kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第8部分

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e　lost　blood　faster　…　but　otherwise；　he　shouldn't　stir　until　morning。〃
As　the　two　of　them　stood；　Dhugal　gathering　up　his　sword　and　plaid。　Kelson　signalled　one　of　his　men　to　attend。　Dhugal　gave　brief　instructions；　but　then　he　and　Kelson　moved　off　slowly　toward　the　edge　of　the　camp　which　had　formed　around　them　while　they　worked；　Wordlessly；　Kelson　took　the　sword　and　plaid　while　Dhugal　began　adjusting　his　armor。
The　two　were　nearly　of　a　height；　side　by　side。　Kelson　perhaps　a　few　fingers　taller　and　a　little　heavier；　though　neither　had　yet　e　into　their　true　man's　growth。　Before；　Kelson　had　thought　Dhugal's　copper…colored　hair　cut　short；　but　now；　as　Dhugal　pulled　off　his　mail　coif　and　ran　fingers　under　the　neck　of　his　brigandine　in　the　back　to　free　his　hair。　Kelson　saw　that　it　was　even　longer　than　his　own；　drawn　to　the　nape　of　the　neck　in　border　fashion　and　plaited　in　a　short　braid　tied　with　a　leather　thong。　He　took　the　coif　as　the　young　borderman　began　buckling　the　front　closures　of　the　brigandine；　leaning　against　a　tree　to　watch　indulgently　until　Dhugal；　with　a　roguish　grin；　reached　out　to　finger　a　strand　of　Kelson's　shoulder…length　hair。
〃So　that's　what　es　of　having　no　wars　for　the　past　two　years；〃　Dhugal　said；　dropping　the　lock　and　taking　back　the　sword　to　loop　its　baldric　over　his　shoulder。　〃Decadently　long　hair；　like　any　mon　borderer。　I　wonder　how　you'd　look　in　a　border　braid？〃
〃Why　don't　you　invite　me　home　to　greet　your　father　and　sample　highland　hospitality；　and　perhaps　you'll　see；〃　Kelson　returned　with　a　smile；　giving　him　back　his　plaid　and　coif。　〃If　I　haven't　already　scandalized　my　men　simply　by　being　Deryni；　then　playing　at　being　a　wild　border　chieftain　will　surely　turn　the　trick。　You've　changed；　Dhugal。〃
〃So　have　you。〃
〃Because　I've　acquired　…　magic？〃
〃No；　because　you've　acquired　a　crown。〃　Dhugal　lowered　his　eyes；　fingering　the　leather…lined　mail　of　the　coif。　〃Despite　what　you　said　before；　you　are　the　king　now。〃
〃And　does　that　make　a　difference？〃
〃You　know　it　does。〃
〃Then；　let　it　be　a　positive　difference；〃　Kelson　said。　〃You　yourself　admitted　that　with　the　power　I've　been　given；　both　temporal　and　…　other　…　I　now　have　the　power　to　do　greater　good。　Perhaps　some　of　the　things　that　we　only　dreamed　about　when　we　were　boys。　God　knows；　I　loved　my　father；　and　I　miss　him　terribly；　but　there　are　things　I'd　have　done　differently；　if　I'd　been　faced　with　some　of　the　things　he　had　to　face。　Now　I　have　that　chance。〃
〃And　does　that　make　a　difference？〃　Dhugal　asked。
Kelson　shrugged。　〃I'm　alive　…　and　my　father　is　dead。　I've　kept　the　peace　for　two　years　now。〃
〃And　the　peace　is　being　threatened　in　Meara。　That's　part　of　what　this　was　all　about；　you　know。〃　Dhugal　gestured　around　him　at　the　resting　men　and　the　knot　surrounding　the　prisoners　across　the　glade。　〃We've　always　had　a　raiding　problem　in　the　highlands　…　it's　part　of　our　way　of　life　…　but　some　of　these　men；　on　both　sides；　are　at　least　sympathetic　to　the　Lady　Caitrin's　cause。〃　He　made　a　face。　〃She's　my　aunt；　you　know。〃
Kelson　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Is　she？〃
〃Aye。　My　Uncle　Sicard's　wife。　Sicard　and　my　father　haven't　spoken　for　years；　but　border　blood　runs　thick；　as　you　know。　Some　wonder　that　we　don't　support　them；　being　so　far　from　central　Gwynedd　and　all。　I'm　surprised　you　didn't　catch　some　inkling　of　that　during　your　progress　this　summer。　Isn't　that　the　sort　of　thing　you're　supposed　to　be　able　to　do　now；　with　your　new　powers？〃
The　question　was　not　at　all　hostile；　but　it　was　clear　that　Dhugal　was　fishing　for　reassurance；　as　uncertain　as　any　of　his　men　about　just　what　a　Deryni　king　could　and　could　not　do。
〃I'm　not　omnipotent；　Dhugal；〃　Kelson　said　quietly；　looking　the　other　in　the　eyes。　〃I　can　tell　whether　a　man　is　lying；　with　very　little　effort　…　it's　called　Truth…Reading　…　but　to　actually　learn　the　truth；　I　need　to　ask　the　right　questions。〃
〃I　…　thought　that　Deryni　could　read　minds；〃　Dhugal　whispered。　And　though　he　did　not　break　eye　contact；　Kelson　needed　no　Deryni　senses　to　know　what　courage　that　took；　operating　from　ignorance　as　Dhugal　was。　That　Dhugal　trusted　him；　there　was　no　question；　but　despite　his　earlier　protestations　that　he　was　not　afraid　of　what　Kelson　had　bee；　certain　fears　could　only　be　allayed　by　experience　…　and　that；　Dhugal　did　not　have　yet。
〃We　can；〃　Kelson　murmured。　〃But　we　don't；　among　our　friends；　unless　we're　invited。　And　the　first　time；　even　among　Deryni；　it　almost　requires　some　kind　of　physical　contact。〃
〃Like　the　way　you　touched　Bertie's　forehead？〃
〃Yes。〃
Dhugal　let　out　an　audible　sigh　and　lowered　his　eyes；　self…consciously　wrapping　his　plaid　around　his　shoulders　like　a　mantle　and　fussing　with　a　brooch　to　secure　it。　When　he　had　adjusted　it　to　his　satisfaction；　he　gave　Kelson　a　brief；　bright　smile。
〃Well；　then。　I　suppose　we　ought　to　see　whether　the　others　have　gotten　anything　else　out　of　the　prisoners。　You　won't　forget　what　I　said　about　highland　loyalties；　will　you？〃
Kelson　smiled。　〃I　told　you　how　I　go　about　learning　whether　a　man　is　lying。　How　do　you　do　it？〃
〃Why；　we　highland　folk　have　the　Second　Sight；　don't　you　know？〃　Dhugal　quipped。　〃Ask　anyone　in　my　father's　hall　about　Meara；　and　her　greedy　would…be　princess。〃
〃Well；　then；　if　it's　Meara；　I　suppose　I'd　better　be　back　there；　e　spring；〃　Kelson　replied。　〃And　with　men　beside　me　who　understand　what's　happening。　Maybe　even　men　who　have　this　…　Second　Sight。　Would　your　father　let　you　e　to　court；　do　you　think？〃
〃If　you　asked　it　as　king；　he'd　have　no　choice。〃
〃And　what　is　your　choice？〃　Kelson　asked。
Dhugal　grinned。　〃We　were　like　brothers　once。　Kelson。　We　still　make　a　good　team。〃　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　the　sleeping　Bertie　and　back　again。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
〃I　think；〃　said　Kelson；　〃that　we　should　ride　up　to　Transha　in　the　morning　and　find　out　what　he'll　say。〃


CHAPTER　THREE
And　thou　shalt　put　the　mitre　upon　his　head。。。
Exodus　29：6
The　rain　which　had　been　only　an　annoyance　to　Kelson；　in　Transha；　had　turned　to　storm　by　the　time　it　reached　Culdi　the　following　afternoon。　Stamping　mud　from　the　soles　of　thigh…high　riding　boots；　Morgan　paused　just　inside　the　doorway　to　the　guest　apartments　at　Culdi　Abbey　to　shake　more　water　from　his　streaming　leather　cloak。　He　and　Duncan　had　intended　to　ride　in　the　hills　nearby　as　soon　as　the　afternoon　session　of　the　consistory　adjourned；　but　the　unexpected　storm　had　neatly　stymied　that　plan。　Now　the　iron　grey　R'Kassan　stud　moping　down　in　the　bishop's　barn　would　have　to　wait　another　day；　and　perhaps　longer；　he　and　his　master　both　growing　surly　and　restless　from　the　forced　inactivity。　It　hardly　seemed　fair；　especially　with　Kelson　out　enjoying　himself。
Blowing　on　gloved　fingers　to　warm　them；　Morgan　stalked　on　along　the　corridor　toward　Duncan's　temporary　quarters　and　indulged　a　brief　fantasy　about　a　rainstorm　in　Transha；　too。　The　notion　brought　a　smile　to　his　lips。　None　of　the　servants　were　about　when　he　let　himself　into　the　mon　room　Duncan　shared　with　his　master；　Archbishop　Cardiel；　so　he　built　up　the　fire　himself　and　set　wine　to　mull；　spreading　his　sodden　cloak　on　a　stool　to　dry　and　shedding　cap　and　gloves。　Half　an　hour　later；　Duncan　found　his　friend　ensconced　in　a　deeply　recessed　window　seat　which　overlooked　the　cloister　garth；　boots　propped　indolently　on　the　stone　bench　opposite　and　a　steaming　cup　all　but　forgotten　in　one　hand。　His　nose　was　pressed　to　the　rain…streaked　window　glass；　free　hand　shading　his　eyes　against　glare。
〃I　see　I　was　right；〃　Duncan　said；　casting　off　his　black　cloak　and　rubbing　his　hands　briskly　before　the　fire。　〃When　I　saw　how　hard　it　was　raining；　I　guessed　that　even　you　wouldn't　choose　to　ride　in　this　kind　of　weather。　What　are　you　looking　at？〃
〃The　ambitious　Father　Judhael；〃　Morgan　replied；　not　moving　from　his　vantage　point。　〃e　and　see。〃
Duncan　needed　no　second　invitation；　for　Judhael　of　Meara　was　probably　the　single　most　controversial　candidate　being　evaluated　by　the　bishops。　Though　unimpeachable　on　ecclesiastical　grounds；　and　personable　enough　as　an　individual；　his　family　connections　inspired　more　suspicion　than　confidence　among　those　aware　of　the　politics　which　went　with　the　Mearan　See；　for　Judhael　was　nephew　to　the　Pretender　Caitrin。　Just　now；　he　was　standing　outside　the　door　to　the　chapter　house；　deep　in　conversation　with　old　Creoda　of　Carbury；　Bishop　of　the　new　See　of　Culdi　since　last　winter　and　host　for　this　convocation。　Only　when　the　two　had　moved　off　down　another　corridor　and　disappeared　from　sight　did　Duncan　draw　back　from　the　window。
〃I　don't　like　that；〃　the　priest　said　softly；　glancing　at　Morgan　with　tight…lipped　disapproval。　〃Old　Creoda　can　change　with　the　wind。　You　remember　how　he　stayed　by　Loris　almost　to　the　end；　two　summers　ago。　When　the　bishops　decided　to　phase　out　his　old　see；　I　thought　for　sure　they'd　retire　him。　Who　would　have　guessed　they'd　give　him　Culdi　instead？〃
〃Hmmm；　I　shan't　argue　that；〃　Morgan　agreed。　〃He　certainly　wouldn't　have　been　my　choice　for　a　see　so　closely　associated　with　a　Deryni　saint。　But　perhaps　they　thought　Carsten　would　balance　him；　with　Culdi　being　so　close　to　Meara。　I　doubt　anyone　expected　that　Carsten　wouldn't　last　out　the　？　ear。〃
Duncan　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃No？　But　then；　no　one　asked　me。　Carsten's　health　had　been　frail　for　some　time。　Everyone　in　Kierney