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ng casually toward the boy's forehead before Dhugal could back away。 〃I'll pull right out if it distresses you。〃
As he touched Dhugal； he sent out a cautious tendril of thought； recoiling almost immediately as rigid shields slammed into place and Dhugal blinked。
〃Was that painful？〃 Duncan asked； not withdrawing his hand。
Dhugal gave a cautious shake of his head； too amazed to even think of pulling back。 〃Not painful； no。 But I felt … something。〃
〃With shields like that； I should imagine you did。〃 Again Duncan extended a cautious probe。 〃Can you feel that？〃
Dhugal got an odd； not quite frightened look on his face。
〃I don't exactly … feel it。 It isn't a physical sensation at all。 Kind of like a。。。 an itch inside my head。〃
〃Shall I stop？〃
Dhugal swallowed。 〃Well； it doesn't really hurt。 It isn't even that unpleasant； but … 〃
〃Let me help；〃 Kelson said； adding his hand beside Duncan's and trying a contact。
But at Kelson's first psychic touch； Dhugal gasped and recoiled； clapping hands to his temples and doubling over with pain。 Both Kelson and Duncan withdrew immediately； Duncan letting his scrolls fall to the floor as he helped Kelson support his tottering foster brother。 Dhugal gasped for breath； letting Duncan ease him to a crouch and push his head between his knees； trying not to jostle his sore ribs or kink the bruise on his thigh。 His head was throbbing again。
〃That's exactly what happened in Transha；〃 Kelson murmured； leaving Dhugal to Duncan's ministrations while he awkwardly gathered up the dropped scrolls。 〃It didn't happen right away； but it's been that way ever since。 I wonder why you don't get the same reaction。〃
Duncan shrugged； gently kneading the back of Dhugal's neck and trying a tentative probe again。 〃I don't know。 He's still shielded； though。 The harder I push； the stronger it gets。〃
〃But it doesn't hurt when you do it；〃 Dhugal managed to murmur。
〃And damned if I know why；〃 Duncan replied； helping the boy to stand。 〃I confess it's beyond me； at least on casual investigation。 We're due back at the council meeting very shortly； but why don't we closet ourselves with Alaric afterward and get to the bottom of this？ I'll be fascinated to see whether you react the same to him as you do to me； Dhugal … though I warn you； you could react just as easily as you did to Kelson's probe。〃
Dhugal grimaced； but he hobbled gamely between them as they started back down the nave。
〃Just warn me before anybody else touches me。 Father。 If General Morgan … 〃
But he was not given time to plete the thought。 As the three of them reached the narthex； pulling up cloak hoods against the snow falling outside the postern door； Morgan himself came through the narrow doorway； acpanied by a worried…looking Nigel。 Morgan gave them all a grim； distracted smile and sketched a bow to Kelson as he pulled a parchment packet from inside his tunic。 Nigel brushed snow from his shoulders and stamped his feet as Morgan handed the parchment to the king。
〃This arrived within the present hour； my prince；〃 Morgan said； scanning the narthex as he signalled Nigel to pull the door shut behind them。 〃I had a little difficulty finding where you'd gone。 It's a reply from Ratharkin； though I fear it isn't the answer any of us would have wished。〃
The parchment was heavy with pendant seals and dark with the meticulous script of someone who had favored a broad nib to his pen。 Kelson skipped over the first few lines； with their expected formulae of titles and assumed titles。 The crux of the message was contained in only a few terse phrases。
。。。 that We do not intend to surrender ourselves； and further； that if you do not immediately give indication of your willingness to return our son and daughter。 Bishop Henry Istelyn will suffer for it。 As earnest of our determination； We send you his ring。。。。
The missive was signed by Caitrin and Sicard； as co…rulers of Meara； and witnessed by Prince Ithel； Archbishop Loris； and a host of other bishops； expected and unexpected； eight in all。
〃I can't say I'm surprised at the demand；〃 Kelson observed； scanning the script a second time； 〃though I am surprised at the amount of support Loris managed to gather in so short a time。 He must have been laying his groundwork for several years … all the while he was in prison。 He almost got enough names to set up a counter…synod like last time。 Do you think he will； Duncan？〃
〃I should think it almost inevitable。 Sire；〃 Duncan replied； peering over his shoulder。
〃There's more to it； I'm afraid；〃 Morgan said； drawing a small wooden box out of the front of his tunic。 〃This was with the letter。 It's going to put you in a very unenviable position。〃
〃I'm already in an unenviable position；〃 Kelson said； taking the box and turning it to worry at the clasp； 〃though I fail to see what Caitrin thinks she can offer that would make me trade Sidana and Llewell for Istelyn。〃
〃I suspect we have Loris to thank for this little piece of work；〃 Morgan said quietly； as Kelson opened the box。 〃The note； at least； is his。 The rest； I fear； is from Istelyn。 And more than just his ring。〃
Kelson's eyes widened and he recoiled so violently that he nearly dropped the box。
〃Sweet Jesu！〃 he gasped； his eyes darting to the others as if to seek denial of what his eyes saw。 〃Look what they've done！〃
Lying on a curl of closely inscribed parchment inside was Istelyn's bishop's ring； with the cut…off finger still inside。
〃And Loris threatens to send ever more important parts of our captive bishop until you relent；〃 Morgan said quietly。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Let our strength be the law of justice： for that which is feeble is found to be nothing worth。
Wisdom of Solomon 2：11
〃I had begun to suspect Loris had no conscience； but I never dreamed even he would be this ruthless；〃 Archbishop Bradene said a short time later； when the king had presented his council with Caitrin's ultimatum and Loris' grisly postscript。 〃Certainly I never thought the Lady Caitrin would be a party to such an act。〃
〃You underestimate the lady's desire to be queen。 Sire；〃 Ewan muttered。
Cardiel nodded grimly。 〃His Grace is right。 Sire。 Nor should we forget how persuasive Loris can be when it suits him。 God knows he nearly fooled many of us； two years ago。 And he's certainly fooled the other bishops who've joined him this time； in Ratharkin。〃
〃Just now； my concern is with the bishop who didn't join him；〃 Kelson said； 〃and whose finger lies in that box。〃
His curt gesture between himself and Morgan； where the box weighted a er of the offensive letter； renewed the anger which had flared in every heart at his first reporting of the outrage。
〃Unfortunately； I fear this is only a taste of what Loris has in store for Istelyn；〃 Kelson went on after a studied pause。 〃Be that as it may； I cannot agree to the Mearan terms。 Nor may I sacrifice my kingdom for the sake of one man； however precious he may be to all of us。 As my council； you must know that at the outset。〃
They were not his full council； for several important members had not yet arrived from their outland holdings to keep the pulsory Christmas Court with the king； but they represented some of Gwynedd's finest minds。 Kelson knew some of t