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〃Very well； gentlemen。 Any ideas where Loris might be headed？〃 Kelson asked。
Cardiel pursed his lips and exchanged a glance with his brother bishop； who had not yet said a word。
〃Toward the source of his aid； of course。 Sire。 He cannot have acted alone in this … and all Gwynedd knows and understands why he was relieved of his office and sent to Saint Iveagh's。 That means his help must surely e from outside Gwynedd。 Two possibilities e to mind immediately： Meara or Torenth。〃
〃Not Torenth；〃 Arilan said。 〃Not while Deryni hold the Torenthi throne。〃
〃Meara； then；〃 Cardiel said； when Arilan did not go on。 〃The implications； while quite different； are hardly more reassuring； however。〃
〃How so？〃 Kelson asked。
〃Secular and ecclesiastical politics are very closely intertwined in Meara； Sire； as we are all aware。 Loris is very much a political creature。 He has always found his support among the conservative clergy … and such clergy were very much involved in the dispute over who should be Bishop of Meara。 He garners support from rebel factions as well。 Two years ago； it was Warm de Grey； today … well； why not the Mearan Pretender？ So long as it suits his plans to regain his position； I should think Edmund Loris would support just about anyone。〃
〃A sad mentary on the man who once was Primate of All Gwynedd；〃 Duncan muttered。
〃Let's talk about Meara； then；〃 Kelson said。 〃Who in Meara might profit from Loris' release？〃
〃That's simple；〃 Nigel said。 〃The Mearan Pretender and her kin。〃
〃Especially ecclesiastical kin；〃 Cardiel agreed； glancing at Arilan； who still was oddly quiet。 〃Like Judhael。 Denis and I had quite a discussion about him after the attempt on Duncan； Sire。 My brother in Christ made light of my notion that Judhael might have been functioning as an agent for his aunt。〃
Morgan； noting Arilan's sullen expression； decided he had best reveal what he had learned。
〃He's innocent of that； at least。 Excellency；〃 he said quietly。 〃Or if he is involved； it's without the direct knowledge or assistance of his aunt。 Nor did he know anything about the attempt on Duncan。 I … ah … questioned him about it that evening。〃
Arilan's reaction conveyed both surprise and anger。 〃You questioned him after I forbade it？〃
〃I didn't set out to disobey you；〃 Morgan countered； before the other could raise more specific objections in front of the human Jodrell。 〃Besides； I only Truth…Read him。 He wasn't sorry to hear about the attack … which is hardly unexpected； given Duncan's position relative to the Mearan royal house … but he was shocked。 When I asked how long it had been since he'd heard from his aunt； he said last Christmastide。 I ended the conversation after that。〃
〃A conversation you should not have begun in the first place。〃
〃But one which does not rule out Judhael's political interests in all of this；〃 Cardial interjected。 〃Denis； you surely can't still believe he's totally innocent。〃
Arilan's lips pressed in a thin； pinched line。 〃I never said he was totally innocent。〃
〃Let's not wander off the subject；〃 Kelson said patiently。 〃Just now； I'm far more concerned that Loris may； indeed； have gone to Meara。 Uncle； you said the abbot's men found no trace of him in the surrounding countryside； didn't you？〃 Nigel nodded。 〃That may mean he made his escape by sea； then。 Jodrell； could he sail around the head of Ballymar this time of year？〃
Jodrell； scion of an old seafaring family； wobbled his open hand in a yea…nay gesture。
〃It would be risky。 Sire … but no more risky than sailing the Kheldish coast to reach Torenth by sea。 If he is making for Meara； however； my guess is that he'd not go as far as Ballymar。 If I were Loris； I'd land somewhere farther east along the coast； probably in Kierney； and go overland to Ratharkin。〃
〃Why Ratharkin？〃 Morgan asked。 〃The Mearan pretender's in Laas。〃
〃Ah； but Ratharkin is the episcopal seat of Meara；〃 Cardiel said； glancing at Arilan and almost daring him to contradict； 〃and the good Father Judhael is there； just aching to be a bishop。 In addition； Ratharkin is only a few days' ride from Laas and the rebel factions； even in the dead of winter … but more than a week's ride for us。 Oh； he's picked his ground wisely； if he's gone to Ratharkin；〃 he finished bitterly。 〃The Devil take him for a false and forsworn knave！〃
With a dour scowl。 Kelson set his balled fists on his thighs and sighed。 He was not sure he liked the apparent enmity building between the two bishops。 Nor did he understand the reason for it。
〃This is getting us nowhere； gentlemen；〃 he said briskly。 〃Speculation is cheap。 God knows I fear Loris' intentions as much as any of you； but unless we have some direction； any action we take will only be wasted motion。 If he's tried to round Cassan； nature may solve our problem for us。 The same applies if； by some odd chance； he's headed for Torenth after all。〃
〃I doubt that；〃 Nigel said。 〃My instinct says ？？？？？ … not that we necessarily know he's gone by sea； however。 But whether by sea or by land； someone is going to see him and report to us eventually。 Loris is too proud a man to hide for long。〃
〃What about Bishop Istelyn？〃 Duncan asked。 〃Shouldn't he be warned？ If Loris is headed for Meara； Istelyn could be in great danger。〃
〃You're right； of course；〃 Kelson agreed。 〃Uncle； will you see to it？ I think it might also be wise to have Archbishop Bradene join us … and any other of the loyal bishops you think should be involved； my Lord Cardiel。 Once Loris' intentions are known； it's vital that we present a united front； secular and ecclesiastical。 I want none of the confusion which marked the beginning of our last campaign against him。〃
Cardiel inclined his head in agreement。
〃It shall be done。 Sire。〃
Kelson sighed and rose。 〃Very well。 Loris has to surface sometime … and until we hear where； I don't suppose there's much else we can do for now。 Uncle； please let me know as soon as you learn anything else。 Meanwhile； I'm for a hot bath and some dry clothes。 Morgan； Father Duncan； would you please attend me？〃
The king said little while his bath was drawn； leading Duncan to wonder why they had been asked to e along； but Morgan suspected he knew。 His suspicions were confirmed when the three of them sat down before the fireplace in Kelson's bedchamber。 Kelson yawned and stretched； propping his slippered feet nearer the fire's warmth； and sipped at a warm posset of milk and honey his squire had left。
〃So； what's the matter with Arilan？〃 he asked after a moment。 〃He was as sullen as a schoolboy who's been caught in a lie。 And don't tell me it was just because you disobeyed him。〃
Morgan smiled。 〃He's angry with me because I questioned Judhael against his orders； yes。 But he is also angry with himself because he championed Judhael's innocence … or at least he played the Devil's advocate in telling Cardiel and me why we ought not to suspect Judhael in the attempt on Duncan's life。 And maybe he's right。 But if he isn't； then the powerful and somewhat self…superior Camberian Councillor has made a grave misjudgment of a human's character … and he especially doesn't like having that pointed out by a mere Deryni half…breed。〃
〃Do you think he's right？〃 Kelson asked。 〃O