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！
But perhaps there was another option。 If Rhidian had read the truth of their statements。。。
〃We therefore grant you an alternative to the stake；〃 Rhidian went on； her eyes never wavering from Kelson's。 〃A chance not only to win your freedom； but to redeem your Haldane line in the eyes of Saint Camber。〃
She paused； as if waiting for him to speak； but Kelson did not know what to say。 When it became obvious that she was not going to speak until he did； Kelson glanced at Dhu…eal taut and also waiting for him to make the next move； then coughed and returned his attention to the girl。
〃Do you speak for the Quorial； my lady？〃 he asked softly。
She inclined her head slightly。 〃I do。〃
〃May I ask if you also claim to speak for Saint Camber？〃
No emotion showed on her calm； childlike face； but several of the others murmured aside to one another and shifted uneasily in their seats。
〃We are the Servants of Saint Camber；〃 Rhidian said after a short pause。 〃We have kept his memory and veneration in secret for nearly two hundred years。 We do not claim to speak for him； but we believe that； from time to time； he speaks to those who trust in him and he makes his will known。〃
〃I see；〃 Kelson said。 〃And has he made his will known to you concerning us？〃
〃No； but I have undergone the cruaidh…dheuchainn and seen his face；〃 Rhidian said enigmatically。 〃If you would be pardoned for what you have done； you must do the same。〃
What's a cr…whatever she said？ Kelson sent to Dhugal。
I dunno and I don't think I want to find out； Dhugal returned。 Some kind of trial？
〃You have seen his face；〃 Kelson repeated aloud； trying to buy a little time。 〃How； if I told you that Dhugal and I have already seen Saint Camber's face from time to time？〃
The murmur of consternation that rippled through the audience and the Quorial threatened to drown him out； so Kelson did not attempt to say anything more。 After a moment； the motion died down and Rhidian looked at him again； with a disturbingly discerning gaze ing from a child。
〃If you were so bold as to tell me such a thing；〃 Rhidian answered； as if there had been no interruption； 〃I would say that you must prove your claim upon your body； by submitting to the cruaidh…dheuchainn； the periculum； the ordeal。〃
〃And what is that？〃 Kelson returned。
〃A ritual procedure。 You will see； in due time。〃
Uneasy； Kelson swallowed。
〃And why must we undergo this…ordeal？〃 he asked。 〃You're Deryni。 You know that I'm not lying about our contacts with Camber。〃
〃You are not lying； no；〃 Rhidian answered。 〃You believe that you speak the truth。 But the mind can deceive。 Our way is surer。 When you recount what you experience in the cruaidh…dheuchainn； we will know whether your contact has been genuine。〃
〃And what if we refuse to go through the cru…the ordeal？〃
〃Not the two of you； but you alone。 Kelson Haldane。〃
〃No！〃 Dhugal spoke up。 〃If it's to be only one of us； let me go！ He was badly injured。 I'm stronger。〃
As Rhidian's glance flicked to him； then to the others of the Quorial； Brother Michael shook his head。
〃No。 It must be the Haldane。〃
〃Why？〃 Dhugal demanded。 〃I've felt Camber's presence； too。〃
〃So you believe；〃 Michael said impatiently。 〃However； it is out of the question。〃
〃And how；〃 Kelson interjected； 〃if I were to refuse？〃
〃Then you both would burn for your crimes；〃 Bened spoke up； 〃though it would grieve us to consign fellow Deryni to the fire。 But the desecration of Sagart's tomb demands a sacrifice in repense…either by the flames or by the cruaidh…dheuchainn。〃
〃He will not refuse；〃 Rhidian broke in smoothly。 〃He is the Ard Righ； the high king； duly anointed and consecrated； oath…bound to protect his own。 Honor demands that he not place his own safety over that of his vassal or allow his vassal to take a place of danger in his stead。 Furthermore； if everything else is as he claims； then Kelson Haldane can； indeed； restore the Blessed Camber to his rightful veneration。〃
〃I can and will do it； my lady；〃 Kelson said。
Kelson； no！ Dhugal sent。
The subject is closed； was all Kelson sent in return。
〃Restore Saint Camber？〃 Jilyan asked skeptically。
〃And undergo your…ordeal； if that will win our freedom。 I have faith that Saint Camber will not desert me now。 after all we've been through together；〃 he added； far more confidently than he actually felt。
〃So be it； then；〃 Brother Michael said。 〃You will be conveyed to a place of preparation； where you may bathe and meditate。 The ritual will begin at sunset。〃
Kelson nodded。 〃May Dhugal acpany me in that； at least？〃
Bened started to object； but Michael shook his head and held up one hand。
〃After the ritual bath； yes；〃 he agreed。 〃And he may keep watch with the brethren while you are apart for the cruaidh…dheuchainn。 That much we grant you； because you are both Deryni。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Kelson said。 〃One further request…might we； perhaps； have something to eat？〃
This time； it was Jilyan who spoke up。
〃A strict fast is customary； to sharpen the senses； but you may have bread and water。 Personally； I would advise water only； knowing what you must endure。 Young MacArdry may eat； if he wishes。〃
〃I'll fast with my blood…brother；〃 Dhugal said stubbornly； though Kelson murmured that it was not necessary。
〃Very well； then；〃 Brother Michael said； standing。 〃Kelson Haldane； have we your oath； as king and knight…〃 He touched the spurs lying on the table in front of him； 〃…that neither you nor your panion will attempt to escape until the cruaidh…dheuchainn is pleted？〃
〃By Saint Camber； I swear it；〃 Kelson said。
〃And you guarantee young MacArdry？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃On your oath？〃
〃On my oath as king and knight。〃
〃So be it； then；〃 Brother Michael said。 〃Let the candidate and his panion be escorted to the place of preparation。〃
The sun was sinking low on the horizon； promising an early sunset behind the mountains； as Morgan and Duncan drew rein with Ciard and Jass to make camp for the night The air was thin and cold； and men and horses were spent。 They had lost the track of the underground river around noon； and everyone's spirits had flagged as the afternoon wore on and they found no further sign。
〃We're not going to find that river again；〃 Morgan said to Duncan； after he had picked halfheartedly at the stew Ciard made and then gave up on trying to eat it。 Jass was seeing to the horses and equipment； and Ciard was cleaning up the supper things。
Duncan； sipping listlessly at a cup of mulled ale； shook his head and set the cup aside； resting his chin on one knee。
〃I have to agree。 I don't like admitting to defeat any more than you do； but I'm afraid we've about reached the end of our resources。〃
Morgan sighed。 〃Do you think it's worth one last cast tonight； just to try once more to pick up some trace？ If we could even find bodies…〃
Duncan shook his head and breathed out heavily； not wanting to consider that eventuality any more than Morgan did； though even bodies were better than simply never knowing。
〃I don't know； Alaric。 I'm so tired； I can't think straight。 This mountain air's given me a headache。 They can't possibly be alive； though； after so long…can they？〃
〃I doubt it。〃
Morgan closed his eyes briefly； his gryphon s