kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第66节

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an　snorted。　〃But　…　well；　look　who's　still　alive　despite　his　hangover！〃　he　added　jovially；　as　Dhugal　came　around　a　er　at　the　far　end　of　the　corridor；　headed　in　their　direction。
The　boy　wore　formal　border　garb　this　morning：　bright　MacArdry　tartan　pleated　around　his　body　and　caught　at　the　shoulder　of　his　doublet　with　silver；　hair　braided　and　knotted　in　customary　border　fashion　and　tied　with　black　silk。　He　sketched　a　half…hearted　bow　as　they　met；　but　the　movement　obviously　distressed　him。　Morgan　laid　a　radely　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　leaned　down　to　peer　into　the　bloodshot　eyes；　giving　him　a　speculative　smile。
〃What's　wrong；　Dhugal？〃
〃That　isn't　funny；　sir；〃　Dhugal　whispered；　grimacing。　〃It　isn't　fair；　either。　Kelson　acts　like　he　didn't　have　a　thing　to　drink　last　night。　I　feel　like　the　top　of　my　head　is　going　to　e　off。〃
Morgan　raised　one　eyebrow　and　clucked　his　tongue　sympathetically。　〃Well；　when　you　learn　to　lower　those　shields　of　yours；　we'll　be　able　to　cure　your　hangover；　too；　won't　we；　Duncan？〃　he　quipped。
But　Duncan's　face　was　still　and　devoid　of　expression；　his　mind　suddenly　shut　tight　to　Morgan's　tentative　and　surprised　probe。　Morgan　could　isolate　no　one　thing　which　made　him　aware　of　something　not　quite　right；　but　the　shadow　was　there。　Duncan　blinked　as　he　felt　their　eyes　on　him；　as　if　dragging　himself　up　from　contemplation　of　something　grim　and　even　soul…shaking。
〃Duncan？〃
〃I'm　sorry。　I　was　thinking　about　something　else。　What　was　it　you　asked？〃
〃I　was　just　teasing　Dhugal　about　his　hangover；〃　Morgan　said；　trying　to　make　light　of　Duncan's　sudden　change　of　mood。　〃Did　you　forget　to　do　something？〃
〃Yes；　I　did；〃　Duncan　replied；　seizing　gratefully　on　the　excuse　Morgan　offered。　〃I　need　to　go　back　to　my　quarters　for　a　few　minutes。　Could　you　give　me　a　hand？〃
〃Of　course。　Do　you　think　it　will　take　very　long？〃
〃No。　Just　something　I　need　you　for。〃　Duncan　glanced　back　at　Dhugal。　〃We're　probably　keeping　you　from　your　duties　as　well；　Dhugal。　I　must　say　that　it's　pleasant　to　see　formal　border　garb　at　court　again；　however。　Is　your　cloak　clasp　a　MacArdry　design？〃
〃This？〃　Dhugal　pulled　the　cloak　clasp　away　from　his　body　with　a　thumb　and　glanced　down　at　it。　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　My　father　had　it　when　he　was　a　boy。　I　don't　know　where　he　got　it。　He　gave　it　to　my　mother　the　day　they　were　married；　and　she　left　it　to　me　when　she　died。　I　don't　wear　it　very　often；　but　Kelson　thought　it　was　appropriate　for　a　wedding。　It　is　rather　striking；　isn't　it？〃
〃Yes　it　is。〃　Duncan　glanced　at　Morgan　even　more　urgently。　〃But；　I　really　must　take　care　of　that　errand。　Alaric；　are　you　ing？〃
The　Deryni　bishop　would　say　nothing　else　as　he　led　Morgan　not　to　his　apartments　but　to　the　little　study　where　they　had　met　after　his　consecration。　Nor　would　he　lower　his　shields。　Only　when　they　were　inside　did　he　relax　a　little；　though　he　still　was　like　a　tightly　wound　spring　as　he　crossed　to　the　little　prie…dieu　in　the　er　by　the　window　and　dropped　to　his　knees。　Morgan　watched　him　curiously　from　the　center　of　the　chamber；　not　pressing　a　contact。　Finally；　Duncan　crossed　himself　and　stood；　turning　a　grave　profile　toward　the　amber　glass　of　the　window。
〃You're　owed　an　explanation　for　the　last　little　while；〃　he　said　softly；　beckoning　Morgan　to　e　closer。　〃I　can　only　say　that　this　is　something　that　never　occurred　to　me　in　my　wildest　dreams。　It's　…　going　to　take　some　getting　used　to。〃
Morgan　frowned　as　he　stopped　within　arm's　reach　of　Duncan；　afraid　to　touch　him。
〃Would　you　please　tell　me　what　you're　talking　about？　What's　wrong？　You　look　like　you've　seen　a　ghost。〃
〃In　a　way；　I　suppose　I　have。〃　Duncan　chewed　on　his　lower　lip　and　sighed。　〃Alaric；　I　wasn't　just　being　courteous　when　I　plimented　Dhugal　on　his　border　garb　and　asked　about　that　cloak　clasp。　And　then；　when　he　told　me　where　he'd　gotten　it　…　〃
He　sighed　again；　dropping　his　gaze　to　the　violet　slippers　showing　at　the　hem　of　his　cassock。
〃That　clasp　used　to　be　mine；　Alaric。　I　gave　it　to　Dhugal's　sister　many　years　ago；　under　exactly　the　circumstances　he　described。〃　He　paused　to　swallow　with　difficulty。
〃Only　…　now　I　think　the　'brother'　born　a　little　while　later　may　not　have　been　her　brother　at　all。　I　…　think　Dhugal　may　be　her　son　…　and　mine。〃


CHAPTER　TWENTY
Yet　will　I　bring　an　heir　unto　thee。
Micah　1：15
As　Duncan　raised　his　eyes　to　Morgan's；　he　did　not　need　Deryni　abilities　to　read　the　shock　and　astonishment　written　there。　He　knew　that　he　must　be　projecting　much　the　same　feeling　himself。　He；　like　Morgan；　was　finding　it　hard　to　believe；　but　the　clasp　spoke　for　itself　…　and　Dhugal　would　be　exactly　the　right　age。
The　memories　of　those　long…ago　years　started　to　well　into　consciousness；　but　Duncan　pushed　them　down　for　just　another　moment　as　he　gestured　toward　the　two　chairs　facing　the　fireplace。　He　tried　to　keep　his　shields　closed　and　not　to　think　much　at　all　as　he　made　his　feet　move　in　that　direction　and　Morgan　followed；　and　could　not　quite　decide　whether　it　was　elation　or　stark　terror　threatening　to　overwhelm　him　when　he　unleashed　the　memories　at　last。　He　sat；　eyes　unfocused　through　the　fire　on　the　hearth；　and　was　only　dimly　aware　of　Morgan　sitting　down　beside　him；　moving　his　chair　closer　to　face　him　almost　head…on；　so　that　their　knees　were　nearly　touching。
〃Suppose　you　tell　me　about　it；〃　Morgan　said　softly。　〃I'm　not　a　priest；　but　I　think　you　know　that　my　word　of　confidence　is　just　as　binding　to　me　as　any　sacramental　seal。〃
Duncan　allowed　himself　a　wry　smile。　〃If　it's　true；　I　doubt　I'm　going　to　be　able　to　keep　it　secret　very　long；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃If　I　could　have　chosen　a　son；　he　would　have　been　very　much　like　Dhugal。　And　if　he　is　my　son；　then　he　has　a　right　to　know。〃
〃Sometimes　it's　better　not　to　know；〃　Morgan　said　tentatively。　〃If　he's　illegitimate　…　〃
〃My　son　is　not　a　bastard！〃　Duncan　said　emphatically。　〃His　mother　and　I　were　free　to　marry　at　the　time；　and　we　exchanged　vows　which　we　considered　binding。　In　our　eyes　and　in　the　eyes　of　God；　she　was　my　wife。〃
〃And　in　the　eyes　of　the　law？〃
Duncan　shook　his　head　and　sighed。　〃That　I　don't　know。　It's　going　to　be　a　tricky　point　of　canon　law；　at　very　least。　It's　called　…　〃　He　dug　for　the　term；　forcing　calm　on　his　mind　by　the　discipline。　〃I　think　it's　called　per　verba　de　praesenti　…　a　vow　in　front　of　witnesses；　rather　than　a　ceremony　performed　by　a　priest。　At　least　in　theory；　it's　as　binding　as　a　betrothal；　which　is　as　binding　as　a　marriage。〃
〃You　can　produce　the　witnesses？〃　Morgan　asked。
Duncan　hung　his　head；　remembering　that　night　so　very　long　ago；　shrouded　in　that　twilight　land　of　memory　between　childhood　and　maturity　…　he　and　Maryse　kneeling　in　the　chapel　at　midnight；　fearful　of　interruption　at　any　time；　making　their　prayers　before　the　only　witness　whose　understanding　they　could　count　on；　with　her　father's　men　preparing　to　move　out　of　his　father's　courtyard　at　the　break　of　dawn。
〃Before　Thee　as　the　Supreme　Witness；　my　Lord　and　my　God；　I　make　this　solemn　vow；〃　Duncan　had　said；　eyes　turned　toward　the　Presence　Lamp　burning　brightly　above　the　altar。　〃That　I　take　this　woman；　Maryse；　as　my　lawful　wedded　wife；　forsaking　all　others　until　death　do　us　part。〃
The　pin　of　the　clasp　at　his　throat　was　stiff；　and　he　had　fumbled　as　he　unfastened　it　and　laid　it　in　her　hand；　gazing　down　at　her　with　all　the　desperation　of　love　soon　to　be　parted。
〃I　give　thee　this　token　of　my　love　and　take　thee　for　my　wife；　and　hereto　I　plight　thee　my　troth。〃
〃The　witnesses；〃　came　Morgan's　soft　prompting。　〃Can　you　produce　them？〃
Duncan's　shoulders　slumped　and　he　shook　his　head。　〃We　spoke　our　vows　before　the　Blessed　Sacrament；　Alaric；〃　he　said　softly。　〃There　was　none　other　we　could　trust。　As　I　said；　the　strict　legality　will　be　considered　to　be　hazy。〃
〃I　see。〃　Morgan　sighed。　〃Very　well；　let's　not　worry　about　that　for　the　moment。　How　do　you　know　that　the　clasp　Dhugal　is　wearing　is　the　one　you　gave…what　was　her　name？　Maryse？〃
〃Yes。〃　Duncan　swallowed　painfully。　〃The…clasp　that　I　gave　as　pledge　was　unique。　The　artisan　who'd　made　it　put　a　sort　of　locket　partment　in　the　back。　Unless　one　knew　what　to　look　for；　it　would　never　even　be　noticed。　If　that　is　my　clasp；　then　in　that　partment　there　will　be　one　of　my　hairs　intertwined　with　one　of　hers。　She　had　very　fair　hair…almost　white。〃
Morgan　sighed　again；　even　more　heavily　than　before。
〃Very　well。　What　do　you　intend　to　do　about　this？　Do　you　want　to　confront　Dhugal　now；　or　can　it　wait　until　after　the　wedding？〃
〃I　don't　think　I　can　wait；　Alaric；〃　Duncan　replied；　looking　up　at　his　cousin's　face　for　the　first　time　since　his　confession。　〃I　know　it　may　sound　strange；　after　all　these　years；　but　I　have　to　know。　I　don't　think　I　could　stand　up　there；　across　from　him；　and　celebrate　Kelson's　marriage；　and　not　know　whether　my　brief　marriage　bore　fruit　or　not。〃
Morgan　nodded　slowly。　〃Being　a　father　myself　now；　I　can　understand　that；〃　he　said　softly；　then　quirked　an　odd；　lopsided　grin　back　at　him。　〃If　Dhugal　is　your　son；　though；　won't　that　throw　consternation　into　the　Mearan　ranks？　You'd　have　an　heir　of　your　body　to　succeed　to　the　Cassan　and　Kierney　titles…and　so　much　for　the　hopes　of　reuniting　those　lands　with　Meara　for　an　independent　kingdom　again。〃
Duncan　snorted。　〃That　honestly　hadn't　occurred　to　me；　but　you're　right。