kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第53部分

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fire　with　an　impatient　gesture　when　he　could　not　readily　locate　the　stud　by　touch　alone。　By　the　greenish　light；　he　found　the　stud　at　last　…　he　had　been　searching　the　wrong　er　initially。　When　he　pushed　it；　the　adjacent　wall　pivoted　away　from　him　with　a　soft　hush　of　still　air　stirred；　also　pushing　back　a　heavy　tapestry　that　ordinarily　concealed　the　door's　outline。
The　room　beyond　was　deserted；　softly　lit　by　daylight　filtering　through　the　amber　glass　mullions　of　the　window　to　their　right。　A　fireplace　dominated　the〃　left…hand　wall；　with　a　thick　carpet　covering　the　stone　floor　before　it。　There　Morgan　laid　the　unconscious　Dhugal；　making　a　pillow　of　his　cloak　to　cushion　the　boy's　head。　A　few　soft…spoken　words　closed　the　door　to　the　Portal　chamber　and　brought　flame　to　torches　set　in　wall　cressets。　As　an　afterthought；　as　Morgan　knelt　down　beside　the　boy；　he　quenched　the　handfire　hovering　at　his　shoulder；　no　sense　having　that　frighten　Dhugal　when　he　came　to。
And　there　was　certainly　enough　to　frighten　him　without　that。　Even　in　unconsciousness；　the　reaction　triggered　in　the　cathedral　continued　to　pulse　around　Dhugal's　tight…locked　shields。　An　added　plication　was　the　constant　ache　of　his　injuries；　only　aggravated　by　Morgan's　less　than　gentle　handling　…　but　for　that；　at　least；　Morgan　might　have　a　solution。
〃Let's　just　see　if　I　can　heal　around　those　shields；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　quickly　unlacing　the　thongs　closing　Dhugal's　tunic　front　and　the　shirt　beneath。
A　wide　bandage　bound　the　bruised　chest；　but　if　Morgan　took　the　time　to　remove　it；　Dhugal　might　regain　consciousness　before　he　was　finished。　No　matter。　He　could　work　around　it。　Laying　his　palms　on　Dhugal's　chest　above　and　below　the　turns　of　greyish　linen；　hands　rising　and　falling　with　Dhugal's　shallow　breathing；　he　slid　his　fingertips　as　far　under　the　bandage　from　either　side　as　he　could；　already　reaching　out　with　his　mind　to　read　the　damage　as　he　closed　his　eyes　and　let　out　a　long；　slow　breath。　Dhugal's　shields　were　avoidable　at　this　level　…　　perceivable　as　an　annoyance；　a　distraction；　but　they　did　not　interfere。　Without　further　hesitation；　Morgan　shifted　into　the　healing　mode　which　had　bee　more　and　more　second　nature　in　the　past　three　years；　letting　his　senses　extend　through　his　hands　and　into　Dhugal's　body。
The　damage　was　not　great。　This　healing　would　require　very　little　drain　of　him；　for　life　energy　was　not　threatened。　Smoothly；　Morgan　set　the　healing　process　in　motion；　mending　torn　cartilage　and　muscle；　knitting　bone；　sending　rich；　life…bearing　blood　to　melt　away　the　bruising；　not　only　in　Dhugal's　chest　but　in　all　parts　of　his　body。　He　felt　it　in　himself　as　a　tingling　and　a　resonance　which　reached　to　the　furthest　ers　of　his　being；　evoking　such　a　surge　of　Joy　that　the　pleasure　was　almost　pain。　With　that　came　the　fleeting　but　familiar　impression　of　unseen　hands　superimposed　on　his　own　…　the　Camber　touch；　as　he　had　e　to　think　of　it。
Then　the　flow　was　slacking　and　he　was　opening　his　eyes；　a　little　light…headed　until　he　remembered　to　take　a　few　deep　breaths；　he　sometimes　forgot　to　breathe　as　much　as　he　should；　when　in　his　healing　trance。　He　blinked　and　settled　back　into　normal　consciousness；　heaving　another　deep　sigh；　then　began　slowly　undoing　the　bandages　which　still　bound　Dhugal's　chest。　As　he　gently　eased　his　patient　to　a　half…sitting　position　against　his　knee；　to　unwind　from　behind；　Dhugal's　eyelids　fluttered　and　he　groaned。
〃Just　take　it　easy；　my　young　friend；〃　Morgan　murmured；　bracing　the　boy　with　one　arm　while　he　continued　to　unwind　the　bandage。　〃You'll　be　fine　in　a　few　seconds。　I'm　sorry　I　had　to　take　you　out　the　way　I　did；　but　it　was　either　that　or　hit　you。　It　seemed　to　me　you'd　had　enough　of　hitting　lately。　And　it　was　obvious　I　wasn't　going　to　be　able　to　use　the　approach　I　used　on　Brother　Jerome。〃
〃On　Brother　Jerome　…　〃　Dhugal　repeated　groggily。　〃What　did　you　…　what're　you　doing？〃
〃Taking　off　your　bandages。〃
〃But　…　〃
〃Well；　you　don't　need　them　anymore；〃　Morgan　replied；　pulling　the　last　turn　free　of　Dhugal's　shirt　and　sitting　back　on　his　heels　to　begin　winding　the　linen　into　a　roll　as　he　saw　that　Dhugal　was　capable　of　sitting　on　his　own。
Dhugal　blinked　and　glanced　down　stupidly　at　his　bare　chest　inside　his　shirt；　touching　tentative　fingertips　to　the　once…bruised　ribs；　then　shivered　as　he　looked　up　again；　his　face　pinched　and　still。
〃Did　you　…　heal　me？〃　he　whispered。
Morgan　finished　winding　up　the　bandage　and　tossed　it　onto　a　chair　behind　him；　not　taking　his　eyes　from　Dhugal's。
〃I　did。　Would　you　rather　I'd　left　you　in　pain？〃
Confusion　played　on　Dhugal's　face　for　an　instant；　old　fear　warring　with　new　curiosity；　and　then　the　boy　warily　lay　back　on　his　makeshift　pillow；　gaze　shifting　deliberately　to　the　fireplace。
〃You　used　your　magic　on　me；　didn't　you？　And　on　that　monk。〃
〃Brother　Jerome？〃　Morgan　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know　that　I'd　really　call　that　magic。　It's　one　of　the　things　I　can　do　as　a　Deryni；　but　…　〃　He　shrugged　again　and　managed　a　tentative　smile。
〃As　for　the　healing；　I　don't　think　that's　magic　…　but　I　suppose　I'd　be　hard…pressed　to　tell　you　what　I　do　think　it　is。　So　far　as　Duncan　and　I　can　figure　out；　it's　a　rare　talent　even　among　Deryni。　Other　than　ourselves；　we　haven't　found　anyone　else　who　can　do　it　…　except　for　a　human　named　Warm　de　Grey。　And　he　thinks　that　his　gift　es　from　God。　Maybe　it　does。　Maybe　that's　the　source　of　our　healing　as　well。〃
〃And　that's　what　makes　you　say　it　isn't　magic？〃　Dhugal　asked。　〃Because　someone　who　isn't　Deryni　can　do　it；　too？〃
Morgan　cocked　his　head　tentatively。　〃I　don't　know　that　I've　ever　given　it　much　thought。　I　consider　most　of　what　I　do　as　a　talent　…　that's　all。　Magic　is　mostly　…　oh；　something　that　Charissa　did　to　kill　King　Brion；　or　what　Wencit　of　Torenth　did。　You've　at　least　heard　rumors　about　those；　I'm　sure。〃
〃But　those　were　evil　things；〃　Dhugal　objected。　〃Are　you　saying　that　if　powers　are　used　for　good；　they're　talents；　but　if　they're　used　for　evil；　they're　magic？〃
Morgan　could　not　help　chuckling　at　the　simple　logic。
〃I　suppose　I　have　e　off　sounding　as　if　that's　what　I　meant；〃　he　admitted；　shifting　to　a　sitting　position　on　the　carpet　to　ease　his　cramped　knees。　〃Actually；　I　suppose　I　was　reacting　to　your　negative　view　of　magic　…　the　negative　view　most　people　have；　for　that　matter。　Magic　simply　has　to　do　with　harnessing　power　which　is　not　accessible　to　most　people。　The　power　itself　…　Let　me　try　to　put　it　to　you　another　way。　Power　exists。　Correct？〃
〃Of　course。〃
〃I　think　you'll　even　grant　me　that　many　kinds　of　power　exist　…　that　power　can　e　from　many　sources。　Yes？〃
Dhugal　nodded。
〃Good。　Let's　take　fire　as　just　one　example　of　power；　then；〃　Morgan　went　on；　rubbing　his　hands　together　briskly　and　holding　them　toward　the　cold　hearth　as　he　glanced　back　at　Dhugal。　〃Fire　can　be　used　for　many　beneficial　purposes。　It　can　give　us　light；　like　those　torches　on　the　walls；〃　he　gestured　vaguely　with　his　chin；　〃and　it　can　warm　a　room。〃
A　mental　nudge　sent　flames　springing　up　bright　from　the　kindling　already　laid；　and　Dhugal　scrambled　to　a　sitting　position　to　stare。
〃How　did　you　do　that？〃
〃I　think　it's　sufficient　for　now　to　acknowledge　that　I　did　it；〃　Morgan　replied；　〃and　that　providing　light　or　heating　a　cold　room　are　good　things。　But　fire　can　also　be　destructive　when　out　of　control　or　when　turned　to　evil　use。　It　can　bum　down　a　house　…　or　heat　hot　irons　to　take　a　man's　sight。〃
His　expression　hardened　as　the　memory　surfaced　of　a　Deryni　lord　who；　half　a　century　before；　had　allowed　himself　to　be　blinded　to　ransom　captive　Deryni　children：　Barrett　de　Laney；　one　of　the　most　venerable　members　of　the　Camberian　Council　…　the　same　Camberian　Council　that　scorned　Morgan　and　Duncan　for　being　only　half　Deryni；　even　though　the　two　〃half…breeds〃　could　heal。
As　Morgan's　old　bitterness　welled　to　the　surface；　Dhugal　suddenly　became　very　still　and　stared　at　him；　the　rigid　shields　blurring　just　a　little　for　the　first　time　since　Morgan　had　bee　aware　of　them。　Clear　as　sunlight；　passion　surged　across　the　intervening　space：　pure；　clean；　untainted　by　fear　or　mistrust。
〃Did　you　see　someone　blinded　that　way？〃　Dhugal　asked　softly。
As　Morgan　glanced　at　him　in　surprise；　the　shields　tightened　down　immediately；　but　Morgan　thought　he　saw　a　new　note　of　acceptance　in　the　tawny　eyes　which　continued　to　meet　his　bravely　…　perhaps　an　echo　of　Dhugal's　own　interest　in　healing；　if　only　from　the　limited　sphere　of　his　training　as　a　battle　surgeon。　Suddenly　Morgan　wondered　whether　Dhugal　was　Deryni；　and　perhaps　a　potential　healer；　at　that。
〃No；　I　never　saw　it　done；〃　he　said　hesitantly；　〃and　thank　God　for　that　…　but　it's　been　a　mon　enough　practice　through　the　centuries。　I　have　a　…　an　acquaintance　who　lost　his　sight　that　way。〃　He　blinked。　〃But　this　is　not　the　time　to　digress。　I've　pointed　out　some　of　the　things　that　fire　does。　Does　that　make　the　fire　good　or　evil？〃
〃It　isn't　either；〃　Dhugal　replied　carefully。　〃It's　how　the　fire's　used。　The　same　hot　iron　that　cost　your　friend　his　sight　also　could　have　been　used　to　cauterize　a　wound。〃
Morgan　nodded；　pleased。　〃So　it　could。　And　what　does　that　tell　you　about　power　in　general？〃
〃That　it　isn't　the　power　…　it's　how　the　power's　used　that　makes　it　constructive　or　destructive。〃　Dhugal　paused　for　jus