kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第37部分

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d　on　his　horse　behind　and　to　Kelson's　left；　nodding　in　the　saddle。
〃He　has　to　be　alive；〃　Kelson　murmured；　so　low　that　even　Morgan　barely　could　hear　him。　〃He　has　to　be。　If　he　were　dead；　I'd　know　…　wouldn't　I？〃
〃I　honestly　don't　know；　my　prince。〃
〃But　we're　closer　now！〃　Kelson　protested。　〃If　he's　still　alive；　shouldn't　I　have　been　able　to　touch　something　during　the　night？　We　were　so　close　that　night　in　Transha。〃
〃Until　you　triggered　the　shutdown　of　his　shields；〃　Morgan　reminded　him　gently。　〃You　also　had　physical　contact　that　time　…　and　you　know　how　much　more　difficult　it　is　to　establish　rapport　without　it。　A　deliberate　shielding　…〃
〃It　isn't　deliberate。　Not　from　me。〃
〃Very　well　…　not　from　you。　But　if　he　is　shielded。。。　？〃
〃Are　you　saying　he　isn't？〃
Morgan　sighed　patiently。　〃Touchy　this　morning；　aren't　you？　Kelson；　I　haven't　even　seen　the　boy　since　he　was　…　　what？　…　nine　or　ten？　How　would　I　know？〃
Shaking　his　head。　Kelson　shrugged　again　dispiritedly。　〃That　long　ago；　how　would　either　of　us　have　known？　He　has　shields　now；　though。〃
〃Very　well。　And　that's　undoubtedly　the　reason　you　haven't　been　able　to　reach　him。〃　Morgan　reached　across　to　clap　the　king's　shoulder　in　reassurance。　〃In　any　case；　we　should　know　something　soon。　We'll　be　at　Ratharkin　before　dark。〃
〃Before　dark　…　yes。　But　will　it　be　in　time？〃　Kelson　wondered。


CHAPTER　ELEVEN
They　fall　into　many　actions　and　businesses；　and　are　void　of　sense；　and　when　they　think　of　things
　pertaining　unto　God；　they　understand　nothing　at　all。
II　Hermas　10：12
The　sparse　noonday　sun　turned　the　stained　glass　of　Saint　Uriel's　to　darkly　glowing　jewels；　but　the　cathedral's　glory　brought　little　fort　to　Dhugal；　kneeling　meekly　in　the　choir　with　the　Mearan　royal　family。　The　consecration　of　Judhael　as　Bishop　of　Ratharkin　was　about　to　begin　…　　and　there　was　nothing　Dhugal　could　do　to　stop　it。
Nor　could　Henry　Istelyn。　He　had　spoken　not　a　word　on　his　awakening；　to　Dhugal　or　to　the　priest　sent　to　inquire　a　final　time　whether　he　would　assist　with　Judhael's　consecration。　Later　he　still　stood　mute　as　two　deacons　vested　him；　not　resisting　their　ministrations　or　the　cup　which　a　cold…eyed　Gorony　manded　him　to　drink　when　they　had　done。　Dhugal　could　see　the　drug's　effect　in　Istelyn's　eyes　even　as　the　two　deacons　walked　him　out　of　the　room　between　them；　Gorony　following；　and　thought　he　knew　what　they　had　given　him。　He　could　expect　no　help　from　Istelyn　for　many　hours；　if　then。
Dhugal　was　alone；　then。　He　could　depend　on　no　one's　resources　but　his　own。　Those　kneeling　around　him　claimed　to　have　accepted　him　as　family；　and　promised　much　in　return　for　his　support；　but　he　knew　they　did　not　trust　him　yet；　he　had　given　them　no　cause　to　trust　him　other　than　the　face　value　of　his　apparent　opportunism。　His　very　position　in　the　seating；　between　Sicard　and　Llewell；　the　younger　prince；　placed　him　where　he　could　be　easily　and　quietly　subdued；　should　he　attempt　a　disruption　despite　his　word。　Dressed　in　the　princely　raiment　they　had　brought　him　that　morning　…　Ithel's；　by　the　length　of　the　richly　embroidered　cloak　…　he　did　look　like　one　of　them。　Even　his　borderman's　braid　did　not　set　him　much　apart；　for　Sicard　and　several　of　his　personal　attendants　wore　them　as　well；　even　if　the　two　princes　did　not。
Far　at　the　back　of　the　cathedral；　the　choir　began　to　chant　the　entrance　antiphon。　The　nave　was　packed。　Great　liturgies　of　state　were　always　popular　with　the　mon　folk；　with　their　chance　to　at　least　glimpse　the　rich　and　the　highborn；　and　the　appetites　of　Ratharkin's　citizenry　had　been　whetted　not　a　fortnight　before；　when　Istelyn　had　been　installed。　Dhugal　wondered　whether　they　had　flocked　in　such　numbers　for　their　rightful　lord　as　they　did　for　a　usurper's　kin。　But　perhaps　they　did　not　know。
As　the　procession　entered　the　church　and　headed　down　the　aisle；　those　around　Dhugal　stood；　so　he　did　likewise。　Slowly　the　clergy　approached　them；　led　by　a　thurifer；　incense　bearer；　servers　with　candles；　and　then　a　processional　cross　and　the　choir。　A　second　thurifer　came　after　them；　followed　by　the　entourages　of　the　various　bishops　assisting　in　the　ceremony；　each　preceded　by　his　crozier　bearer　and　followed　by　two　boys　with　candles。　Dhugal　could　not　identify　any　of　the　bishops　preceding　Judhael　by　sight；　but　he　had　been　told　that　one　of　them　was　Bishop　Calder　…　brother　of　his　mother　and；　therefore；　another　uncle。　He　had　not　expected　that。
The　prelates　escorting　the　new　bishop…elect　were　quite　unmistakable；　however：　the　forsworn　Creoda；　whom　Kelson　had　trusted；　and　Belden　of　Erne；　the　youngish　Bishop　of　Cashien；　e　up　from　the　south。　Dhugal　knew　him　by　the　arms　emblazoned　on　the　back　of　his　white　cope；　and　wondered　whether　Kelson　had　suspected　his　betrayal　any　more　than　he　had　Creoda's；　or　the　others。
And　Judhael　himself；　yet　another　of　Dhugal's　hitherto　only　legendary　Mearan　cousins。　The　young　bishop…elect　glanced　neither　right　nor　left　as　he　approached　the　high　altar；　but　a　tiny　smile　of　satisfaction　played　about　his　lips　…　unseemly　even　in　a　righteous　man　on　his　way　to　his　sacring；　Dhugal　thought。　Bishop's　purple　showed　slightly　at　throat　and　hem；　but　he　was　vested　with　a　priest's　alb　and　stole　beneath　his　white　cope；　hands　joined　piously　before　his　breast。　Dhugal　wondered　how　he　had　the　courage　to　e　before　the　altar　thus；　knowing　that　his　election　was　against　the　will　of　the　rightful　primate　and　the　king。　Perhaps　God　would　smite　him　for　his　insolence。　Dhugal　wished　He　would。
And　if　not　Judhael；　then　certainly　the　despised　Loris；　following　in　the　full　habiliments　of　his　usurped　office；　precious　mitre　sparkling　like　a　crown　above　his　costly　golden　cope。　Servers　bearing　candles　and　his　crozier　preceded　him；　and　close　behind　came　Istelyn；　leaning　heavily　on　the　arms　of　the　two　deacons　Dhugal　had　seen　before。　Istelyn　appeared　still　to　be　moving　under　his　own　power；　but　his　eyes　were　heavy…lidded　and　vague；　Dhugal　suspected　he　would　nod　off　despite　any　other　intentions；　once　they　sat　him　on　his　throne。　The　treacherous　Monsignor　Gorony　brought　up　the　rear。
Dhugal　had　never　seen　a　bishop　made　before；　so　he　was　not　sure　when　the　ceremony　departed　from　the　form　of　the　simple　Mass　he　knew。　It　was　difficult　to　follow　the　actions　of　half　a　dozen　priests　when　he　was　accustomed　to　watching　only　one；　and　once…familiar　words　took　on　odd　accents　and　emphasis　when　chanted　by　a　full　choir。　Taking　his　cues　from　those　around　him；　he　stood　and　knelt　when　they　did；　swallowing　his　disgust　and　outrage　when　the　traitorous　bishops　gathered　before　the　throne　Loris　had　no　right　to　occupy　and　the　chiefest　traitor　of　them　all　delivered　a　short　instruction　on　the　responsibilities　of　a　bishop。　Judhael　was　then　brought　before　Loris　to　respond　to　formal　questions。
〃Dearly　beloved　brother；〃　Loris　intoned　solemnly；　〃ancient　custom　dictates　that　bishops…elect　are　to　be　questioned　before　the　people　on　their　resolve　to　keep　the　faith　and　discharge　their　duties　justly。　I　therefore　ask　thee；　Judhael　of　Meara；　whether　thou　art　resolved　by　the　grace　of　the　Holy　Spirit　to　discharge　to　the　end　of　thy　life　the　office　entrusted　to　us　by　the　apostles　which　is　about　to　be　passed　on　to　thee　by　the　imposition　of　our　hands？〃
〃I　am；〃　Judhael　answered。
〃And　art　thou　resolved　to　be　faithful　and　constant　in　proclaiming　the　gospel　of　Our　Lord？〃
〃I　am。〃
The　ritual　dialogue　went　on；　but　Dhugal　had　no　stomach　to　listen　closely。　Whatever　promises　Judhael　made　under　these　circumstances；　and　however　pious　a　man　he　might　have　been　before　the　advent　of　Loris'　plotting；　Dhugal　was　as　certain　as　he　was　of　his　own　simple　faith　that　Judhael　of　Meara　was　damned　for　participating　in　this　mockery　of　holy　rite。　Why　did　God　not　strike　him　dead？　Was　there　no　justice；　even　in　the　very　House　of　God？
He　feared　greatly　for　Istelyn；　too；　though　it　was　the　man's　body　which　gave　him　greater　concern　than　the　man's　soul。　He　could　not　but　admire　the　man's　courage　…　forced　to　condone　the　affair　by　the　presence　of　his　body　but　unyielding　in　his　resolve　that　he　would　not　support　it　in　his　heart　…　but　Dhugal　was　made　of　more　practical　stuff。　He　did　wonder　whether　he　himself　had　taken　the　easier　way；　by　pretending　to　go　along　with　those　he　knew　to　be　wrong　…　and　whether　Istelyn　was　right：　that　Dhugal　was　dishonored　by　going　as　far　as　he　had　gone　already。　And　as　for　how　far　he　intended　to　go；　if　there　were　opportunity　…　
〃Beloved　brothers　and　sisters；〃　Loris　chanted；　standing　to　face　the　congregation；　〃let　us　pray　for　this　man　chosen　to　provide　for　the　needs　of　God's　Holy　Church。　Let　us　pray　that　Almighty　God　in　His　goodness　will　fill　him　with　abundant　grace。〃
Dhugal　knelt　with　the　others　at　that；　watching　the　forsworn　Judhael　prostrate　himself　before　the　altar　while　the　rest　of　the　bishops　knelt　around　him；　even　Istelyn　being　propped　kneeling　at　his　faldstool　to　the　side。　The　choir　sang　a　Kyrie；　familiar　to　Dhugal　even　in　its　embellished　form；　then　shifted　deftly　into　a　litany　of　angels　and　saints　invoked　to　bless　the　man　being　consecrated。
〃Sancta　Maria。。。〃
〃Ora　pro　nobis〃
〃Sancte　Michael。。。〃
〃Ora　pro　nobis。〃
〃Sancte　Gabriel。。。〃
〃Ora　pro　nobis。〃
〃'Sancte　Raphael。。。〃
〃Ora　pro　nobis。〃
〃Sancte　Uriel。。。〃
〃Ora　pro　nobis。〃
〃Omnes　sancti　Angeli　et　Archangeli。。。〃
〃Orate　pro　nobis