guarantee　you　would　have　noticed　anything　was　wrong；〃　Morgan　interrupted。　〃You　may　be　Deryni；　but　you　aren't　omniscient。〃
〃I　recognize　treason　when　I　see　it！〃
〃From　our　perspective；　yes。　On　the　other　hand；　I　would　venture　to　guess　that　the　Mearans　see　what　they're　doing　as　patriotism。　After　all；　the　Mearans　regard　themselves　as　a　subjugated　people。　They　have　since　your　greatgrandfather　married　the　daughter　of　the　last　Mearan　prince。　If　Loris　has　found　supporters　in　Meara；　I　suspect　it's　because　he's　told　them　they're　crusaders　in　the　cause　of　a　free　Meara。〃
〃A　free　Meara？〃　Kelson's　savage　kick　at　the　nearest　log　on　the　fire　produced　a　shower　of　sparks。　〃Free　Meara　indeed！　Meara　has　never　been　free！　Before　my　greatgrandfather　wed　the　silly　Mearan　heiress　whose　marriage　was　supposed　to　resolve　all　of　this；　Meara　had　been　ruled　by　petty　warlords　and　despots　for　centuries。　Before　that；　it　was　no　more　civilized　than　The　Connait。〃
〃The　Connait；　whose　warriers　are　among　the　most　prized　mercenaries　in　the　known　world？〃　Morgan　asked。
Scowling；　Kelson　retreated　from　the　fire　and　stalked　across　the　room　to　join　Morgan　in　the　window　embrasure。
〃You　know　what　I　mean。　Don't　confuse　me　with　fine　points　of　distinction。〃
〃It　isn't　my　intention　to　confuse　you　with　anything；　my　prince；〃　Morgan　replied　patiently。　〃The　point　is　…　〃
〃The　point　is　that　Loris　is　in　Meara；　stirring　up　dissention　…　maybe　even　spearheading　a　civil　rebellion；　for　all　we　know　…　and　winter　is　setting　in　and　there　isn't　a　bloody　lot　I　can　do　about　it　until　the　spring。〃
〃There　is　also　the　point　that　Loris　has　one　of　your　closest　friends　to　hostage；〃　Morgan　said　softly。　〃And　you　would　be　far　less　the　man　I　have　e　to　love　and　respect　if　you　were　not　deeply　concerned　over　his　fate。〃
Kelson　lowered　his　eyes；　the　gentle　rebuke　well　taken。
〃He　really　is　like　a　brother；　Alaric；〃　he　said　softly。　〃He's　far　closer　than　my　cousins。　He's　…　almost　as　close　as　you；　if　you　were　my　age　…　or　Duncan。　He　even　…　〃
As　he　broke　off　and　drew　cautious　breath；　shifting　his　unfocused　gaze　to　the　fogged　window　between　them；　Morgan　raised　an　eyebrow。
〃He　even　what；　my　prince？〃
〃Dhugal；〃　the　king　murmured。　〃Sweet　Jesu；　I'd　forgotten　to　mention　it　to　you。〃　He　glanced　at　Morgan　sheepishly。　〃Do　you　remember　that　night　you　contacted　me　in　Transha；　and　how　I　had　to　break　off　suddenly　because　Dhugal　was　panicking？〃
〃Of　course。〃
〃Well；　it　wasn't　wholly　my　idea。　Dhugal　pushed　us　out　of　the　link　…　with　shields。〃
〃Shields？　But　that's　impossible。　He　isn't　Deryni。〃
〃Then　what　is　he？〃　Kelson　countered。　〃He's　certainly　got　shields　a　lot　like　ours。　He　can't　lower　them；　though。〃
〃He　can't　…　〃　Morgan　broke　off　and　forced　himself　to　take　a　deep；　steadying　breath；　putting　out　of　mind　the　increased　danger　to　Dhugal　if　he　were　Deryni　and　in　Loris'　hands；　and　Loris　found　out。
〃He　has　shields；　but　he　can't　lower　them；〃　Morgan　repeated　more　calmly；　glancing　back　at　Kelson。　〃Are　you　sure？〃
〃I　tried　to　read　him。　I　couldn't　get　through。　All　I　did　was　give　him　a　demon　of　a　headache。　And　it　hurt　him；　Alaric。　It　isn't　supposed　to　hurt。〃
〃No；　it　isn't；〃　Morgan　murmured。
After　a　few　seconds；　he　shook　his　head　and　set　his　hands　on　Kelson's　shoulders。
〃I　want　you　to　show　me　exactly　what　you　did　and　saw　and　felt；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　hold　back　a　thing；　even　the　pain。　This　could　be　very　important。〃
Breathing　out　with　a　sigh。　Kelson　let　his　hands　fall　to　his　sides　and　closed　his　eyes；　willing　the　familiar　channels　to　open。　He　would　not　have　thought　of　arguing。　Morgan's　touch　on　his　forehead　plunged　him　at　once　into　rapport；　the　link　unclouded　by　any　separation　of　miles　or　differences　of　intent。　He　took　Morgan　at　his　word　and　sent　the　undiluted　memory　surging　across　the　link　in　the　space　of　a　few　heartbeats；　not　letting　up　even　when　Morgan　gasped　and　staggered　under　the　intensity。　Morgan　looked　a　little　dazed　even　after　he　withdrew。
〃I　don't　think　I've　ever　felt　anything　like　that；〃　Morgan　murmured；　focusing　with　an　effort。　〃I　still　don't　understand。　You　should　have　been　able　to　read　him。〃
〃Maybe　he　has　something　like　my　Haldane　gifts；〃　said　Kelson。　〃Some　potential　for　Derynilike　abilities。　Or　maybe　he's　like　Warm　de　Grey。〃
Morgan　shook　his　head；　voicing　his　thoughts　aloud　as　he　wandered　in　the　direction　of　the　fireplace。
〃No；　his　shields　have　a。。。　a　flavor；　for　want　of　a　better　word；　that's　quite　different　from　Warm；　who　has　shields　and　can　even　heal；　but　definitely　isn't　one　of　us。〃
〃Then；　maybe　he's　fey；〃　Kelson　quipped；　biting　back　a　chuckle。　〃He　said　he　was　…　Dhugal；　I　mean。　He　says　hill　people　have　the　Second　Sight　…　whatever　that　is。〃　He　paused　a　beat。　〃Why　couldn't　he　be　Deryni；　Alaric？　If　the　strain　had　e　into　his　family　several　generations　ago　…　perhaps　during　the　worst　of　the　persecutions　…　　mightn't　there　be　descendants　who　had　no　idea　what　they　were；　whose　occasional　odd　quirks　of　talent　were　simply　explained　as　'Second　Sight；'　or　'fey'？　My　mother　didn't　know；　after　all。〃
〃That's　what　she　sa