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file past with the other bishops。
〃In the King's service； Excellency；〃 he murmured； thrusting the badge in Arilan's face but letting his shields slip to identify himself； though he kept his face averted from the others。 〃I have urgent dispatches。 May I deliver them in private？〃
Duncan！ What…
Arilan's surprise and consternation reverberated in Duncan's mind； but the other bishop did not betray even a hint of his reaction outwardly as he shut down again and nodded； leading Duncan wordlessly into the shadow of the night stairs so the other clerics could pass into the sunlit cloister yard beyond。
〃So； what 'dispatches；' courier？〃 he said coolly； as he turned to face Duncan again。 〃Am I to take it that a certain bishop has suffered a relapse？〃
〃He has； so far as anyone in Rhemuth knows；〃 Duncan said softly。 〃And I do have dispatches to be forwarded to the king。 But what I had to tell you in person is that Tiercel de Claron is dead。〃
He winced at the intensity of Arilan's recoil。
〃That's impossible。 Who told you that？〃
〃I saw the body； Denis；〃 Duncan whispered。 〃At least I'm fairly certain it's Tiercel； but you're the only one I know who could verify that。 I hope you're not angry that I left Rhemuth without permission； but there was no one else to send； under the circumstances。〃
〃No； you did right to e；〃 Arilan breathed。 〃Jesu…Maria； so that's why he didn't show at the last Council meeting。 How did it happen？〃
〃An accident； we think。〃
〃Who is we？〃
〃Nigel and I；〃 Duncan replied。 〃I had to tell someone。 I found the body in the hidden passageway that connects Dhugal's apartments with the basilica yard。 It looks as if he fell down the stairs and broke his neck。 He'd been there for a while。〃
〃How long； do you know？〃
Duncan shook his head。 〃It's hard to say。 A week？ Two weeks？ More？〃
〃Not as long as that。 I saw him the morning after Kelson's knighting。 That was Ash Wednesday…what； two weeks ago？ And you found the body when？〃
〃Sunday。〃
〃But what was Tiercel doing in that passageway？〃 Arilan went on。 〃I didn't think he knew about it。〃
〃Did he know about the Portal in my study？〃 Duncan asked； looking the other bishop in the eyes。
Arilan went close…shuttered； as if he were considering whether or not to answer； and Duncan wished he dared try to Truth…Read whatever response the bishop made。 But he knew Arilan would resist him； and there were still other clerics milling outside the processional door； some of them growing curious about the prolonged exchange between the Bishop of Dhassa and a royal courier。 Duncan dared not put them both at risk； just to satisfy his own pique。
〃Yes； he knew；〃 Arilan said carefully。 〃I informed the Council of its location last spring； after you showed me where it was。 I felt they ought to know； in case it was ever necessary for one of our number to reach one of you in an emergency。 It would have been far more convenient than the ones in the cathedral sacristy or the library。〃
Duncan sighed。 He supposed Arilan was telling the truth； but it made little difference just now。 Somehow； Tiercel had learned of the passageway and met his death there。 Odds were that he had e through the study Portal and entered the secret passage from the basilica yard； bound for some unknown destination in the castle； but equally possible… and a concern that had been bothering Duncan through most of the ride from Rhemuth…was that Tiercel had entered through Dhugal's apartments； after somehow getting past the wards on the library Portal。 Duncan was sure his son could have had nothing to do with Tiercel's death； but that possibility would occur to someone else； eventually。
〃I'll want to see the body immediately； of course；〃 Arilan suddenly said； breaking into Duncan's flight of speculation。 〃And then I'll need to summon the Council。 As you may have surmised； there's a Portal here in Valoret。 We'll use it。 Are you alone？〃
〃I have two men waiting in the yard；〃 Duncan murmured； 〃but they only know me as a courier named John。 Shall I dismiss them？〃
〃No； I'll see to that。 Wait in there。〃 With a nod of his head； Arilan indicated a chapel opening off the south transept。 〃You shouldn't be disturbed。 And if you can think of any good prayers appropriate to the situation； this is the time to say them。 I have to manufacture a good excuse to explain my absence for the next few hours。〃
Duncan obeyed without demur； kneeling unobtrusively at the altar rail in a far corner of the little chapel and keeping his face well in the shadow of his hood； but his mind was racing too busily for him to pray。 A fatigue…banishing spell was in order； too…for the third time in as many days； though he could not keep this up indefinitely。 But the jump back to the Portal in his study was a long one。 He had gone farther before； but never as physically exhausted as he was now。 He wondered where the Portal was at this end。
And poor Father Shandon； Duncan thought； when he had run through the spell twice to reinforce it； and recentered his remaining energy as best he could。 Without doubt； the loyal priest would be dutifully reciting prayers for the dead man in his care； but Duncan's precipitous arrival with Arilan would necessitate yet another tampering with the poor fellow's memory。
Duncan dozed a little in the more than half hour it took Arilan to return； though he came to attention immediately when the elder bishop beckoned from the chapel doorway。 Arilan had exchanged his episcopal purple for the caped black cloak Duncan had last seen him wear in Rhemuth； and he wore a plain black cassock underneath。 They were twin black shadows as they silently moved back through the south transept and right； toward the sacristy。 The door was standing open； the room empty； and Arilan closed the door softly behind them； after glancing back the way they had e。 No one appeared to have noticed their entry。
〃This is a little risky； using this Portal in the daytime。〃 Arilan said； 〃but we daren't wait until tonight。 I want a look at that body； before all trace of residual memory is gone… if it isn't already。〃
〃It is；〃 Duncan said； 〃unless you're that much better at reading than I am。 I did my best to leave a stasis on the body to retard further decay； but I don't know how well it will have held； without tending。 The coffin's warded； too； for whatever good that may have done。〃
Arilan grimaced。 〃I suppose that means you've moved the body。〃
〃Well； we could hardly leave him down there in the damp； for the rats。〃
〃No； no； I'm not criticizing。 You did everything else properly。 Of course I'll want to read you； after I've had a look at him； to pick up everything I can about the actual death site and the situation of the body； but that can wait a while。 Who's apt to be waiting at the other end； now？〃
〃Only Father Shandon；〃 Duncan replied； as Arilan indicated a circular design set into the floor tiles。
He did not relish the thought of having to open his mind to Arilan's probe； but he could hardly refuse。 At least he did not have to do it now。 Palming across his eyes to reinforce the spell he had already worked； he drew a deep breath to collect himself； trying not to let it turn into a yawn。
〃Give me a moment before you e through；〃 Duncan added；