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！
much。 You must be Bishop Istelyn。〃
〃I am。〃
Cautiously Istelyn moved closer。 The boyish face the firelight revealed was far younger than he had been expecting。 Below a greyish bandage tied around the boy's forehead； tawny eyes gazed up at him with disconcerting directness； though a reddish smudge of mustache marked him as a little older than Istelyn had first thought … perhaps fourteen or fifteen。 Dark circles stained the fair skin underneath the eyes。 It was evident the lad had lived with pain for some time。
〃You must be the young Master of Transha；〃 Istelyn said； crouching down beside the pallet。
〃Almost the late Master of Transha； thanks to Loris' escort；〃 the boy replied； offering a hand from underneath his sleeping furs and essaying a tentative smile。 〃I'm called Dhugal by my friends。 This hardly seems the place for overmuch formality。〃
Istelyn took the extended hand briefly and returned the smile。 〃Then I shall call you Dhugal； young laird； since we seem to be destined at least to be colleagues。 Did they hurt you very badly？〃
〃The horses hurt me about as much as the men； I suppose；〃 Dhugal admitted； settling back against his mound of pillows with a barely bitten…back grimace。 〃After I got knocked off my pony； I was kicked a couple of times and nearly trampled。 The men only hit me in the head。 I've some cracked ribs； but at least the headaches seem to be letting up。 What day is it？〃
〃The fifth of December；〃 Istelyn responded。 〃We're in Advent season。 Shall I look at your injuries？ I haven't much skill in such matters； but perhaps I can do something。〃
Dhugal closed his eyes briefly and managed a slight nod。 〃Thank you。 I can tell you what to do。 I've had training as a battle surgeon myself； but there's only so much one can do on oneself as patient。 Have a look。 My ribs are the worst just now。〃
Dhugal was nude beneath the sleeping furs； his slender torso and limbs displaying the number of old scars one might expect of a lad trained in warrior disciplines； but Istelyn sucked in breath between his teeth at the massive bruising across the left ribcage。 Another bruise purpled the top of the right thigh in the precise outline of a horseshoe。 Istelyn could even see the prints of the nails which had held the shoe in place。
〃That one looks much worse than it is；〃 Dhugal said； brushing the bruise lightly with his right hand。 〃Which is not to say it doesn't hurt； or that I won't limp for a while； but at least I didn't break my leg。 If they'll give you bandages； or if something can be improvised； I need you to bind my chest。 Without support； even breathing can be an agony if I move the wrong way。 And coughing … 〃
As Dhugal braced both hands over his ribcage to draw a deeper breath carefully； Istelyn looked alarmed。
〃You haven't punctured a lung； have you？〃
Dhugal shook his head and winced as he pulled the furs back up to his waist。 〃I don't think so。 I'm not coughing blood。 I'd give a lot for a good night's sleep； though。〃
〃Loris said I might have medical supplies；〃 Istelyn said。 〃Perhaps they'll have something to help you sleep。 What about your head？ Any actual wounds？〃
Dhugal flinched as the bishop pulled the bandage from his head and began probing gently beneath the reddish hair。
〃No … and I don't think I've missed any fractures。 It's just the headaches； and they're letting up。〃
〃All right。〃 Istelyn managed a shaky smile as he rose and glanced apprehensively at the door。 〃Let's see whether Loris meant what he said about medical supplies。〃
An hour later； bundled in a cloak against the cold； Dhugal was sitting gingerly in a chair beside the fire and feeling more fortable than he had since before his capture。 So long as he did not breathe too deeply； the bandages Istelyn had bound around his chest gave him enough support so that his ribs no longer hurt beyond a dull ache … and that was fast receding as he sipped at the cup of wine he had directed Istelyn to prepare。
〃This should make me sleep at least through the night；〃 he told the bishop； as he took another swallow of the drugged wine and let the bitter undertaste roll over the back of his tongue。 〃If they'll let you have more； I want you to keep me sedated for at least another day and night beyond that。 I don't like leaving myself so vulnerable； but unfortunately sleep and rest are still the best treatments I know for head injuries like mine。〃 He sighed dismally。 〃It's too bad Kelson isn't here。 He could … ？〃
He broke off and glanced at the bishop furtively as he realized what he had almost said； afraid even a veiled reference to the king's newfound powers might offend the human Istelyn。 To his horror； Istelyn seemed to know exactly what he had been about to say。
〃He could do what？〃 the bishop asked。 〃Help you in some way with his magic？〃
Dhugal swallowed audibly； trying to stay on guard。 The drug was loosening his tongue as well as damping the pain。 Istelyn seemed trustworthy； but this was hardly the time to begin so controversial a discussion with a man whose sympathies were unknown。
〃I … don't want to offend you。 Excellency； but most clergy aren't altogether tolerant of … ah … magic。 Please forget I said anything。〃
〃Ah； then his magic frightens you。〃
〃I … I'd rather not talk about it；〃 Dhugal whispered； feeling trapped。
Istelyn cocked his head； then glanced back at the closed door before leaning closer to Dhugal。
〃Why not？〃 he asked。 〃You spoke of the king with affection and familiarity； as if you were his friend。 Do you think there's something wrong with his … ah … let's call them 'talents；' if you don't like the term 'magic；' shall we？〃
〃It isn't that；〃 Dhugal murmured。
〃Is it that you aren't sure of me； then？〃 Istelyn persisted。 〃You've already trusted me with your life。〃
〃That trust is mine to give； Kelson's isn't。〃
〃I can appreciate that。〃
The bishop's eyes did not leave Dhugal's as he sipped at his wine … which made Dhugal increasingly anxious … but after a few seconds the man sighed and gave a tiny smile； raising his cup in resigned salute。
〃I don't blame you for trying to shield the king； son； but why don't you let me tell you how I feel about him？ I can't prove that I'm telling the truth； but you're smart enough to judge for yourself。 I wasn't present at Dhassa when Loris and the rebel bishops split off from the Curia； but I sided with the king as soon as I learned of it。 I was with his army at Dol Shaia。 It was I who had to bring him the news that Loris had exmunicated him and placed the kingdom under Interdict。〃
He sighed again； then went on。 〃Now I've put myself on the line again where His Majesty is concerned。 Loris wants me to help him consecrate Judhael of Meara a bishop。 I've refused； and he'll probably kill me for it。 I swear by all I hold sacred that I'm not lying； Dhugal。 I don't care that the king's Deryni … not the way Loris does； at any rate。 It seems to me that Kelson's done only good with his powers。 Or are you going to try to tell me differently？〃
〃Of course not。〃
Dhugal looked away into the flickering flames and made himself take another swallow of the drugged wine； even though he knew it would make him only more vulnerable to the bishop's questioning。 He believed Istelyn。 And even if t