kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第47章

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The　man　retreated　in　confusion；　leaving　Istelyn　alone　in　the　center　of　the　scaffold　once　more。　Serenely；　he　turned　his　eyes　toward　the　winter　sky　as　the　sentence　was　read；　hardly　even　minding　the　pressure　of　the　ropes　around　his　wrists　or　the　noose　closed　harsh　around　his　neck。
〃Henry　Istelyn；　formerly　bishop　and　priest；〃　the　herald　read；　when　the　drums　had　given　another　muffled　roll；　〃having　been　adjudged　traitor；　it　is　the　sentence　of　the　Crown　of　Meara　that　you　be　hanged　by　the　neck　and　cut　down　while　still　living；　your　members　cut　off　and　your　bowels　taken　out　and　burnt　before　you；　and　then　to　be　rent　by　horses　and　your　head　and　pieces　of　your　body　to　be　set　on　display　at　such　places　as　the　queen　shall　assign。　Thus　shall　all　know　the　fate　of　traitors　to　Meara！〃
There　was　no　plea　for　God　to　have　mercy　on　the　soul　of　the　condemned；　for　exmunicants　were　judged　to　have　forfeited　all　hope　of　that。　Istelyn　had　not　expected　it　so　he　was　not　disappointed。　As　the　drums　rolled　again；　it　became　clear　that　he　was　not　to　be　allowed　any　final　statement；　either　…　nor　had　he　expected　that。　He　kept　his　gaze　lifted　to　the　heavens　as　they　stripped　him　naked　and　made　sure　of　the　rope　around　his　neck；　only　a　strangled　little　gasp　escaping　his　lips　as　they　hoisted　him　off　his　feet　and　the　world　began　to　go　dark。
He　prayed　as　long　as　he　could。　Only　dimly　did　he　feel　the　jolt　as　they　shortly　cut　him　down　and　pinned　him　spread…eagled　in　the　snow。　He　let　the　cold　and　the　shock　claim　him；　slipping　gently　beyond　the　reach　of　his　torturers；　and　was　never　even　aware　of　the　knives；　much　less　the　fire　…　or　the　snorting　horses；　maddened　by　the　smell　of　his　blood；　who　ripped　his　bleeding　body　limb　from　limb。　The　smile　on　his　lips；　even　after　they　severed　his　head　from　what　was　left　of　his　body；　sent　a　cold　chill　through　the　heart　of　more　than　one　witness　to　his　judicial　murder。

The　following　week　saw　the　arrival　of　increasing　numbers　of　Kelson's　vassals　in　Rhemuth；　all　e　to　keep　the　feast　of　Christmas　with　their　king　as　was　customary；　no　one　in　Rhemuth　yet　aware　of　Istelyn's　fate。　Kelson　held　daily　courts　to　greet　the　newers；　with　briefing　sessions　each　afternoon；　while　Morgan；　Nigel；　and　the　other　senior　members　of　his　staff　continued　their　planning　and　preparation　for　the　projected　spring　campaign。　The　bishops　had　their　own　affairs　to　attend　to；　but　exchanged　progress　reports　with　the　king　and　his　chief　advisors　each　evening　after　dinner。　Tension　grew　as　Christmas　Day　approached；　for　all　their　futures　would　be　affected　by　the　expected　reply　from　Meara。
Burchard　de　Varian；　Earl　of　Eastmarch　since　the　conclusion　of　the　war　with　Torenth　two　years　before；　arrived　at　midweek　as　expected　with　Generals　Gloddruth；　Remie　and　Elas　in　his　train；　along　with　half　a　dozen　barons　and　other　lesser　lords。　A　few　days　later；　the　Earl　of　Danoc　came　with　two　more　of　Kelson's　generals；　Godwin　and　Perris；　and　also　the　young　Earl　of　Jenas；　whose　father　had　fallen　with　Jared　McLain　at　Candor　Rhea。　Not　at　all　expected　was　the　man　waiting　for　Morgan　outside　his　quarters　when　he　returned　alone　from　Mass　on　Christmas　Eve。
〃What　the　…　who's　there？〃　Morgan　demanded；　hand　reaching　warily　toward　the　hilt　of　his　sword。
Sean　Lord　Derry；　the　young　noble　who　once　had　been　Morgan's　aide　and　now　served　as　his　lieutenant　in　Corwyn；　stood　away　from　the　wall　where　he　had　been　leaning　and　held　out　empty　hands；　a　sheepish　grin　flickering　across　his　earnest　face　as　he　inclined　his　head　in　salute。
〃Christmas　blessings。　Your　Grace。　I　hope　you　don't　mind　that　we　didn't　join　you　for　Mass；　but　we　only　arrived　just　on　midnight。〃
His　blue　eyes　held　a　twinkle　of　mirth　at　Morgan's　surprise；　but　also　a　note　of　apprehension。　He　flinched　as　Morgan　seized　him　by　the　shoulders　to　stare　at　him；　but　he　did　not　avert　his　gaze。
〃Sean；　what　on　earth　are　you　doing　here？〃　Morgan　murmured；　though　he　had　an　idea　exactly　what　the　younger　man　was　doing。　〃And　what　do　you　mean；　we？〃　Good　God；　you　didn't　bring　Richenda；　did　you？〃
Derry　raised　one　eyebrow　in　an　expression　he　had　picked　up　from　his　former　master。　〃Your　lady　wife　decided　she'd　like　to　keep　Christmas　with　her　husband。　Your　Grace。　If　I　hadn't　brought　her；　I　suspect　she　would　have　e　on　her　own。〃
〃Aye；　she　probably　would　have；〃　Morgan　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃I　wish　you　could　have　tried　to　talk　her　out　of　it；　though。〃
〃Do　you　think　I　didn't　try？〃　Derry　asked　indignantly。　〃I　know　what　your　orders　were。　I　can't　say　my　heart　was　really　in　it；　though。　I　think　she's　about　had　enough　of　Coroth　for　a　while。〃
Morgan　sighed；　awareness　of　that　situation　catapulting　hack　to　consciousness　as　it　had　not　for　several　weeks；　so　far　from　home　himself。　For　all　the　personal　satisfaction　his　marriage　with　Richenda　had　brought　him；　there　were　still　vast　areas　of　their　relationship　which　had　not　yet　e　into　balance。　Chief　among　them　was　the　question　of　how　much　authority　his　new　wife　should　assume　during　his　all　too　frequent　absences　from　his　own　court　…　and　that　decision；　to　Morgan's　continued　dismay；　was　not　entirely　his　to　make；　for　all　that　he　was　Corwyn's　duke。
In　the　ordinary　course　of　things；　certainly　within　the　first　year　of　their　marriage；　Morgan's　duchess　should　have　bee　his　chatelaine　at　Coroth　and　regent　of　Corwyn　in　his　absence。　Morgan　had　not　granted　Richenda　that　status。　The　fact　was　that　many　of　his　own　men　distrusted　her　…　not　because　she　was　Deryni；　for　probably　no　one　at　Coroth　even　suspected　that　…　or　would　have　cared；　if　they　had；　since　Corwyn's　duke　was　Deryni　anyway　…　but　because　her　first　husband　had　betrayed　the　Crown。
Perhaps　she　was　tainted　with　treachery　as　well；　they　reasoned　…　perhaps　even　plotting　revenge　for　her　first　husband's　death；　for　the　sake　of　her　son　by　him。　As　Dowager　Countess　of　Marley；　she　already　had　young　Brendan's　guardianship　jointly　with　her　new　husband；　with　virtual　freedom　to　manage　the　lands　and　ine　of　the　six…year…old　earl　as　she　chose。　If　anything　were　to　happen　to　Morgan；　Her　Grace　the　Dowager　Duchess　of　Corwyn　and　Dowager　Countess　of　Marley　would　have　access　to　Corwyn's　vast　wealth　as　well；　until　the　infant　Duchess　Briony　came　of　age。　For　such　power　and　position；　what　might　the　former　wife　of　a　known　traitor　not　do？
It　was　all　utter　nonsense；　of　course；　but　convincing　his　men　of　that；　other　than　the　few　officers　close　to　Morgan；　had　proven　far　more　difficult　than　Morgan　ever　imagined。　He　had　expected　some　controversy　and　suspicion　when　he　first　brought　his　bride　home　to　Coroth；　less　than　a　year　after　Bran　Cons'　death；　but　he　had　thought　the　suspicion　would　diminish　as　they　came　to　know　and　trust　her。　They　had　not。
They　did　not　trust　her　because　they　did　not　know　her。　They　did　not　know　her　because　when　Morgan　was　away；　which　was　far　more　often　than　he　would　have　liked；　she　kept　largely　to　herself；　having　no　authority　to　exercise　in　his　absence。　He　could　not　give　her　authority；　since　they　did　not　trust　her　…　and　they　did　not　trust　her　because　they　had　no　opportunity　to　observe　any　behavior　that　might　have　confirmed　her　stated　loyalty　to　her　new　lord。　It　was　an　unfortunate　vicious　circle　that　Morgan　had　not　yet　figured　out　how　to　break。
Hence；　Richenda　had　remained　a　mere　resident　of　his　castle　at　Coroth；　treated　courteously　enough　by　the　immediate　ducal　household；　but　given　no　responsibility。　Explanation　had　been　easy　enough　in　the　beginning；　when　Richenda　was　at　first　new　to　Coroth　and　then　pregnant　with　their　first　child　…　both　good　reasons　for　letting　Morgan's　seneschal　and　garrison　mander　continue　to　run　things　in　his　absence　as　they　had　for　years；　but　Briony　was　eleven　months　old　now；　and　Richenda　had　been　Duchess　of　Corwyn　for　nearly　two　years。　The　old　excuses　had　grown　lame；　and　Morgan　could　not　bring　himself　to　admit　the　real　reasons　to　his　wife。　Small　wonder　that　the　intelligent　and　capable　Richenda　chafed　increasingly　under　what　appeared　to　be　irrational　restrictions　on　her　role　as　his　wife。
〃You　know　what　the　problem　is；　Derry；〃　Morgan　said　with　a　heavy　sigh。　〃There　just　hasn't　been　time　to　do　much　about　it。　I　don't　want　to　hurt　her。〃
Derry　averted　his　eyes　and　hooked　his　thumbs　in　his　sword　belt；　chewing　at　his　lower　lip。
〃Do　you　think　it　doesn't　hurt　her；　not　knowing　why　you　shut　her　out　of　your　affairs？〃　he　said　quietly；　looking　up　again。　〃Forgive　me；　sir；　but　in　the　past　year　I've　spent　far　more　time　with　your　wife　than　you　have。　She's　far　too　well…bred　to　pry；　even　though　she　easily　could；　but　she　senses　the　distrust　on　the　part　of　the　men。　And　if　you　don't　tell　her　that　you　don't　share　their　distrust　…　〃　He　swallowed。　〃Sir；　I　…　thought　being　Deryni　was　supposed　to　make　it　easier　to　work　these　things　out。〃
〃Sometimes　that　makes　it　harder；　Derry；〃　Morgan　whispered。　〃Don't　you　reproach　me；　too。〃
〃I'm　sorry；　m'lord。〃
〃It　isn't　your　fault；〃　Morgan　said　after　a　few　seconds。　〃Maybe　her　ing　here　is　for　the　best；　though。　With　a　spring　campaign　almost　inevitable；　I　was　already　planning　to　have　you　bring　her　to　court　as　soon　as　the　weather　broke　again。　Kelson　has　made　it　clear　that　she'd　be　wele　on　his　council　as　Brendan's　regent　…　and　I　suspect　her　presence　would　be　doubly　wele　now　that　we　have　Sidana　of　Meara　to　hostage。〃
〃Sidana？〃　Derry　said。　〃Here？　How　did　you　manage　that？　Is　he　going　to　marry　her？〃
Morgan　chuckled　despite　his　concern　over　this　new　turn　of　affairs。　〃Odd　how　that　proposition　seems　obvious　to　everyone　but　Kelson　himself。　He　may。　A　lot　depends　on　the　answer　we　get　from　Meara　tomorrow。〃
〃Ah。〃
〃I'll　fill　you　in　on　all　the　details　after　court　tomorrow；　if　you　haven't　already　found　out　from　other　sources　by　then；〃　Morgan　went　on。　〃I'm　sure　there'll　be　a　briefing；　once　we've　had　the　Mearan's　answer。　In　the　meantime；　you　should　probably　get　some　sleep　…　and　I　undoubtedly　should　go　and　greet　my　wife。　I　assume；　by　the　way；　that　Hamilton　and　Hillary　have　things　under　control　at　home？〃
〃Aye；　m'lord。　And　my　mother　has　charge　of　the　little　ones。〃
〃That's　fine。　How　many　men　did　you　bring？〃
〃Half　a　dozen　…　and　one　maid　for　Her　Grace。　I　hope　you're　not　angry；　sir。〃
〃No；　I'm　not　angry。〃　Morgan　sighed；　then　clapped　Derry　on　the　shoulder　as　he　set　his　hand　on　the　door　latch。
〃Go　get　some　sleep；　then。　We'll　see　you　at　court　in　the　morning。　And　thank　you　for　bringing　my　wife　here　safely；　Sean。〃
〃My　pleasure；　m'lord。〃
As　Derry　sketched　a　bow　and　turned　to　go；　obviously　relieved；　Morgan　lifted　the　latch　and　slipped　into　his　quarters；　softly　closing　the　door　behind　him。
Only　firelight　greeted　him　at　first。　Near　the　curtained　entrance　to　the　garderobe；　he　could　make　out　a　small　pile　of　trunks　and　travel　valises　that　had　not　been　there　earlier；　a　fur…lined　cloak　spread　before　the　fire　to　dry；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　the　maid　who　should　have　acpanied　them。　Moving　on　through　the　room　and　into　the　adjoining　bedchamber；　a　glimmer　of　candlelight　caught　his　eye　from　behind　the　curtains　of　his　canopied　bed。　He　darted　a　quick　Deryni　probe　inside　as　he　approached；　confirming　the　presence　of　Richenda　and　not　some　lurking　assassin；　but　he　resolutely　shuttered　off　the　part　of　his　mind　that　dealt　with　the　subject　he　most　definitely　did　not　want　to　discuss；　on　this　first　night　back　together　in　months。
〃It　was　too　late　to　join　you　for　Mass；〃　a　soft；　tentative　voice　whispered　as　Morgan　part