kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第43部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃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　stand　to　gain　a　great　deal　if　we　are　successful　against　the　Haldane；　but　I　hope　you　will　understand　that　I　would　prefer　that　my　brother　and　sister　were　still　alive　to　share　our　victory　when　it　eventually　es。　To　that　end；　I　should　like　to　point　out　a　few　practical　considerations　of　tactics　and　politics　which　may　have　escaped　your　notice。〃
〃Don't　lecture　me；　boy！〃
〃I'm　not　a　boy。　Archbishop　…　any　more　than　Kelson　is　a　boy；〃　Ithel　retorted；　but　coolly；　and　without　raising　his　voice。　〃I'm　a　prince　and　I'll　thank　you　to　address　me　as　such。　Hasn't　it　occurred　to　you　that　even　if　it　isn't　possible　for　Kelson　to　mount　an　actual　campaign　during　the　winter；　he　could　still　harass　the　lowland　regions　enough　to　interfere　with　the　raising　of　our　levies？　But　he'll　not　take　drastic　action　so　long　as　we're　negotiating。〃
〃You　have　a　lot　to　learn　about　politics；　boy；〃　Loris　replied　coldly。　〃And　about　Deryni。　How　can　you　even　contemplate　giving　him　the　satisfaction　…　〃
Sicard　cleared　his　throat　dangerously。　〃My　son　is　a　realist。　Archbishop。　His　mother　and　I　have　brought　him　up　that　way。　And　speaking　as　a　realist；　I　know　that　there　is　nothing　we　can　do　to　protect　Sidana　and　Llewell　if　the　Haldane　decides　not　to　keep　his　word。　But　by　the　first　of　the　year；　only　a　short　time　past　the　Haldane's　Christmas　deadline；　even　the　lowlands　will　be　all　but　inaccessible　to　large　bodies　of　troops　from　outside　Meara。　As　long　as　we　pretend　to　be　considering　his　terms；　they　will　be　safe　…　　and　so　will　our　borderlands。〃
〃Neither　the　children　nor　the　land　will　ever　be　safe　while　Kelson　lives；〃　Loris　said　stubbornly。　〃He　regards　the　land　as　his　…　and　he　must　eventually　kill　you　and　your　heirs　or　else　keep　you　in　perpetual　imprisonment；　as　he　tried　to　do　to　me。　He　would　be　a　fool　to　let　you　live；　lest　potential　rebellion　always　hang　above　his　head。　He　will　use　the　children　as　bait　to　lure　you　to　your　destruction。〃
〃Then　let　him　think　he　will　succeed；〃　Caitrin　retorted。　〃Talk　is　cheap。　Perhaps　we　can　tantalize　him　with　the　hope　of　Istelyn's　return；　since　he　seems　to　care　for　the　man's　safety。　Now　that　Judhael　has　been　consecrated；　Istelyn　is　of　little　use　to　us　here。〃
Loris　raised　an　eyebrow　disdainfully　in　Istelyn's　direction。　〃Aye。　Any　worthy　priest　would　have　informed　his　superiors　that　one　under　his　charge　intended　to　break　a　sacred　oath。　Istelyn；　I　hold　you　personally　responsible　for　young　Dhugal's　escape。〃
Istelyn；　notably　grim　and　silent　until　then；　shook　his　head。
〃I　honestly　regret　that　I　cannot　take　credit　for　that；〃　he　said　softly。　〃As　for　his　oath…breaking；　I　suspect　there　are　far　worse　offenses　before　God　than　the　breaking　of　an　oath　taken　under　duress。　Perhaps　you　have　knowledge　of　a　few　of　them。〃
Loris'　eyes　lit　dangerously。
〃As　for　my　worthiness　as　a　priest；〃　Istelyn　went　on；　〃you　have　no　authority　to　judge　that　…　and　have　had　none　since　the　bishops　removed　you　from　office　and　sent　you　into　confinement。〃
As　much　from　reflex　as　volition；　Loris　was　on　his　feet　and　raising　his　hand　to　strike　the　defiant　Istelyn；　a　wordless　growl　rumbling　in　his　throat；　careless　of　the　goblet　which　toppled　from　his　chair　arm　to　smash　on　the　stone　flags。
〃Don't！〃　Caitrin　gasped；　as　Sicard　simultaneously　launched　himself　between　the　two　to　block　the　intended　blow。
The　word　and　the　sound　of　shattering　pottery　served　to　deflate　Loris'　blind　fury；　and　he　drew　himself　up　indignantly　before　Sicard　could　touch　him；　pointedly　dropping　his　hands　to　his　sides　and　inclining　his　head　in　a　grudging　bow　to　Caitrin　as　he　seated　himself　once　more。　Sicard；　with　an　explosive　sigh；　tugged　his　tunic　into　place　and　also　sat。　Ithel；　who　had　moved　to　his　father's　defense；　warily　resumed　his　place　behind　his　mother's　chair。　Judhael　clasped　his　hands　tightly　before　him　and　tried　not　to　look　torn　between　loyalty　to　his　aunt　and　obedience　to　the　man　who　had　made　him　a　bishop。　Istelyn　had　never　moved　from　his　stool　or　flinched　throughout　the　interchange。
〃Please　accept　my　apologies。　Your　Highness；〃　Loris　murmured　contritely。　〃I　don't　know　what　came　over　me。　His　insolence　is　…　unbeing　in　a　priest。〃
〃Indeed；　it　is；〃　Caitrin　replied　coldly。　〃However；　I　doubt　he　sees　his　behavior　in　quite　that　light。　Be　that　as　it　may；　the　Haldane　will　need　some　reassurance　of　Istelyn's　well…being。　His　ring；　I　think　…　and　perhaps　a　letter　from　his　hand；　which　you　shall　dictate。　Archbishop。〃
〃I　will　not　write　it；〃　Istelyn　said　quietly。
〃And　if　he　will　not　cooperate；〃　Caitrin　continued；　her　face　hardening；　〃I　shall　leave　it　to　you。　Archbishop；　to　decide　what　measures　should　be　taken　to　assure　the　king　that　we　have　his　bishop　and　will　deal　with　him　as　he　intends　to　deal　with　my　children；　if　agreement　cannot　be　reached。〃　She　smiled　grimly　at　Loris。　〃I　shall　ask　my　nephew　to　assist　you；　and　rely　on　your　joint　good　offices　to　see　that　our　intention　is　carried　out。〃
Loris　nodded　slowly；　a　grim　smile　ing　across　his　face。
〃Very　well；　Madame。　I　will　be　quite　pleased　to　carry　out　your　wishes。　I　think　you　will　not　be　disappointed。〃


CHAPTER　THIRTEEN
Yet　was　she　carried　away；　she　went　into　captivity。
Nahum　3：10
A　weary　but　satisfied　Kelson　led　his　warband　back　through　the　gates　of　Rhemuth　less　than　a　week　after　his　departure；　none　of　his　men　with　so　much　as　a　scratch；　Dhugal's　presence　at　his　side　proclaiming　at　least　the　partial　success　of　his　mission。　As　the　column　clattered　across　the　bridge　and　into　the　castle　yard；　several　elated　Transha　bordermen　darted　out　to　greet　their　new　young　chief　with　raucous　highland　yells。　Dhugal's　previous　injuries　had　been　aggravated　by　his　escape　and　the　enforced　march　of　the　past　three　days；　but　he　managed　a　grin　and　a　few　words　for　each　man　before　sliding　painfully　from　his　horse。
Nor　was　Dhugal　the　only　addition　to　Kelson's　pany。　Six　glum　prisoners　rode　with　the　warband；　the　youngest；　a　dark…haired；　aristocratic…looking　boy；　was　doing　his　best　to　put　up　a　brave　front；　his　wrists　bound　before　him　and　his　horse's　lead　secured　to　Conall's　saddle。　His　cheeks　flamed　with　embarrassment　under　the　stares　of　the　curious；　but　he　kept　his　eyes　pointedly　ahead；　disdaining　assistance　as　he　climbed　down　from　his　horse。　The　most　intriguing　addition　of　all　sat　limply　in　the　circle　of　Morgan's　arms；　apparently　asleep　…　a　heavily　cloaked　female　form　with　tangled　chestnut　hair　escaping　from　beneath　her　hood。
〃They're　the　pretender's　younger　children；〃　Kelson　told　Nigel；　as　he　dismounted　in　the　snowy　courtyard　and　helped　Morgan　hand　the　sleeping　girl　into　Duncan's　arms。　〃Now　all　we　need　are　Caitrin；　Sicard；　and　the　remaining　son。　And　Loris；　of　course。　The　girl's　name　is　Sidana。　Dhugal　stole　her　out　from　under　their　noses。〃
〃She　isn't　hurt；　is　she？〃　Nigel　asked。
Morgan；　relieved　of　his　burden；　swung　one　leg　over　his　horse's　neck　and　vaulted　to　the　ground；　shaking　his　head。
〃She'll　be　fine　by　morning。　I　…　ah　…　had　to　put　her　to　sleep。　She　started　to　get　hysterical　when　she　realized　she　wasn't　going　to　be　rescued。　I　doubt　she'll　even　remember　most　of　the　trip。〃
Nigel　nodded　slowly；　accepting　Morgan's　use　of　his　powers　without　batting　an　eye。
〃Aye；　that　was　probably　kindest。　Duncan；　why　don't　you　take　her　to　my　wife？　Unless　you　wish　otherwise；　of　course。　Kelson。　She'll　want　the　fort　of　another　woman's　pany　when　she　wakes　…　and　a　lady's　bower　seems　a　more　fitting　setting　for　this　Mearan　rose　than　a　cell。〃
〃A　briar　rose；　I　think；〃　Kelson　said；　smiling；　〃with　proper　thorns；　I'll　warrant。　But　no　matter。　Aunt　Meraude　will　be　a　suitable　panion；　I'm　sure。　Father　Duncan；　would　you　take　her；　please？〃
〃Of　course。〃
〃And　as　for　our　other　unexpected　guest；〃　Kelson　went　on；　with　a　glance　back　at　the　sullen　Llewell　as　Duncan　withdrew；　〃you'll　be　proud　to　learn　that　it　was　your　son　Conall；　who　captured　him。　Uncle。　His　name　is　Llewell。　He's　been　a　little　belligerent　from　the　start；　so　I　think　he'll　want　closer　guard。　No　cell；　though。　He's　a　noble　hostage；　not　a　criminal。〃
Kelson　took　a　few　more　minutes　seeing　to　the　disposition　of　his　other　prisoners　and　to　the　provisioning　of　his　men　and　horses；　then　went　with　Dhugal　and　Morgan　into　the　hall。　While　all　three　of　them　washed　down　mouthfuls　of　venison　pasties　with　mulled　ale；　he　gave　a　hastily　gathered　privy　council　his　impromptu　account　of　the　venture。　Dhugal　was　beginning　to　nod　over　his　food　by　the　time　they　finished；　and　even　Morgan　was　beginning　to　slow　down　as　food　filled　empty　stomachs　and　ale　lulled　aching　muscles。　Within　the　hour；　after　scheduling　a　formal　meeting　of　the　full　council　for　the　following　afternoon。　Kelson　dismissed　the　court　and　retired　for　the　night。　The　torches　in　Rhemuth　hall　burned　late　that　night　as　Nigel　and　the　others　tried　to　digest　what　the　king　had　told　them。
Kelson　woke　with　the　dawn；　however　…　not　yet　fully　refreshed；　but　unable　to　sleep　longer。　He　felt　the　need　to　do　something；　but　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　until　Caitrin　replied　to　his　demands。　He　sat　in　a　window　and　watched　the　snow　fall　for　a　while；　hoping　he　might　ease　himself　back　into　drowsiness；　but　he　only　grew　more　restless。　After　a　while　he　gave　up　the　notion　of　sleep　and　got　dressed；