kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第33部分

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associate　with　the　rogue　healing　talent　…　and　felt　the　fleeting；　familiar　press　of　Another's　hands　atop　his　own　as　the　connection　was　made　and　the　bones　began　to　knit　beneath　their　touch。　He　withdrew　when　the　healing　was　plete；　blinking　and　partially　releasing　control　to　let　their　patient　regain　consciousness。
〃No；〃　the　man　murmured　weakly；　as　his　eyes　fluttered　open。　〃No　magic；　please。。。〃
〃It's　a　little　late　for　that；〃　Morgan　replied；　settling　on　a　stool　that　Nigel　pushed　closer；　so　he　could　keep　one　hand　casually　on　the　man's　shoulder　for　future　control。　〃Suppose　you　tell　us　your　name　now。〃
Dazed；　the　man　flexed　the　fingers　of　his　sword　arm　and　rubbed　where　the　break　had　been；　glancing　furtively　at　Duncan；　not　daring　to　look　at　Morgan　or　acknowledge　the　Deryni　hand　still　resting　on　his　shoulder。
〃You　…　healed　me；〃　he　whispered　reproachfully。
〃Yes；　they　healed　you；〃　Kelson　replied；　looking　a　little　disgusted。　〃You're　not　contaminated；　you　know。　Answer　the　question。　Who　are　you？〃
The　man　swallowed　with　difficulty。　〃I　still　claim　benefit　of　clergy；〃　he　said　weakly。　〃I　…　〃
〃The　only　benefit　of　clergy　that　you're　going　to　receive　right　now；〃　Nigel　said　pointedly；　〃is　the　fact　that　Monsigner　McLain　is　here　to　witness　your　interrogation。　Now　answer　your　king's　question。〃
As　the　man　set　his　lips　in　a　thin；　defiant　line　and　started　to　shake　his　head；　Morgan　exchanged　a　glance　with　Kelson　and　extended　control　again；　imposing　the　pulsions　of　Truth…Saying。
〃Tell　us　your　name；〃　he　said　patiently。
〃Nevan　d'Estrelldas；〃　the　man　replied；　his　eyes　widening　as　the　words　tumbled　from　his　lips　despite　his　intention　to　keep　silent。
〃D'Estrelldas？〃　Kelson　repeated；　glancing　at　Duncan　in　surprised　question　as　Duncan；　too；　started。　〃That's　an　unusual　name　…　Bremagni；　isn't　it？〃
Duncan　nodded；　pursing　his　Ups　in　grim　suspicion。　〃It　is　also　the　name　of　one　of　the　itinerant　bishops　working　in　Kierney；　isn't　it；　Nevan？〃
Nevan　nodded；　again　much　against　his　will；　and　Duncan　scowled　even　harder。　Kelson　looked　astonished。
〃You　mean　this　man　is　one　of　our　bishops？〃
〃Unfortunately；　I　fear　he　is。　Sire；〃　Duncan　replied。　〃I　thought　he　looked　familiar。　I　wonder　how　many　other　bishops　Loris　has　managed　to　subvert。〃
〃Let's　see　if　he　knows；〃　Morgan　said；　turning　pale　eyes　on　his　subject　and　locking　his　attention。　〃You　are　Bishop　Nevan；　are　you　not？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Yes；　what？〃　Morgan　insisted；　touching　further　control。
Nevan　moistened　his　lips　and　inclined　his　head　in　unwilling　respect。
〃Yes；　Your　Grace。〃
〃That's　better。　And　as　a　bishop；　to　whom　do　you　feel　you　owe　your　obedience？〃
〃To　the　Bishop　of　Culdi。〃
〃Culdi？〃　Kelson　blurted；　glancing　from　Nevan　to　Duncan　in　dismay。　〃Does　that　mean　there　were　Culdi　men　with　those　of　Trurill？　Assisting　Loris　in　his　escape？〃
〃Only　one　question　at　a　time；　my　prince；〃　Morgan　reminded　him；　returning　his　attention　to　the　fidgeting　Nevan。　〃Remember　that　he's　very　literal…minded　in　this　state。　Bishop　Nevan；　are　you　saying　that　the　Bishop　of　Culdi　was　aware　of　the　escape　plans　of　Archbishop　Loris？〃
〃Yes；　Your　Grace。〃
〃I　see。　Did　he；　perhaps；　instigate　them？〃
〃No；　sir。〃
〃Someone　else　approached　him；　then；　with　a　proposition？〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃
〃Who　was　that？〃
〃I'm　not　sure。　Your　Grace。〃
〃Then；　who　do　you　think　approached　him？〃
Nevan　seemed　to　fight　the　response；　but　the　name　came　out　nonetheless。
〃Monsignor　Gorony；　Your　Grace。〃
〃Gorony！〃　Kelson　breathed。
With　a　glance；　Morgan　silenced　him　and　returned　his　attention　to　their　reluctant　informant。
〃Was　Monsignor　Gorony　in　your　pany；　then？〃　he　asked。
Nevan　nodded。
〃And　Brice　of　Trurill？〃
Again；　the　nod。
〃How　many　men？〃
Nevan　thought　a　moment。　〃Fourteen　now。〃
〃Because　you　were　taken？〃
〃Yes；　Your　Grace。〃
〃And　where　were　you　bound？〃　Kelson　asked。
〃Ratharkin；　Majesty。〃
〃For　what　purpose？〃
〃To　consecrate　the　Lord　Judhael　Bishop　of　Ratharkin。〃
〃Not　of　Meara？〃　Duncan　interjected。
〃No；　sir。〃
〃Why　not？〃
〃Meara　is　to　be　a　patriarchy　under　Bishop　Creoda。〃
〃Under　Creoda；〃　Morgan　repeated；　exchanging　glances　with　the　astonished　Kelson　and　Duncan。　〃And　Loris？〃
〃He　will　bee　Primate　again；　of　course。〃
〃Not　while　I　live　and　breathe；〃　Kelson　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃Tell　me　this；　then；　Nevan。　Does　Bishop　Creoda　owe　his　obedience　to　Loris　or　to　Bradene？〃
〃To　Archbishop　Loris；　Majesty。〃
〃And　there　are　other　bishops　who　feel　the　same　way？〃
Nevan　nodded　agreement。
〃How　many？〃
Nevan　thought　a　moment。　〃Six；　Majesty。〃
〃Six　besides　yourself　and　Creoda？〃
〃Yes；　Majesty。〃
〃And　I　suppose　you　know　who　they　are？〃
〃Yes；　Majesty。〃
〃Name　them。〃
〃Bel　…　〃　The　pattern　of　obedience　had　been　well　set；　but　Nevan　stopped　in　midsyllable；　fighting　the　mand。　Impatiently　Morgan　twitched　at　his　controls；　taking　up　just　a　fraction　more　of　Nevan's　ability　to　resist。
〃Name　the　other　bishops；　Nevan；〃　he　said　softly。　〃We　haven't　all　day。〃
The　eyes　closed；　but　the　lips　parted　once　more。
〃Belden；　Bishop　of　Cashien；　Lachlan；　Bishop　of　Ballymar；　and　the　four　itinerant　bishops；　Mir　de　Kierney；　Calder　of　Sheele；　Gilbert　Desmond；　and　Raymer　de　Valence。〃
〃And　he's　consecrating　Judhael　…　he'll　have　a　whole　rival　hierarchy！〃　Duncan　muttered。　〃Damn　his　impertinence。〃
〃His　impertinence　doesn't　bother　me　nearly　as　much　as　the　fact　that　he's　succeeding；〃　Kelson　said　grimly。　〃He　thinks　he's　scored　the　advantage；　that　there　isn't　a　thing　I　can　do　to　stop　him　until　the　spring。　Well；　maybe　he's　made　a　fatal　miscalculation。　Guards！〃

Kelson's　council　judged　that　their　king　was　making　a　fatal　miscalculation　at　first。
〃It's　sheerest　folly。　Sire；〃　Ewan　argued；　from　his　place　three　seats　down　from　the　king　at　the　council　table。　〃You　can't　hope　to　mount　a　successful　campaign　this　late　in　the　season！　It's　December；　for　God's　sake！〃
〃Which　is　precisely　why　I'm　going　now；〃　Kelson　replied。　〃They　won't　be　expecting　me。　Ratharkin　is　well　fortified；　but　I　won't　believe　the　citizenry　could　have　been　won　over　that　pletely　to　Loris'　leadership　already。　At　best；　he　probably　has　control　of　the　episcopal　forces　and　nominal　control　of　the　city。　A　show　of　royal　force；　especially　in　December；　when　he　thinks　I　can't　do　it；　may　be　sufficient　to　break　his　strength。〃
〃Perhaps　he　hasn't　even　gone　to　Ratharkin；〃　ventured　Saer　de　Traheme；　sitting　opposite　Ewan。　〃If　he　has　the　support　of　the　Mearan　Pretender；　he　may　be　heading　straight　for　Laas。〃
Kelson　shook　his　head。　〃No；　Nevan　said　Ratharkin。　Loris　has　episcopal　business　to　settle　before　he　takes　the　time　for　secular　politics。　And　I　have　a　bishop　in　Ratharkin　that　I've　sworn　to　protect。〃
〃And　you　also　have　a　friend　in　hostage　there。　Sire；　if　Loris　has　indeed　gone　to　Ratharkin；〃　Archbishop　Bradene　observed。　〃Might　that　not　be　clouding　your　judgment？〃
〃I　have　a　duty　to　protect　them　both。　Archbishop；〃　Kelson　replied。　〃And　Loris　must　not　be　allowed　to　gain　any　more　of　a　toehold　than　he　already　has。　I　shouldn't　have　to　lecture　you；　of　all　people；　about　Loris。〃
〃I　still　don't　like　it。　Sire；〃　said　Arilan；　who　had　already　made　it　quite　clear　what　else　he　did　not　like；　when　he　heard　of　the　manner　of　questioning　Nevan。　〃Loris　is　clever　…　〃
〃Even　if　he　has　Ratharkin　fully　garrisoned；　which　I　doubt；〃　Kelson　interrupted　pointedly；　〃he　does　not　have　sufficient　strengh　to　e　out　from　behind　the　city　walls　and　defeat　a　force　the　size　I　plan　to　bring。　We　would　have　heard　of　any　large　massing　of　troops。　Even　in　Laas；　there's　been　no　report　yet　of　anything　larger　than　a　household　guard。　At　worst；　it's　a　standoff　and　we　e　back　home。〃
〃I　can　think　of　worse。　Sire；〃　Cardiel　sighed；　〃but　be　that　as　it　may。　Perhaps　you're　right。　I　shall　pray　that　you　are。　But　suppose　that　you　aren't？　If　you　were　to　be　captured　or　killed　…　〃
〃If　it　will　ease　your　mind。　Archbishop；　then　be　assured　that　my　uncle　is　remaining　here　as　regent；〃　Kelson　answered。　〃If　anything　should　happen　to　me；　he　will　be　your　king　…　and　he　has　three　sons　to　succeed　him。〃
〃And　you　should　have　sons　to　succeed　you；〃　Ewan　muttered　petulantly；　〃before　you　go　charging　off　on　such　harebrained　ventures。〃
Kelson　grinned；　almost　glad　for　the　old　argument。
〃Don't　I　need　a　wife　for　that；　Ewan？〃　he　quipped。
〃Then　stay　home　an'　take　a　wife；　lad！〃　Ewan　returned。　〃Spend　the　winter　in　bed　with　a　bonnie　queen；　making　baims　…　not　dashin'　about　in　the　snow；　taking　on　rebel　archbishops　and　God　knows　what　else！　There'll　be　time　enough　in　the　spring　for　making　war。〃
Chuckling；　Kelson　motioned　Duncan　to　take　up　pen　and　parchment；　shaking　his　head　in　affection。
〃I　wish　I　could　stay　home；　Ewan。　Nothing　would　please　me　more。　Now；　I'll　need　the　household　troops；　Nigel　…　　and　gentlemen；　precisely　because　it　is　winter；　I'll　need　to　raid　each　of　your　personal　guard　units　to　augment　my　own。　I'll　want　a　hundred　knights；　lightly　mounted　for　maneuverability　and　speed；　and　the　minimum　support　force。　I'll　take　Morgan；　of　course；　and　Jodrell　and　Traheme；　the　rest　of　you　I'll　leave　to　begin　preparing　summons　of　array　for　the　spring；　in　case　this　doesn't　resolve　everything。　Duncan；　as　Duke　of　Cassan　I'd　take　you　as　well；　but　Nigel　may　need　your　good　offices　here　in　Rhemuth。〃
He　did　not　say　that　Duncan　would　also　be　his　Deryni　link　back　to　his　capital；　but　Arilan　seemed　to　sense　it。