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！
t； even if speculation was rampant。 In fact； before you were elected to the episcopate； probably half our fellow bishops had pretty much decided that you were Deryni； but that it probably didn't matter。 Of course； that was before you decided to confirm the rumors and flaunt what you are in front of the entire court。 It could be worse； I suppose。 You could have done it at the altar； in full pontificals。 Now； wouldn't that have been a coup？〃
〃But； I never would have…〃
〃I don't know what you never would have done！〃 Arilan snapped。 〃Not anymore。 All I know is that you've made a great deal of trouble for a great many people。 I hope you're quite satisfied。〃
Duncan breathed out audibly； not quite a snort； and clasped his hands in a careful gesture of control； fingers intertwined； gazing at his bishop's ring。 Would Arilan never let him be？ Morgan wondered how much more of this he could take。
〃I…suppose I…should have thought through the possible consequences more carefully before I acted；〃 Duncan said after a few seconds； in a conciliatory tone。 〃I'm sorry if I've made your position more difficult。〃 He looked up at Arilan tentatively。 〃Any advice； now that it's done？〃
With a wry； grudging nod； Arilan turned to face Duncan squarely； still totally unyielding in posture and expression。
〃So；〃 he said softly； 〃have I finally made you realize the seriousness of the situation？〃
Miserably； Duncan nodded。
〃Good； then。 Maybe now we can do something constructive。〃 Arilan paced back to the little altar； thinking； then came back to look down at Duncan again。
〃Very well。 You're probably safe enough for now； and so am I。 So are those other Deryni priests you had no idea existed。 You're still also a bishop as well as a priest…for now…but if I were you； I'd keep a very low profile。〃
〃No more ashes today？〃 Duncan said； with a strained attempt at a smile。
Arilan nodded。 〃Especially； no more ashes。 In fact； it might be wise if you became seriously indisposed； indefinitely。 Perhaps you shouldn't even go to the synod。 And if you do intend to continue public celebration of Mass； at least for the time being； I suggest you let it be known that you intend to take the earliest one； since it's already sparsely attended。 That way； people can make their own decision about whether they want a Deryni priest to minister to them。〃
He picked up a black cloak with capelets and slung it around his shoulders。
〃You're just damned lucky no one bolted this morning； when you were distributing ashes。 I hope you realize that。 You and I both know that if you'd wanted to； even that brief contact…long enough to trace a cross on a man's brow… would have been long enough to take over just about any mind that approached that altar rail。 Fortunately； they don't know that。 And Ash Wednesday only happens once a year。〃
Duncan sighed； shoulders slumped dejectedly； and Morgan started to move quickly out of Arilan's way as the Deryni bishop glanced at the door； but Arilan stepped on the squared cross of the Transfer Portal in the center of the room instead。
〃Very well； then；〃 Arilan said。 〃I'll leave you now。 I may or may not be back in time for the privy council meeting。 If I'm not； please give Kelson my regrets。 Now that I've gotten your explanation of why you did what you did； I have to try to explain it to some other people who already look on the two of you with a somewhat jaundiced eye。〃
〃The Camberian Council；〃 Duncan breathed。 〃Well； I don't suppose it can make matters any worse。〃
〃Not for you；〃 Arilan replied； without a trace of humor in his voice。 〃And as for you；〃 he went on； for the first time even acknowledging Morgan's presence； 〃I'd better not ever find out it was you who put him up to this。〃
Morgan only shook his head； truly afraid of Arilan in that instant for the first time in his life。 But Arilan only gave him a final； stern look； then bowed his head and closed his eyes to make the Portal connection…and disappeared。 Only when several seconds had passed did Duncan heave a great； shuddering sigh and sign for Morgan to lock the door。
〃I'm sorry you had to witness that；〃 Duncan said； rising woodenly to begin unknotting the girdle of violet silk binding his waist。 〃He was waiting for me when we came back from Mass。 Poor Shandon never knew what hit him。〃
Across the room； the younger priest still slumped against the vestment press； oblivious to what had gone on。 Morgan went to him； checking for a pulse and extending his own controls to override what Arilan had set； then glanced at Duncan。
〃No harm done； though it was damned inconsiderate of Arilan to leave us his dirty work to finish up。 Shall I put him through the motions while you finish changing？〃
Duncan's muffled assent came from inside the alb he was pulling off over his head。 Smiling mirthlessly； Morgan returned his attention to the unconscious Shandon； shifting one hand to the man's brow。
〃All right。 Father； you've napped long enough。 You're not to remember anything that's happened since you came back from Mass。 Not Bishop Arilan's presence； or what he did to you； or any of the conversation that took place…or even these instructions。 When I tell you to； you're just going to open your eyes and finish unvesting。 I came in while your back was turned。 Be aware of your heartbeat now and； when you've counted ten； wake up and follow the instructions I've just given you。〃
He released the man then and went to help Duncan do up the buttons of the plain black cassock he had exchanged for his more formal purple one。
Part of your new； low profile？ Morgan sent silently； as Shandon stirred and began taking off his own vestments； as if there had been no interruption whatsoever。
〃I suppose I should be glad you got here at all；〃 Duncan replied verbally； one eyebrow raised in wry disapproval as he wrapped the cassock's plain； black silk cincture around his waist and let Morgan help fasten it。 〃Assisting the priest to dress is no substitute for hearing Mass； though。 What am I going to do with you？〃
It was an old game they played； though Morgan could sense the edge of leftover turmoil beneath the familiar banter。 But they must keep it up for Shandon's sake。
〃Why； continue to pray for me； I should imagine。 I… ah…didn't get as much sleep as I should have liked。 You were right about the Vezaire port。〃
〃Hmmm； I dare say。〃
Duncan thrust his arms distractedly through the sleeve openings of a black； fur…lined mantle that Morgan held for him。 Then； almost as an afterthought； he picked up his jewelled pectoral cross； kissed it； and looped its chain over his head； though he tucked the cross itself inside his cassock so only the chain showed。 He was cool and distant now that Arilan was gone； his mind close…shuttered； almost as if he were angry with Morgan。
〃Is the king waiting for us？〃 Morgan asked； to get conversation rolling again。
〃Yes。 He and Dhugal are poring over maps in the library。 He was disappointed you didn't join them for Mass。 Father Shandon； we'll be in the library for the rest of the morning。 After that； we'll be at a privy council meeting。 Alaric； are you ing？〃
Not until they were outside the sacristy and moving along the ambulatory aisle that ran behind the high altar did Morg