kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第46章

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But　Sicard　shared　the　tight…lipped　anxiety　of　his　wife　and　liege　lady；　and　the　helpless　confusion　of　his　son。　When　Loris　at　last　ran　out　of　expletives　and　holy　oaths；　Sicard　let　fall　the　drapery　he　had　withdrawn　to　gaze　out　at　the　morning　snowfall　and　turned　back　into　the　room；　taking　Caitrin's　elbow　to　guide　her　back　to　the　chairs　before　the　fireplace。　At　his　gesture；　Ithel　hurried　to　upend　the　chair　Loris　had　overturned。
〃Enough　of　self…indulgence　…　on　all　our　parts；〃　Sicard　said；　glancing　pointedly　at　Loris　and　signing　for　Judhael　to　join　them。　〃We　have　heard　the　response　from　Gwynedd。　Now　we　must　decide　what　to　do　about　it。　Sit　here；　my　dear。〃
posing　herself　deliberately；　Caitrin　sat；　carefully　spreading　her　fur…lined　skirts　around　her　feet　and　arranging　her　hands　just　so　in　her　lap。　When　she　looked　up；　Sicard　had　dropped　to　one　knee　beside　her；　one　hand　resting　on　her　chair　arm；　and　Judhael　stood　expectantly　behind　him。　Ithel　waited　at　her　right。　Loris；　with　ill…disguised　resentment　at　Sicard's　tone；　came　to　stand　in　front　of　the　chair　Ithel　had　just　set　back　in　place　…　though　something　in　the　family　tableau　before　him　cautioned　him　not　to　presume　by　sitting　until　invited。
〃My　queen；〃　Sicard　said　softly；　before　Loris　could　choose　a　suitable　remark；　〃we　are　yours　to　mand；　as　you　know　well；　but　I　fear　the　Haldane　has　struck　a　telling　blow　this　time。　Is　it　your　wish　to　continue　as　we　have　thus　far；　knowing　that　we　He　under　the　ban　of　the　Church？〃
〃Not　the　ban　of　the　Church！〃　Loris　snapped。　〃The　ban　of　a　handful　of　outlaw　bishops　who　have　betrayed　their　oath　of　obdience　to　me！　He　remembered　himself　sufficiently　to　bow　slightly　in　apology。　〃Forgive　me。　Highness；　but　there　can　be　no　question　of　capitulating　simply　because　of　a　bit　of　parchment　and　wax。　This　is　what　I　think　of　it！〃
With　a　grandiose　flourish；　he　flung　it　into　the　fireplace　but　at　Caitrin's　urgent　gasp；　Ithel　scrambled　onto　the　raised　hearth　and　rescued　it；　pinching　out　the　embers　along　the　edges　where　it　had　started　to　bum　and　stifling　an　oath　as　molten　wax　dripped　on　his　hand　from　one　of　the　seals。
〃That　is　not　the　answer；〃　Sicard　said；　rising　to　pull　a　straightbacked　chair　beside　his　wife's。　〃And　that　bit　of　parchment　and　wax；　as　you　call　it；　seemed　to　give　you　cause　for　consternation。　Archbishop。　Nor　does　denying　it　make　it　cease　to　exist；　unfortunately。〃
He　took　Caitrin's　hand　in　his　as　he　sat；　chafing　at　it　in　futile　attempt　to　fort。　Loris　scowled。
〃The　writ　is　an　annoyance。　It　has　no　force；〃　he　said。　'Those　who　issued　it　had　no　authority　to　do　so。〃
〃What　matters　authority？〃　Caitrin　whispered。　〃One　needs　no　authority　to　make　a　curse　…　and　that　is　what　it　is；　for　all　its　highflown　language。　We　folk　of　the　hills　understand　such　things。　Archbishop。　You　cannot　dismiss　a　curse　as　lightly　as　that。〃
〃Then　we　must　counter　it　as　you　think　appropriate；〃　Loris　said；　easing　into　the　chair　behind　him　and　studying　them　both　carefully。　〃Shall　I　curse　them　back？　It　would　give　me　great　personal　satisfaction。　I　can　and　shall　countermand　the　writ　and　proclaim　the　same　against　the　House　of　Haldane　and　her　outlaw　bishops。　But　you　must　do　your　part　as　well。　Highness。　Ibis　needs　must　be　the　spur　which　drives　you　to　give　the　king　the　answer　he　deserves。　We　must　not　be　intimidated　by　Haldane　threats　anymore。〃
〃The　Haldane　has　learned　to　threaten　well；　for　all　that　he　is　hardly　grown；〃　Caitrin　replied　dully；　picking　up　the　other　document　which　had　acpanied　the　exmunication：　Kelson's　answer　to　her　last　defiance。　〃He　repeats　his　demand　for　my　surrender。　Archbishop。　And　he　still　holds　my　Llewell　and　Sidana　to　hostage。〃
〃You　yourself　pointed　out　not　a　fortnight　ago　that　they　are　of　age。　Highness。　They　knew　the　dangers。〃
〃But　they　are　my　children！〃　Caitrin　said。　〃Shall　I　abandon　them　to　their　fate？　Shall　they　suffer　the　wrath　of　the　Haldane　usurpers　and　die　the　death　so　that　I　may　wear　a　crown？〃
Grim　and　determined；　Loris　slipped　to　his　knees　before　her；　lifting　his　palms　in　entreaty。
〃Do　you　not　think　they　would　willingly　give　their　lives　to　secure　the　throne　of　Meara　for　its　rightful　queen？〃　he　countered。　〃This　land　has　lain　under　the　rule　of　foreign　princes　for　far　too　long　already；　noble　lady。　Malcolm　Haldane　wrenched　it　from　the　lawful　heiress　a　century　ago；　and　he　and　his　heirs　have　kept　it　in　thrall　ever　since；　despite　the　cries　of　your　people。　You　have　the　means　to　bring　an　end　to　Haldane　tyranny。　For　the　sake　of　your　people；　you　dare　not　shrink　from　your　sacred　duty。〃
White…faced；　Caitrin　listened　to　his　words；　fingers　intertwined　with　those　other　husband；　her　one　remaining　son　crouched　beside　her　with　the　scorched　scroll　of　exmunication　all　but　forgotten　in　his　hands；　her　nephew　standing　silent　and　stricken　behind　them　in　his　episcopal　purple。　When　the　archbishop　had　finished；　Caitrin　bowed　her　head。　After　a　moment　tears　splashed　on　her　and　Sicard's　joined　hands。
〃It　appears　that　I　must　offer　my　children's　lives　on　the　altar　of　my　aspiration；〃　she　finally　said；　shaking　her　head　bitterly。　〃But　you　are　right。　Archbishop。　I　have　a　duty。〃
With　her　free　hand；　she　reached　across　to　take　Ithel's　and　bring　it　to　her　lips；　then　held　it　cradled　against　her　breast　as　she　looked　up。
〃Very　well。　The　writ　must　be　reversed；　and　you　shall　pronounce　the　ban　against　the　Haldane　court　and　bishops。　What　else？〃
Loris　inclined　his　head　in　acknowledgment；　folding　his　hands　precisely　on　his　upraised　knee。
〃You　must　give　the　Haldane　your　answer　in　terms　that　will　leave　no　doubt　of　your　resolve。　Highness；〃　he　said。　〃And　you　yourself　must　carry　through　with　the　threats　that　you　have　made。〃
〃What　…　threats？〃　Caitrin　breathed。
Controlling　a　smile　of　triumph；　Loris　rose　and　returned　to　his　chair；　setting　his　hands　precisely　on　the　arms。
〃Istelyn；　Madame。　He　must　be　executed。　You　have　said　you　would　do　it。　You　must　follow　through。　Istelyn　is　a　traitor。〃
Caitrin　blanched。　Ithel　gasped。　Sicard　looked　decidedly　unfortable。
〃But；　he　is　a　priest；　a　bishop！〃　Judhael　whispered；　equally　horrified。
〃He　has　betrayed　his　oaths　and　is　no　longer　fit　to　be　regarded　as　other　than　betrayer；〃　Loris　retorted。　〃If　you　like；　I　shall　degrade　him　from　the　priesthood　and　exmunicate　him　as　well。〃
〃Can　this　be　done　to　a　bishop？〃　Caitrin　asked。
〃I　am　the　apostolic　successor　of　Saint　Peter；　given　authority　to　loose　and　to　bind；〃　Loris　said　haughtily。　〃It　was　I　who　consecrated　Istelyn　bishop。　What　I　created；　I　can　also　uncreate。〃
〃Then　he　would　be　executed　as　a　layman；〃　Sicard　said。
〃As　a　layman　and　exmunicate。〃　Loris　shifted　his　gaze　deliberately　to　Caitrin。　〃You　are　aware　of　the　penalty　for　treason。　Highness？〃
Caitrin　stood；　turning　slightly　away　to　wring　her　hands。
〃Must　he　suffer　that？〃　she　whispered。
〃He　is　a　traitor；〃　Loris　said。　〃And　the　penalty　for　treason　…　〃
〃I　know　the　penalty　for　treason。　Archbishop；〃　she　said　steadily。　〃To　be　hanged；　drawn；　and　quartered　…　I　know。〃
〃And　shall　it　be　done？〃
Shoulders　slumping；　Caitrin　of　Meara　bowed　her　head　in　reluctant　agreement。
〃It　shall　be　done；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃And　may　God　have　mercy　on　his　soul。〃

Sentence　was　carried　out　the　following　morning；　just　past　dawn。　Impressed　by　Loris　with　the　importance　of　witnessing　the　execution；　to　underline　the　fate　of　future　traitors；　the　Mearan　royal　family　watched　from　a　doorway　overlooking　the　snowy　castle　yard。　Loris　and　his　bishops　waited　restlessly　at　the　foot　of　the　steps。　Out　in　the　wan　sunlight；　ranks　of　soldiers　in　the　livery　of　Culdi；　Ratharkin；　and　Laas　lined　up　along　either　side　of　the　execution　area。　Four　teams　of　horses；　restless　under　the　hands　of　their　grooms；　stood　ready　behind　the　ranks　nearest　the　stables；　tossing　their　heads　and　stamping　and　snorting　in　me　cold　morning　air；　harness　all　a　jingle。　Snow　still　lay　thick　in　the　center　of　the　yard　where　black…clad　executioners　waited　around　a　hastily　erected　scaffold；　anonymous　behind　their　masks。
Muffled　drums　rolled　as　the　condemned　man　emerged　from　a　doorway　across　the　yard；　surrounded　by　guards；　blinking　in　the　sunlight；　barefooted　in　the　snow。　The　cold　December　wind　stood　his　hair　on　end　and　plastered　his　thin　gown　to　his　body。　His　hands　were　bound　behind　him。　He　stumbled　a　little　as　his　escort　led　him　toward　the　scaffold。
He　appeared　pale　but　posed　as　he　walked　to　his　fate。　He　had　been　stunned　by　the　harshness　of　his　sentence；　but　it　had　e　as　no　real　surprise；　knowing　Loris'　spite。　He　had　never　expected　to　leave　Ratharkin　alive。　He　had　known　a　brief；　soul…wrenching　moment　of　despair　when　he　learned　they　had　set　aside　his　priesthood；　for　he　had　thought　they　would　leave　him　that　fort；　at　least；　but　the　exmunication　which　followed　had　only　renewed　his　conviction　that　any　pretense　of　episcopal　authority　on　Loris'　part　held　no　validity　whatsoever。　Henry　Istelyn　was　a　priest　and　bishop　despite　anything　Loris　might　say　or　do。　His　captors　might　kill　his　body；　but　his　soul　was　answerable　only　to　God。
He　had　been　briefly　troubled　that　they　would　not　allow　him　the　solace　of　another　priest　in　those　final；　predawn　hours；　for　a　last　confession　and　munion。　It　was　an　almost　automatic　reaction　for　any　pious　man　facing　death。　But　then　he　reminded　himself　sternly　that　it　was　only　the　outward　forms　of　those　sacraments　which　were　being　denied　him。　Just　before　the　dawning；　having　made　his　own　examination　of　conscience　and　act　of　contrition；　he　knelt　and　kissed　the　earthen　floor　of　his　cell　in　memoration　of　the　Body　of　his　Lord；　and　drank　of　melted　snow　in　remembrance　of　His　Sacred　Blood。　Then　he　sat　quietly　to　watch　the　lightening　sky　and　await　the　earthly　reckoning；　all　at　peace。
He　was　calm　when　they　came　to　fetch　him；　his　escort　four　smartly　turned…out　soldiers　and　one　of　his　own　former　captains；　none　of　whom　would　look　him　in　the　eyes。　He　bore　their　rough　handling　without　ment　or　protest　as　they　bound　his　hands　behind；　only　wincing　once　when　someone　jarred　the　bandage　on　his　right　hand　where　once　he　had　worn　a　bishop's　amethyst。　The　stairs　up　from　his　cell　were　slick　with　melted　snow　and　slush；　but　the　men　steadied　him　when　he　slipped　and　would　have　fallen。　He　hardly　felt　the　snow　beneath　his　feet　as　he　emerged　into　the　open　courtyard；　or　the　cold　wind　knifing　through　his　thin　gown。　Nor　did　he　give　the　scaffold　more　than　passing　notice；　or　the　executioners　and　their　shining　implements。
Loris　he　did　note；　meeting　the　archbishop's　frigid　glare　with　a　serenity　and　even　passion　which　made　Loris　drop　the　contact　first；　to　gesture　brusquely　to　the　guards。　Caitrin　and　Sicard　likewise　avoided　his　gaze；　but　young　Ithel　stared　at　him　in　confusion　as　Istelyn　smiled　gently　to　himself　and　shook　his　head。
The　scaffold　steps　were　wet　and　slippery。　He　stubbed　a　toe　on　the　way　up。　His　murmured　apology　put　his　guards　off　balance；　and　they　backed　off　uneasily　once　he　was　standing　in　the　center　of　the　scaffold。　The　masked　executioner　who　came　to　place　the　rope　around　his　neck　would　not　meet　his　eyes　either；　and　himself　apologized　as　he　slid　the　knot　snug　against　the　back　of　the　prisoner's　neck。
〃You　must　do　what　you　must　do；　my　son；〃　Istelyn　murmured；　giving　the　man　another　gentle　smile。　〃I　forgive　you　freely。〃
The　man　retreated　in　confusion；　leaving　Istelyn　alone　in　the　center　of　the　scaffold　once　more。　Serenely；　he　turned　his　eyes　t