kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第42部分

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〃Was　it　magic？〃　Llewell　managed　to　whisper　around　an　almost　tearful　gulp。
〃No；　but　I　haven't　the　time　to　explain　the　distinction　just　now。　Agree　to　cooperate；　and　I'll　even　have　them　bind　your　hands　more　fortably。　It's　a　long　ride　to　Rhemuth　with　your　hands　tied　behind　you。〃
〃You'll　pay　for　this；〃　Llewell　muttered　through　clenched　teeth。　〃May　your　Deryni　soul　rot　in　Hell！〃
〃You're　about　to　try　my　patience　too　far；〃　Kelson　warned。　〃Don't　push　me。　If　you　believe　me　damned　already；　then　it　follows　that　I　have　nothing　to　gain　by　personal　restraint　…　though　despite　your　belief；　it　is　my　intention　to　deal　with　you　as　honorably　as　possible。　Now；　is　this　to　be　easy　or　difficult？〃
Llewell　maintained　his　glare　of　tearful　defiance　for　a　few　seconds；　measuring　it　against　Kelson's　calm；　passionless　gaze；　then　broke　the　contact　and　bowed　his　head；　shoulders　slumping　dejectedly。
〃I　cannot　stand　against　a　demon；〃　he　whispered。　〃I　am　not　fool　enough　to　seek　my　death　deliberately。〃
〃Nor　I；〃　Kelson　replied。　〃Conall；　see　to　his　hands；　but　keep　a　close　guard　on　him。〃　With　another　glance　at　the　approaching　Mearan　force；　he　reined　his　horse　around　and　raised　a　gloved　fist　in　signal。
〃'Tis　time　we　made　a　tactical　withdrawal；　my　lords！〃　he　shouted；　to　answering　shouts　of　approval　from　his　men。　〃We　have　acplished　at　least　part　of　what　we　came　for。　Now　we　return　to　Rhemuth！〃
Thus　did　they　ride　from　the　plain　of　Ratharkin；　richer　for　two　royal　prisoners　and　a　rescued　earl；　Dhugal　not　yet　aware　that　he　was　poorer　by　a　father。　Darkness　and　the　increasingly　heavy　snowfall　soon　enabled　them　to　elude　the　pursuing　Mearan　host；　and　when　human　and　Deryni　senses　confirmed　that　they　were　out　of　danger。　Kelson　allowed　a　brief　stop　to　rest。　Only　then　did　he　draw　Dhugal　a　little　aside　and　tell　him　about　old　Caulay；　giving　what　meager　fort　he　could　as　he　shared　Dhugal's　grief　at　the　news　of　the　old　earl's　death。

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Grief　and　futile　fort　were　served　up　in　full　measure　that　night　in　Ratharkin　as　well；　when　the　desolate　Sicard　returned　without　daughter；　forsworn　nephew；　or　second　son。　Caitrin　and　Judhael　heard　his　halting　report　in　stunned　silence；　Judhael　lamely　holding　his　aunt's　hand　but　unable　to　give　a　word　of　reassurance。
〃How　could　the　Haldane　have　known　to　be　there　just　then？〃　Caitrin　whispered　when　her　husband　had　done。　〃'Tis　foul；　wicked　sorcery！　And　he　has　my　babes　to　hostage。〃
〃We　were　wrong　to　trust　young　Dhugal；〃　Judhael　muttered。　〃To　betray　his　own　kin　…　but　who　could　have　guessed　he　would　break　his　sworn　word；　given　on　holy　relics？　He　is　damned；　damned。。。。〃
〃I　should　have　struck　him　to　the　heart　with　my　own　dagger　when　first　I　saw　him；〃　the　miserable　Sicard　whispered。　〃I　should　have　known　my　brother　would　poison　him　against　us　after　all　these　years。　And　my　son。。。　my　little　girl。。。　in　the　hands　of　Deryni！〃
They　sent　for　Loris　and　Creoda　a　little　later；　when　they　had　recovered　some　of　their　posure　and　reviewed　the　terms　of　Kelson's　demands。　By　the　time　Sicard　had　repeated　his　account　for　their　benefit；　Loris　was　all　but　foaming　at　the　mouth。
〃He　offered　you　amnesty　if　you　would　abandon　me？〃　he　raged。　〃He　dared　to　demand　Istelyn's　release？　The　insolence！　The　very　cheek！　How　dare　he　think　he　can　threaten　us？〃
〃He　does　think　he　can；〃　Caitrin　replied　irritably。　〃What　is　more；　he　has　done　a　very　credible　job　of　it。　I　would　be　naive　in　the　extreme　if　I　thought　he　expected　us　to　accept　his　offer；　but　he　almost　had　to　make　the　attempt。　Still；　we　are　not　without　our　own　resources。　Nephew；　please　have　Bishop　Istelyn　brought　to　us。〃
〃He　is　still　my　prisoner；　not　yours；　Lady；〃　Loris　warned。
〃I　am　quite　aware　of　that。　I　wish　to　question　him。　See　to　it；　Judhael。〃
Loris　let　him　leave　to　do　her　bidding；　but　he　continued　to　rant　and　mutter　under　his　breath　all　the　while　Judhael　was　gone；　hardly　touching　the　wine　which　Ithel　poured　to　bolster　all　their　courage。
〃God　curse　the　Deryni！〃　Loris　spat；　as　Judhael　brought　Istelyn　in　a　short　time　later。　〃Curse　the　Deryni　king　who　pretends　piety　and　honor　and　continues　to　consort　with　magic！　And　God　curse　doubly　any　bishop　who　would　keep　counsel　with　him！〃　he　added；　glaring　at　Istelyn。　〃You　are　no　better　than　the　Haldane　you　serve；　Istelyn。　I　should　have　you　executed　as　the　traitor　you　are！〃
〃There　will　be　no　executions　in　this　city　without　my　leave。　Archbishop；〃　Caitrin　said　mildly；　as　she　signed　for　a　stool　to　be　brought　for　Istelyn。　〃A　dead　bishop　is　hardly　a　strong　bargaining　point。　The　Haldane　wants　him　back　unharmed。　By　the　same　token；　he　will　not　harm　the　children　so　long　as　he　believes　we　are　willing　to　negotiate。　Negotiations　could　drag　on　until　the　spring。〃
〃You　credit　him　with　too　much　honor；　Madame；〃　Loris　said。　〃These　Deryni　are　treacherous。　Kelson　is　most　treacherous　of　all。〃
〃He　is　still　hardly　more　than　a　boy；〃　Sicard　said　contemptuously。　〃Children　do　not　kill　children。〃
〃Do　not　underestimate　him；　my　lord；〃　Loris　replied。　〃I　did　so　before；　but　I　shall　not　make　that　mistake　again。　He　is　a　man；　with　all　a　man's　cunning　and　treachery　increased　because　he　is　Deryni。〃　He　paused　a　beat。　〃And　given　that　he　is　a　man；　has　it　not　occurred　to　you　that　he　may　have　a　man's　appetites　…　he　who　now　has　your　daughter　in　his　power？〃
Caitrin　pursed　her　lips　tightly　together；　saying　nothing；　but　Sicard's　knuckles　whitened　on　the　arms　of　his　chair。
〃If　he　touches　her　…　〃
〃Of　course；　he　might　marry　her；〃　Loris　continued；　watching　Sicard's　reaction　especially　and　choosing　his　words。　〃That　would　confirm　his　claim　to　the　Mearan　throne　after　he　eliminated　the　rest　of　you。　Union　of　the　two　crowns　…　the　same　logic　that　his　great…grandfather　used　with　your　great…grandmother。　Your　Highness。　Then　again；　he　might　simply　use　her　and　cast　her　aside　…　or　let　his　men　have　her；　once　he　had　done。　Such　things　…　〃
〃I　don't　want　to　hear　it！〃　Sicard　cried。
〃And　then　there　is　Llewell；〃　Loris　went　on　relentlessly。　〃He's　a　pretty　boy。　Soldiers　sometimes　…　〃
〃Stop　it！〃
Uncurling　his　fingers　from　their　deathgrip　on　his　chair　arms；　Sicard　took　his　wife's　near　hand　blindly　in　his　while　he　lifted　his　cup　and　drained　it　with　a　single…minded　deliberation。　Caitrin　winced　at　the　pressure　of　his　hand；　but　she　kept　stony　silence。　When　Sicard　had　done；　he　set　the　cup　aside　and　drew　deep　breath　before　looking　back　at　Loris　accusingly。
〃That　last　was　a　low　blow。　Archbishop。〃
Loris　shrugged。　〃Then　I　apologize　for　it。　The　danger　to　Sidana；　however　…　〃
〃I　am　her　father。　Archbishop！〃　Sicard　snapped。　〃Can　you　imagine　that　particular　fear　has　been　far　from　my　thoughts　these　many　hours？　When　I　saw　the　cursed　Haldane　sitting　his　great　white　horse；　young　and　hot…blooded　and　proud；　and　his　Deryni　henchman　with　his　arms　around　…　〃
〃Sicard　…　no！〃　Caitrin　said。　〃Don't　do　this　to　yourself。　Sidana　will　be　safe；　you'll　see。　We'll　find　a　way。〃
〃Then；　we　must　show　the　Haldane　whelp　that　we　mean　business。　Highness　…　and　that　we　do　not　intend　to　be　intimidated；〃　Loris　purred。
Jerkily　Sicard　took　up　his　cup　again　and　held　it　out　for　Ithel　to　pour　him　more　wine；　letting　Caitrin　soothe　him　with　little　caresses　stroked　along　his　shoulder。　She　was　looking　at　Istelyn　rather　then　her　husband；　however。　The　bishop　had　done　his　best　to　be　invisible　while　his　captors　argued；　but　now　he　could　not　escape　her　scrutiny。　Dark　circles　smudged　the　fine…drawn　skin　beneath　his　eyes；　but　he　appeared　to　have　recovered　from　the　drug　given　him　earlier　in　the　day。　As　Sicard　tossed　off　half　his　new　cup　of　wine；　Caitrin　returned　her　attention　to　Loris。　A　new　determination　appeared　to　have　stamped　itself　on　her　plain　features。
〃Indeed；　we　are　not　intimidated。　Archbishop；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃My　love　for　my　children　is　no　less　than　my　husband's；　but　the　brutal　fact　of　the　matter　is　that　they　are　of　age　and　were　fully　aware　of　the　possible　consequences　of　supporting　our　claim　to　the　throne。　If　God　wills　that　they　should　die　at　a　tyrant's　hands；　then　I　must　pray　that　they　be　granted　the　grace　to　endure　it　with　all　the　dignity　of　their　royal　blood。　It　is　as　a　queen　as　well　as　a　mother　that　I　speak　these　harsh　words。　With　God's　help；　none　of　us　shall　have　to　make　the　sacrifice。〃
She　rose　to　begin　slowly　pacing　the　space　between　her　chair　and　the　room's　fireplace；　playing　with　the　rings　on　her　slender　hands。
〃As　a　queen；　however；　it　occurs　to　me　that　our　young　Deryni　king　may　have　made　a　great　tactical　error　when　he　let　us　know　he　wants　Bishop　Istelyn　back。　He　threatens　reprisals　if　we　do　not　submit　by　Christmas；　but　so　long　as　he　thinks　we　are　considering　his　terms；　I　doubt　he　will　actually　do　the　children　harm。　For　all　that　he　is　Deryni；　he　seems　to　prefer　not　to　shed　blood　if　there　is　another　way。　Negotiations　could　take　a　long　time　…　all　winter；　as　I　said　before。　Long　enough　to　ensure　that　we　have　all　the　support　we　need　to　meet　and　defeat　him　in　the　spring。〃
〃Winter　itself　will　give　us　the　time　we　need　to　build　our　strength　for　the　spring　campaign；〃　Loris　said　stubbornly。　〃We　do　not　need　to　bargain　with　Deryni；　Madame。〃
〃Mother；　may　I　speak？〃　Ithel　interjected。
Regally　Caitrin　inclined　her　head。
〃Thank　you。〃
Ithel　came　to　stand　beside　his　mother's　empty　chair；　one　hand　on　its　back　as　he　gazed　at　Loris。
〃Archbishop；　as　my　mother's　heir；　I