kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第50部分

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　up　to　him？〃
Only　as　he　gestured　blindly　toward　the　altar　behind　him　did　Morgan　see　the　small　wooden　box　resting　at　the　foot　of　the　standing　crucifix。　Suddenly　Morgan　thought　he　knew　what　was　terrifying　Duncan。
〃Good　God；　don't　tell　me　you've　still　got　Istelyn's　finger！〃　he　muttered；　crossing　the　few　short　steps　to　snatch　it　up　before　Duncan　could　stop　him。　〃What　kind　of　morbid　nonsense　is　this？　He'd　beat　you　about　the　head　and　shoulders　if　he　knew　you　were　behaving　this　way。〃
〃If　he's　still　alive。〃　Duncan　crossed　his　arms　on　his　chest　and　studied　one　slipper…shod　toe　morosely。　〃Maybe　I　shouldn't　bee　a　bishop；　Alaric。　Every　time　a　messenger　arrives　at　court　now；　I　wonder　what　Loris　will　send　us　next。　A　hand？　An　eye？　Or　maybe　a　head；　next　time。〃
〃And　not　accepting　consecration　will　keep　him　alive？〃　Morgan　countered。　〃You　know　it　won't。　As　for　messengers；　I'm　afraid　I'd　wele　delivery　of　a　head。〃
〃What？〃
〃At　least　it　would　mean　he　was　beyond　Loris'　ability　to　hurt　him　anymore。　You　don't　really　think　Loris　means　to　let　him　live；　do　you？　Not　after　he's　gone　this　far。〃
Duncan　bit　at　his　lip　and　sighed　heavily。　〃You're　right。　I　know　you're　right。　I　suppose　that's　why　I　asked　for　Istelyn's　ring　in　the　first　place。　I　knew　he'd　never　wear　it　again。　But　it　was　different　three　days　ago。　Now；　taking　the　ring　from　a　martyr's　hand　seems　…　well　…　presumptuous；　to　say　the　least。〃
〃Not　presumptuous。　An　act　of　homage　to　a　brave　man　who　would　not　succumb　to　the　enemy。〃
When　Duncan　did　not　respond；　Morgan　opened　the　box　and　extracted　the　ring；　carefully　avoiding　contact　with　Istelyn's　shriveled　finger。　The　gold　seemed　to　tingle　as　he　closed　it　in　his　palm。　That　confirmed　what　he　had　guessed　Duncan　feared　…　and　that　the　fear　would　have　to　be　faced　before　Duncan　left　for　the　cathedral。　Tight…lipped；　Morgan　closed　the　box　and　replaced　it　gingerly　on　the　altar。
〃I　know　what's　bothering　you　as　much　as　anything。〃　he　said　after　a　slight　pause。
〃No；　you　don't。〃
〃Duncan；　I　can't　not　know　…　and　neither　can　you。　We're　Deryni。　Just　holding　this　is　enough　for　me　to　sense　that　it　isn't　just　any　ring。〃
〃Of　course　not。　It's　a　bishop's　ring。〃
〃And　it's　Istelyn's　ring；　taking　from　him　in　a　most　brutal　fashion；〃　Morgan　countered。　〃Some　of　that　is　bound　to　be　clinging　to　it。　And　you're　going　to　have　to　face　what's　on　it　…　if　not　now；　then　later　today；　in　front　of　all　those　people　in　the　cathedral；　when　you'll　be　far　more　vulnerable　than　you　are　now。〃
〃I'll　keep　my　shields　up；〃　Duncan　whispered。
〃Is　that　really　the　way　you　want　to　experience　your　consecration　as　a　bishop？〃　Morgan　asked　quietly。　〃You　remember　your　ordination　to　the　priesthood　…　God　knows；　I'll　never　forget　it。　Do　you　really　want　to　shut　yourself　away　from　that　kind　of　magic；　Duncan？〃
He　watched　the　tonsured　head　jerk　up；　the　white…clad　shoulders　stiffen；　though　Duncan　did　not　turn　around。
〃That's　what　you'd　have　to　do；　you　know；〃　Morgan　went　on。　〃And　I　don't　think　that's　really　what　you　want。　Give　me　your　hand　and　let's　be　done　with　it。〃
Slowly；　stiffly；　Duncan　turned；　his　face　nearly　as　white　as　his　vestments；　emotions　pletely　shuttered　save　through　the　light　blue　eyes；　where　fear　and　reason　warred　for　precedence。　When　reason　won　out　at　last；　Duncan　let　out　a　long…held　breath　with　an　audible　sigh。　All　at　once；　the　eyes　which　met　Morgan's　were　the　mirrors　of　the　soul　which　Duncan　bared　now　to　the　man　closer　than　any　other　living　being。
〃You're　right；〃　he　whispered。　〃If　I　don't　face　it；　I'm　no　bishop　and　no　true　Deryni。　Stay　with　me；　though。〃
〃I　shouldn't　think　you'd　even　need　to　ask；〃　Morgan　answered　softly；　smiling。
Taking　Duncan's　slack　right　hand　in　his；　he　held　Istelyn's　ring　poised　at　the　tip　of　the　ring　finger；　bracing　for　both　of　them　as　Duncan；　without　further　hesitation；　thrust　his　finger　into　the　band　of　gold。　A　little　shudder　went　through　Duncan's　body　as　the　cold　metal　slid　across　the　skin；　but　he　only　shook　his　head　and　closed　his　eyes　at　Morgan's　sound　of　question；　bringing　his　clenched　fist　to　his　lips　to　touch　the　cold　amethyst　in　oath　confirmed。　As　he　shuddered　again；　Morgan　slid　his　hands　up　Duncan's　arms　to　rest　on　his　shoulders　again　and　pushed　himself　quickly　into　trance；　reaching　out　for　rapport。　He　joined　Duncan　just　as　memory　began　to　course；　pulsing　from　the　metal　and　amethyst　on　Duncan's　hand。
Fire　and　ice；　golden　and　violet　…　intimations　of　the　forge　which　had　shaped　the　ring　and　the　setting　of　the　stone　which　marked　its　sacred　purpose。　It　had　been　crafted　especially　for　Istelyn　and　worn　by　no　other　until　this　instant。　Recollection　stirred　of　its　sacring　by　water　and　incense　at　Istelyn's　consecration　…　words　of　blessing　pronounced　above　it　as　it　lay　on　a　silver　salver：　holy　ritual　binding　it　to　the　service　of　a　servant　of　the　servants；　binding　the　servant　himself　to　the　service　of　a　higher　Lord。
Nor　had　the　servant　disgraced　the　ring；　through　all　the　years　it　had　graced　his　hand。　The　lips　of　the　great　and　the　lowly　had　brushed　it　in　salute；　most　with　honest　respect；　some　perfunctorily；　a　few　with　duplicity　in　their　hearts　…　　but　the　man　and　his　function　remained　true　to　the　higher　Lord。　Only　at　the　end　was　other　than　respect　shown　to　the　servant　of　the　servant。
Honest　human　fear；　resignation　…　and　then　the　echo　of　sharp；　burning　pain　as　a　bright　blade　flashed；　severing　the　ring　from　its　owner。　Even　though　Morgan　was　prepared　for　it；　he　gasped　at　the　shock；　holding　Duncan　tightly　in　support　as　the　new　wearer　of　the　ring　shivered　in　more　direct　recollection　of　the　deed；　even　crying　out　a　little　at　the　transmitted　pain。
But　then；　with　a　shudder；　Duncan　was　sinking　even　deeper　into　trance　as　the　ring　continued　to　beckon；　Morgan　following　hesitantly　to　brush　even　earlier　images　of　the　gold　itself；　before　the　ring　was　forged。　It　had　been　something　besides　a　ring　in　the　beginning；　when　first　it　took　form　from　virgin　nuggets　purified　in　the　flames　…　an　impression　of　unearthly　radiance　and　a　warmth　which　was　not　physical。　Consecrated　hands　had　lifted　it　toward　an　even　greater　Glory　…　two　pairs；　the　one　merely　priestly；　the　other　something　more。　A　flash　of　an　old；　familiar　presence　intervened　for　just　an　instant　…　and　then　nothing。
Roughly　Morgan　yanked　himself　back　to　normal　consciousness　as　the　contact　ended；　staggering　as　Duncan　became　a　dead　weight　in　his　arms　for　just　an　instant。　But　before　he　could　react；　Duncan　stirred　and　got　his　feet　under　him；　allaying　his　concern　with　a　weak　grin　and　a　wave　of　the　hand　with　the　ring。
〃What　in　the　world　…　？〃　Morgan　began。
Duncan　shook　his　head　and　smiled　more　sedately；　propping　himself　against　the　edge　of　the　altar　while　he　slipped　the　ring　from　his　hand　to　lay　it　reverently　beside　the　box。
〃Not　entirely　this　world；〃　he　managed　to　whisper；　glancing　back　at　Morgan。　〃I　assume　you　caught　the　part　about　it　being　made　for　Istelyn？〃
Morgan　nodded。　〃And　about　him　losing　it。〃
〃I　think　that's　the　least　important　part　of　what　we　saw。〃　Duncan　gave　the　ring　another　long；　respectful　look。　〃How　about　before　it　was　a　ring？〃
〃Something　else　was　melted　down　to　make　it；〃　Morgan　ventured。　〃Do　you　know　what　it　was？〃
Duncan　nodded　wistfully。　〃A　piece　of　altar　plate；　I　think。　Maybe　a　chalice　or　a　paten。〃　He　shivered。　〃I'm　not　sure　I　want　to　say　aloud　whose　I　think　it　was。〃
〃Well；　I'll　say　it　if　you　won't；〃　Morgan　said　carefully。　'I　caught　two　separate　and　distinct　identities。　One　was　only　a　priestly　presence；　but　the　other　…　well；　who　could　it　have　been　besides　Saint　Camber？〃
Duncan　nodded；　leaning　the　heels　of　both　hands　on　the　edge　of　the　altar　to　gaze　down　at　the　ring　again。　〃It　wasn't　a　manifestation　this　time；　though　…　just　a　memory。〃　He　flashed　a　smile。　〃But　it　may　be　the　only　true　relic　of　Saint　Camber　that　we　have　…　something　he　actually　touched。　I　wonder　what　it　was。〃
〃Well；　if　Istelyn's　ring　really　was　made　from　melted…down　altar　plate；　maybe　it　could　be　traced；〃　Morgan　said。　〃It's　said　Camber's　son　was　a　priest。　Perhaps　the　chalice　or　paten　belonged　to　him。　Perhaps　Camber　gave　it　to　him　…　an　ordination　gift　or　something　of　that　sort。　In　any　case；　it　might　be　possible　to　find　out　where　they　got　the　gold　to　make　the　ring。〃
〃Perhaps。〃　Duncan　smiled　again。　〃Incidentally；　did　I　tell　you　that　Kelson's　keen　to　restore　the　cult　of　Saint　Camber？〃
〃Oh？　He's　never　mentioned　that　to　me。〃
〃Me　either。　I　just　happened　to　overhear。　Perhaps　it's　only　just　begun　to　take　shape　in　his　own　mind。　He　was　telling　Dhugal　about　it　when　I　met　them　in　the　cathedral；　just　before　you　found　us。　And　Dhugal　…　has　Kelson　told　you　about　him？〃
〃About　his　shields？　Oh；　yes。　I　was　on　the　receiving　end　when　he　pushed　Kelson　out　of　the　link；　the　night　you　nearly　got　killed。　There　hasn't　been　time　to　investigate　further；　since　we　got　back。〃
〃Well；　I've　had　a　go　at　him；　if　only　briefly；〃　Duncan　said。　〃Oddly　enough；　he　doesn't　recoil　from　my　probe　the　way　he　does　from　Kelson's；　I　simply　can't　get　through。　I've　no　idea　where　he　got　shields　like　that。　Unfortunately；　Kelson　tried　to　join　in　on　my　probe　after　the　first　few　seconds　…　with　rather　devastating　consequences　for　poor　Dhugal。　If　you've　gotten　the　impression　he's　been　trying　to　avoid　us　these　past　two　days；　that's　undoubtedly　why。〃
Morgan　nodded。　〃I　can't　say　I　blame　h