kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第32部分

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mply　explained　as　'Second　Sight；'　or　'fey'？　My　mother　didn't　know；　after　all。〃
〃That's　what　she　said；〃　Morgan　replied。　〃I'm　sure　she　at　least　suspected；　however。　And　there　was　certainly　no　doubt　in　my　mind　what　she　was；　when　I　threatened　to　read　her　and　she　backed　off。　But　nothing　in　your　contact　with　Dhugal　points　to　anything　but　shields。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　wish　I　could　give　you　better　answers。　I　suppose　that's　one　of　the　disadvantages　of　getting　one's　training　in　bits　and　snippets　the　way　Duncan　and　I　did。　Arilan　might　know　better　what　to　do；　but　…　〃
〃But　you　don't　wholly　trust　him；〃　Kelson　finished。
Morgan　shrugged。　〃You've　seen　his　attitude。　Do　you　trust　him？　In　spite　of　everything　that's　gone　on　between　us；　he　never　lets　go　of　the　fact　that　Duncan　and　I　are　only　halfDeryni。　Maybe　his　precious　Camberian　Council　won't　let　him　forget　it　…　though　he　seems　to　set　that　aside　in　your　case。〃
〃They　see　me　in　a　different　light；〃　Kelson　said　quietly。　〃I'm　…　not　supposed　to　talk　about　it。〃
〃You　mean　you've　had　contact　with　them？〃　Morgan　asked；　surprised。
〃Not　with　the　Council　as　a　whole；　but　individuals　have　made　overtures。〃　The　king　lowered　his　eyes。　〃It　isn't　for　me　to　say　anything　further　yet。　Please　don't　press　me　for　details。〃
Morgan　longed　to　do　just　that；　for　this　was　the　first　he'd　heard　of　any　such　contact；　but　he　forced　himself　to　push　curiosity　aside　and　instead　flung　himself　down　in　a　chair　beside　the　fire。　If　the　Council　had　been　making　overtures；　if　only　to　Kelson；　that　was　a　positive　step　for　them。　He　must　do　nothing　to　jeopardize　the　possible　dialogue。
〃Very　well。　I　shan't　belabor　the　issue。　I'm　glad　to　hear　that　something's　happening　in　that　regard；　at　any　rate。〃
Kelson　nodded　idly；　leaning　both　hands　against　one　of　the　finials　on　the　back　of　Morgan's　chair。　From　his　expression；　Morgan　wondered　whether　he'd　heard　a　word　he'd　said。
〃Morgan；　have　you　ever　done　any　scrying？〃　the　king　asked　after　a　few　more　seconds。
〃What　do　you　want　to　scry　for？〃
〃Dhugal；　of　course。　Have　you？〃
〃In　a　manner　of　speaking。　I've　worked　visualizations　using　a　shiral　crystal；　though　I　doubt　that's　quite　the　same。　One　usually　needs　something　belonging　to　the　person　one　wants　to　scry　about。　Do　you　have　something　of　Dhugal's？〃
〃Not　really　…　wait　a　moment。　Yes；　I　do。〃
He　went　to　a　small　casket　set　on　a　table　beside　his　bed　and　rummaged　inside　for　several　seconds；　finally　returning　with　a　short　length　of　black　silk　ribbon。
〃I　borrowed　this　when　I　was　at　Transha；〃　the　king　said；　perching　on　the　arm　of　Morgan's　chair　and　offering　it　for　his　inspection。　〃Is　it　enough？〃
〃It　might　be。〃　Morgan　let　the　ribbon　trail　across　his　hand　and　gave　it　a　tentative　probe；　but　he　could　detect　nothing　special　about　it。　〃I　don't　suppose　you　have　a　shiral　crystal？〃
Kelson's　face　fell。　〃No；　do　we　need　one？　Don't　you　have　one？〃
〃Not　in　Rhemuth。〃　Morgan　sighed。　〃However；　it's　said　not　to　be　impossible　without　one。〃　He　cocked　his　head　at　Kelson。　〃You're　sure　you　want　to　do　this？〃
〃Morgan。。。〃
〃All　right。　I　can't　promise　any　results；　though。　All　you　may　get　out　of　it　is　a　splitting　headache。〃
〃I'll　take　that　chance。〃
〃And　if　he's　dead？〃
Kelson　ducked　his　head；　tight…lipped　and　all　but　blinking　back　tears；　and　Morgan　instantly　regretted　his　blunt…ness。
〃I'm　sorry；　my　prince；〃　he　whispered；　giving　the　king's　arm　an　awkward　pat　as　he　drew　a　breath　and　got　to　his　feet。　〃That　was　tactless　of　me。　Change　places　with　me　and　we'll　give　it　a　try。　I　didn't　mean　to　feed　your　fears。〃
Kelson　did　not　look　at　him　as　he　obeyed；　nor　did　he　answer。　He　sensed　Morgan's　awkwardness；　and　that　the　Deryni　lord　understood　how　frightened　he　really　was　for　Dhugal's　sake。　Morgan　sat　gingerly　on　the　right　arm　of　the　chair　facing　him　and　took　his　nearer　wrist　as　soon　as　he　had　settled；　twining　an　end　of　the　tightly　clutched　ribbon　through　his　own　fingers。
〃Let's　use　the　flames　as　your　first　focus；〃　Morgan　said　softly；　himself　locking　on　the　king's　eyes。　〃Let　yourself　slip　into　trance　and　stare　into　the　fire。　I'll　not　share　your　vision；　but　feel　free　to　pull　energy　from　me　as　you　begin　to　build　an　image　of　Dhugal　in　the　shifting　patterns　of　light　and　dark。　Draw　on　his　essence　that　remains　in　the　ribbon　and　start　to　reach　out　across　the　miles　and　See　him。　Let　your　eyes　unfocus。　That's　right。　Use　the　flames　as　a　background　for　your　Vision；　but　know　that　the　flames　themselves　are　not　your　goal。　See　Dhugal　as　you　last　saw　him；　and　now　bring　that　image　forward　in　time。　Let　yourself　flow　with　it。　Good。。。〃
Kelson　did　his　best　to　follow　Morgan's　instructions；　extending　his　mind　through　the　length　of　black　silk　between　his　fingers　as　his　eyes　gazed　at　and　through　the　flames；　but　his　own　fears　hampered　his　concentration。　He　could　feel　the　support　of　Morgan's　power　augmenting　his　own　as　he　sought　the　captive　Dhugal；　but　he　was　never　sure　he　made　a　real　contact。　His　head　ached　as　he　came　out　of　trance；　and　it　hurt　to　breathe。
〃Nothing；〃　Morgan　guessed；　taking　the　ribbon　from　his　fingers　as　Kelson　forced　himself　back　to　equilibrium。
Kelson　shook　his　head　dispiritedly。　〃I　can't　tell。　I　really　do　think　I'd　know　if　he　were　dead　…　but　I　couldn't　separate　out　anything　else　that　I'm　sure　was　Dhugal。　Maybe　we　needed　a　shiral　after　all。〃
〃Perhaps。〃
Despite　their　failure　to　locate　any　tangible　clue　to　Dhugal's　whereabouts。　Kelson　became　convinced　in　the　next　hour　that　Dhugal　almost　had　to　be　in　Ratharkin　…　　and　with　Loris。
〃And　if　that's　what's　happened；　Istelyn　is　in　danger；　too；〃　Kelson　reasoned。　〃Morgan；　we've　got　to　help　them。〃
〃You　mean；　go　to　Ratharkin？〃
〃Well；　we　might　be　able　to　surprise　them。　How　strong　can　Loris　be？〃
But　reason　prevailed　where　sheer　emotion　might　have　won　out；　for　Morgan　reminded　the　king　of　the　prisoner　due　from　Transha；　who　might　be　able　to　shed　a　great　deal　more　light　on　the　situation。　Loris　might　not　have　been　headed　for　Ratharkin。　Kelson　reluctantly　agreed　to　delay　any　decision　until　the　prisoner　arrived　and　had　been　questioned；　but　he　slept　only　fitfully　for　what　remained　of　the　night；　despite　the　rain　drumming　against　the　mullioned　windows。
The　rain　continued　without　cease　through　the　morning；　delaying　the　arrival　of　the　expected　prisoner　until　early　afternoon。　At　Kelson's　order；　the　drenched　and　shivering　bordermen　who　had　brought　him　whisked　their　prize　directly　to　a　private　withdrawing　chamber；　before　anyone　at　court　even　got　a　close　look　at　him。　Only　Morgan；　Duncan；　and　Nigel　were　invited　to　attend　the　king。
〃Someone　give　him　a　dry　cloak；〃　Kelson　said；　as　the　bordermen　half…pushed　and　half…dragged　their　charge　to　a　chair　Kelson　indicated　by　the　fire。　〃Mind　his　arm。〃
The　strain　of　the　ride　from　Transha　showed　in　the　prisoner's　every　move　as　he　collapsed　into　the　chair　before　the　fire；　bracing　his　bandaged　forearm　against　his　chest。　The　man　did　not　protest　as　Duncan　removed　his　own　cloak　and　laid　it　around　his　shivering　shoulders；　perhaps　taking　fort　from　his　benefactor's　priestly　garb；　but　he　showed　an　instant's　panic　when　Kelson　dismissed　the　guards　and　Nigel　closed　the　door　behind　them。　The　eyes　beneath　the　warrior's　shock　of　close…cropped　hair　mirrored　suspicion　and　uncertainty　along　with　physical　disfort。
〃I　claim　benefit　of　clergy；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely；　his　glance　darting　nervously　among　the　four　of　them。　〃You　have　no　authority　to　try　me。〃
Kelson　leaned　an　arm　along　the　mantel　and　studied　his　captive　with　a　mixture　of　curiosity　and　anticipation。
〃I　don't　intend　to　try　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　simply　plan　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。　Father　Duncan；　do　you　suppose　you　and　Morgan　might　be　able　to　do　something　about　his　injury？〃
The　two　names　triggered　the　expected　response　…　　Kelson　had　been　fairly　certain　their　prisoner　did　not　know　Morgan　or　Duncan　by　sight。　As　Duncan　bestirred　himself　to　reach　toward　the　bandaged　arm；　Morgan　approaching　him　from　the　other　side；　the　man　shrank　back　in　his　chair。
〃Stay　away？〃　He　did　his　best　to　watch　both　of　them　at　once　and　fend　off　Duncan　with　his　one　good　hand。　〃Don't　touch　me！　I　want　no　Deryni　sorcerers　…　〃
Before　he　could　decide　who　was　the　greater　threat；　Morgan　glided　in　slightly　from　behind　and　clamped　the　desperately　swiveling　head　between　his　hands；　extending　control。
〃Don't　fight　me；〃　he　ordered；　sounding　almost　bored　as　hands　and　mind　pelled　obedience。　〃It　isn't　going　to　do　any　good。　And　if　you　relax　and　cooperate；　we　may　even　be　able　to　make　you　a　little　more　fortable。〃
The　man's　struggles　subsided　jerkily；　much　against　his　will；　and　his　free　hand　fell　away　as　Duncan　began　unwrapping　the　splinted　arm。　He　winced　as　the　priest's　sensitive　fingers　brushed　the　angry…looking　flesh　over　the　broken　forearm；　his　body　arching　with　new　pain　as　Duncan　encased　the　damaged　area　between　his　two　hands。
〃What　are　you　doing？　No　magic！　No！　Please　don't！〃
At　Duncan's　nod；　Morgan　drew　his　controls　tighter　and　pushed　the　man　into　unconsciousness；　shifting　one　hand　to　cover　Duncan's　two　as　he　reached　for　the　healing　mode　he　and　his　cousin　now　achieved　with　increasing　reliability。　Building　the　rapport　with　Duncan；　he　felt　himself　sinking　into　that　odd；　other…wordly　sensation　which　he　had　e　to　associate　with　the　rogue　healing　talent　…　and　felt　the　fleeting；　familiar　press　of　Another's　hands　a