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！
y meal the archbishop's servants quickly served up in the refectory。 Rain had continued to pelt down through the night and was still falling heavily the next morning when it was time to go to the cathedral for the solemn High Mass that would open the synod。 Neither Kelson nor Dhugal slept well。
It was cold in the cathedral； despite heavy clothing…damp and dreary and dark； despite the blaze of candles burning on the altar and the torches lighting the aisles。 Kelson had begun to wonder if he would ever see the sun again。 He huddled down in his cloak and tried to get warm as he knelt beside Dhugal in the choir and heard Mass； but he was miserable。 And most of his carefully rehearsed speech was going out of his head as his sinuses filled up…and more being lost； every time he sneezed。
By the time Mass was over and everyone began moving on to the chapter house。 Kelson hardly cared that this was the place where a similar gathering of prelates and other clergy had declared Camber MacRorie a saint； two hundred years before…or even that； for a time； one of the cathedral's side chapels had been consecrated to the Deryni saint。 He sneezed repeatedly in the relatively short length of time it took him to go from the choir； through the south transept； and out through the processional door to the cloister walk。 The state of his humor and his already damp handkerchief were not improved by having to dab continually at his reddened nose。
Nor did it count for much that the cloister walk was covered； for Archbishop Bradene's secretary bade Kelson and his party wait outside the chapter house entrance while the milling prelates and other clerics found their places and an episcopal chamberlain tried to bring the gathering to order。 The entryway was cold and windy； even standing in the lee of Dhugal's cloaked and hooded form； with rain blowing through the arched and pillared colonnades of the cloister's inside perimeter and puddling on the paving stones。 Kelson was surprised the puddles were not icing over and said as much to Dhugal。 He only barely resisted a show of royal temper when the rest of his party were invited to go in and find seats on the top tier of benches； leaving him and Dhugal to freeze。
The filthy weather had not even permitted the king to wear the court garb customary for such an important occasion。 He had been reduced to wearing his thickest wool breeches and not one but two heavy wool tunics； with heavy； thick…soled riding boots that came to mid…thigh…not that anyone was likely to notice； under the bulky； fur…lined cloak。 Nor had he bothered with the heavy state crown； in this weather。 The bishops would just have to settle for the plain band of hammered gold that was constricting his forehead inside his fur…lined hood。
At least the hall looked reasonably dry inside； though several puddles growing near the open doorway might bespeak roof problems rather than just blowing rain。 And it was hardly more light inside than out； despite the torches set in cressets around the walls for general illumination and the rushlights on the table where the darks would take down the proceedings…though it had to be warmer inside。 Haifa dozen firepots had been positioned around the perimeter of the room at floor level； with a seventh smoldering cheerily between the archbishops' thrones on the dais…probably vain attempts to take the edge off the damp and chill； but Kelson resolved to end up near one of them； no matter what else happened。
As he slipped his sheathed sword from its hangers and gave it to Dhugal to hold； crowding a little closer to move out of the puddle growing at his feet； he had about reached the point that he was ready to go inside anyway； regardless of what the archbishop's secretary wanted…though it really had not been that long； he knew。
Then he sneezed again； several times in rapid succession…and when he could see properly； after blowing his nose。 the chamberlain was nearly at his side already； with a look of extreme solicitude for the king and a reproving glance for the archbishop s secretary。
〃Father； you should have let His Majesty wait inside the doors out of the wind；〃 said the chamberlain； a portly priest of middle years named Father Elroy。 〃Sire； I'm dreadfully sorry The weather has everything askew。 Please e in Would you prefer to sit or stand for your address？〃
〃I'd prefer to lie down；〃 Kelson said sourly； 〃though since that doesn't seem to be one of the available options 1 suppose 111 sit。 I don't know that I could speak from a supine position anyway…I'm sorry。 Father；〃 he amended cutting himself off at Father Elroy's recoil to his sharp answer。 It isn't your fault I've got this beastly cold or that the weather s rotten。 Do you suppose we'll have forty days and forty nights of rain； for our sins？〃
Father Elroy managed a prim smile； uncertain whether to be mollified by the king's apology； annoyed at the slightly irreverent reference to Scripture； or still affronted。
〃Your Majesty surely recalls that the Lord vowed never to mete that punishment again and gave us the rainbow as sign of His promise。〃 The priest's reply had started out stuffy； but then his strait…laced expression softened to one of very human miseration。 〃On the other hand； Sire； thirty…nine days and nights would not surprise me； judging by what we've seen so far。〃
And at his wink； Kelson chuckled despite his misery and clapped Father Eiroy on the shoulder in appreciation as he moved on into the hall； wiping his nose again and then pushing back his hood。 Perhaps he could get through this after all。 It did seem a little warmer； now that he was out of the wind and damp。
〃My Lord Archbishops； Your Excellencies； Reverend Lords；〃 said the chamberlain； rapping his iron…shod staff to call them all to order； 〃His Majesty the King。〃
All those not already standing rose as Kelson strode across the tiled floor to approach the dais where the archbishops were enthroned。 Dhugal did not acpany him； but slipped into a place at the rear of the hall near Saer de Traheme and Jass； his back against the doors the archbishop's secretary closed and barred。
The prelates and other clerics bowed as Kelson passed； some of them with familiar faces； many not。 All of the bishops had chairs on the ground level of the circular chamber； each with a chaplain attending at his side； the rest stood in two rows along the tiered stone benches ringing the hall； some of them crowded very close。 Five of the chairs were empty： Duncan's； beside Cardiel； that of the vacant See of Meara； whose incumbent had been so brutally murdered more than a year before…and whose sainthood would be under consideration during the days and probably weeks to e； and those of the three titled bishops currently under suspension for their parts in or acquiescence to that murder； at least one of them almost certain to lose his office； if not his life； in addition to the freedom that he； like the other suspendees； had already lost。
No chairs had been set out at all for the five itinerant bishops also under suspension for the Mearan misadventure； though doubtless at least a few vacancies would be created and filled by the time the prelates finished disciplining their wayward brethren。 Father Lael had sh