kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第55章

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dependent　kingdom　again。〃
Duncan　snorted。　〃That　honestly　hadn't　occurred　to　me；　but　you're　right。　And　all　the　more　reason　for　finding　out；　and　then　figuring　out　how　to　acknowledge　him　so　that　there　can　be　no　question　of　the　right　to　the　titles。〃　He　glanced　back　at　the　fire。　〃I　certainly　could　have　asked　for　better　timing；　though。　A　bishop's　son　is　going　to　raise　more　than　a　few　eyebrows。〃
〃You　weren't　a　bishop　at　the　time；　or　even　a　priest。〃
〃No。　It's　still　going　to　smack　of　conspiracies；　however。〃
〃I　couldn't　agree　more。　Would　you　like　me　to　go　and　find　him？　We've　not　much　time；　but　I'll　do　the　best　I　can。〃
〃Please　do；〃　Duncan　whispered。　〃Don't　tell　him　why　I　want　to　see　him；　though。　I…need　to　do　that　myself。〃
〃Believe　me；　that's　the　last　thing　I　intend　to　do；〃　Morgan　murmured；　as　he　rose　and　left　the　room。
Duncan　did　not　move　for　several　seconds。　One　hand　over　his　face；　he　tried　to　push　back　the　hope；　the　expectation；　just　in　case　he　was　mistaken。　He　told　himself　there　were　many　ways　Dhugal　could　have　gotten　the　clasp…　if；　indeed；　it　really　was　the　same　one。　He　tried　to　tell　himself　it　might　not　be。　But　deep　inside；　he　knew　it　was；　and　how　it　had　e　into　Dhugal's　keeping。
Though　neither　he　nor　Maryse　had　thought　about　the　possibility　of　issue；　in　that　one；　brief；　tearful；　fumbling　union　of　innocents；　he　saw　the　scenario　as　it　unfolded　behind　his　closed　eyelids：　Maryse；　months　later；　safe　back　at　Transha　for　the　winter；　her　father　and　elder　brothers　off　to　war　with　the　king's　troops；　discovering　that　she　was　with　child。　Fearful；　at　first；　to　tell　another　soul；　but　then；　as　it　became　less　and　less　possible　to　hide；　the　tearful　confession　to　her　mother；　who　was　also　expecting…and　the　plan　evolving；　so　that　Maryse　might　bear　her　child　in　secret　and　give　it　to　her　mother；　to　be　raised　as　twin　to　the　child　due　a　month　or　so　before。　In　the　fastness　of　a　border　winter；　with　the　menfolk　wintering　in　Meara；　and　the　circumspectness　of　a　few　serving　women；　who　would　have　known？
And　then；　when　Maryse　died；　whether　of　childbirth　plications　or　the　fever　which　was　given　out　as　the　reason；　who　else　was　to　know？　Duncan；　when　he　had　heard　of　her　death　the　following　summer；　certainly　had　never　put　two　and　two　together。　News　of　her　death　had　only　turned　him　back　to　his　original　plans　to　continue　in　holy　orders　and　bee　a　priest。　Before　too　long；　the　brief；　intense　days　at　Culdi　held　only　the　poignant　memory　of　a　particularly　vivid　dream　which　now　would　never　be。　He　had　never　told　a　soul；　save　a　long…dead　confessor　…　　not　even　Morgan。
Blinking　back　tears；　Duncan　rose　and　went　to　the　desk　beneath　the　amber　window；　taking　out　the　shiral　on　its　fine　leather　cord。　It　had　been　her　gift　…　and　all　unwittingly；　he　had　used　it　to　test　their　son　for　sign　of　magical　heritage　which　certainly　existed；　no　doubt　about　that　now。　He　held　it　by　the　cords　as　he　returned　to　his　chair　and　sat；　holding　it　before　his　eyes　like　the　talisman　it　had　bee。
Shiral。
As　he　closed　it　in　his　fist；　he　was　taken　back　to　that　chapel　again；　and　the　vows　they　had　made。
〃I　take　thee　as　my　wedded　husband；〃　she　had　said。　〃I　give　thee　this　token　as　a　sign　of　my　love；　and　hereto　I　plight　thee　my　troth。〃
She　had　taken　it　from　her　own　neck；　still　warm　from　her　body；　and　placed　it　around　his　neck。　Trembling；　he　placed　it　there　again　and　pressed　the　stone　to　his　lips；　startling　as　a　knock　at　the　door　intruded　on　the　memory。
〃e；〃　he　called；　slipping　the　necklace　into　the　front　of　his　cassock。
He　rose　as　they　came　into　the　room；　Morgan　ushering　a　curiously　expectant　Dhugal。
〃You　wanted　to　see　me。　Father　Duncan？〃　the　boy　asked。
Duncan　hardly　trusted　himself　to　speak　as　he　gestured　for　Dhugal　to　be　seated。　Morgan　was　looking　very　uncertain；　but　Duncan　nodded　for　him　to　remain　as　well。
〃Sit　down；　please　…　both　of　you；〃　Duncan　said；　himself　sitting　as　Dhugal　plied。　〃I　…　realize　this　is　awkward　timing；　but　I　didn't　think　it　could　wait。　It　…　may　get　more　awkward；　yet。〃
〃I　don't　think　I　understand；〃　Dhugal　replied；　perching　gingerly　on　the　edge　of　his　chair。　〃Is　it　something　I've　done？〃
Duncan　smiled　despite　his　apprehension。　〃No；　nothing　you've　done。　Would　you　indulge　me　for　just　a　moment？〃
〃If　I　can。〃
〃Very　well。　Without　asking　me　why；　I'd　like　you　to　take　off　your　cloak　clasp　and　look　at　the　back　of　it。〃
With　a　puzzled　glance　at　Morgan；　Dhugal　obeyed；　fumbling　wordlessly　with　the　pin。　When　he　had　given　the　back　a　cursory　glance；　he　looked　up　at　Duncan　in　question。　The　bishop　was　gazing　into　the　fireplace；　the　flames　reflecting　from　his　light　eyes。
〃What　am　I　supposed　to　see？〃　Dhugal　whispered；　after　a　slight　hesitation。
Duncan　swallowed　visibly。　〃Along　the　top　edge；　you'll　find　a　fine　crack。　If　you'll　pry　it　with　a　fingernail；　it　should　open。　If　there's　something　inside；　I'd　like　you　not　to　tell　me　what　it　is；　just　yet。　All　right？〃
With　a　shrug　and　a　puzzled　glance　at　the　stony…faced　Morgan；　Dhugal　grunted　his　agreement　and　worried　at　the　clasp　with　a　thumbnail。　He　jumped　a　little　as　something　gave；　then　bent　to　peer　more　closely　into　the　partment　he　had　just　discovered。
〃What　the　…　how　did　you　know？　How　did　you　know　there　was　even　a　partment？〃
Duncan　gave　a　resigned　sigh　and　sat　back　in　his　chair；　covering　his　eyes　with　the　hand　nearest　Dhugal　and　leaning　wearily　on　that　elbow。
〃May　I　tell　you　a　brief　story；　Dhugal？〃　he　whispered。
Mystified；　Dhugal　nodded　and　sat　back　in　his　chair；　still　glancing　down　at　the　clasp　in　his　hand　from　time　to　time。
〃Your　description　of　how　you　came　by　the　clasp　struck　the　first　chord；〃　Duncan　murmured。　〃How　your　father　gave　it　to　your　mother　when　they　were　married。　I've　never　told　anyone　about　this　before；　but　something　like　what　you　described　happened　to　me　when　I　was　only　a　little　younger　than　you。　I　fell　in　love　with　a　beautiful　and　loving　young　girl；　and　all　thought　of　being　a　priest　went　out　of　my　mind。　She　was　from　your　clan；　and　we　planned　to　ask　our　parents'　permission　to　be　married　as　soon　as　our　fathers　returned　from　the　campaign　they　were　on。　That's　why　she　and　her　mother　and　sisters　were　at　my　father's　castle。
〃Something　happened　between　the　clans　while　they　were　on　that　campaign；　however。　Her　eldest　brother　was　killed　in　a　drunken　brawl　with　one　of　my　father's　men；　and　there　was　the　very　real　possibility　of　a　bitter　blood　feud；　even　though　the　guilty　McLain　man　was　duly　executed。　Her　father　and　his　men　came　back　to　Culdi　just　long　enough　to　pack　up　the　women　and　children　and　prepare　to　ride　out　the　following　dawn。
〃In　any　case；　to　make　a　long　story　short；　we　realized　that　our　fathers　would　never　let　us　marry；　under　the　circumstances　…　at　least　not　for　a　very　long　time　…　so　we　exchanged　vows　in　the　darkened　chapel。　She　gave　me　a　token；　and　I　gave　her　a　cloak　clasp　very　similar　to　the　one　in　your　hand。　In　fact；　that　could　be　the　very　one。〃
Dhugal　had　followed　the　entire　story　with　increasing　amazement；　and　now　he　glanced　at　the　clasp　in　his　hand　again；　suspicion　beginning　to　niggle　at　the　edges　of　consciousness。
〃May　…　may　I　ask　what　her　name　was？〃　he　breathed。
〃Maryse　MacArdry；〃　Duncan　whispered。　〃And　if　only　in　the　eyes　of　ourselves　and　of　God；　she　was　my　wife　for　that　brief　night。〃
〃But　…　Maryse　was　my　sister's　name。　She　died　the　same　winter　I　was　born。〃
〃Yes；　I　heard　that　the　following　summer；〃　Duncan　said；　〃and　that　her　mother　had　borne　twins　about　the　same　time。　Until　I　saw　you　wearing　that　cloak　clasp；　it　had　never　even　occurred　to　me　that　one　of　those　children　might　be　mine。〃
〃You　mean；　me？〃　Dhugal　asked；　in　a　very　small　voice。
Duncan　dropped　his　hand　to　look　full　into　Dhugal's　eyes。
〃Shall　I　tell　you　what　you　found　inside　the　partment　of　your　cloak　clasp？〃　he　asked。
Solemnly；　fearfully；　Dhugal　nodded。
〃The　afternoon　before　we　made　our　vows；　Maryse　took　strands　of　our　hair　and　wove　them　into　a　ring；　using　longer　strands　from　our　ponies'　tails　to　form　the　framework。　I　know　that　you　don't　remember　her；　if　you　ever　even　saw　her；　but　you　may　have　seen　paintings。　Her　hair　was　silver　blond；　even　lighter　than　Alaric's。　The　horsehairs　were　black。　I　think　that's　what　you'll　find；　if　you'll　pull　out　what's　inside。〃
Almost　afraid　to　breathe；　Dhugal　prodded　at　the　partment　in　the　clasp　and　worried　loose　precisely　that：　a　mostly　dark　ring　of　hair；　oval　in　shape　from　having　been　pressed；　with　a　strand　of　purest　silver　braided　into　the　design。　As　Dhugal　held　it　tremblingly　between　his　thumb　and　forefinger；　not　daring　to　speak；　Morgan　leaned　forward　and　spoke　for　the　first　time。
〃If　one　of　the　hairs　is　Duncan's；　I'll　be　able　to　detect　it；　Dhugal；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃And　if　it　isn't；　I'll　tell　you　that；　too。　May　I　hold　it？〃
Wordlessly；　Dhugal　placed　it　on　his　outstretched　palm；　glancing　fearfully　at　Duncan　as　he　did　so。　Morgan　closed　his　eyes　for　several　seconds；　the　ring　closed　lightly　in　his　fist　then　passed　it　across　to　Duncan。
〃It　is　one　of　your　hairs；〃　he　said　softly。　〃But　that　doesn't　prove　that　Dhugal　is　your　son　…　only　that　you　probably　did　have　the　relationship　with　Maryse　that　you've　described。　Dhugal　could　still　be　Caulay's　child。　You　have　a　twin　sister；　don't　you；　Dhugal？〃
〃It　…　sounds　like　I　have　another　aunt　or　niece；〃　Dhugal　breathed；　〃depending　on　which　one　of　us　was　Maryse's　child。〃
〃That's　true；〃　Duncan　murmured。　〃But　I　would　be　willing　to　wager　everything　I　hold　dear；　including　any　slight　chance　I　may　have　of　salvation；　that　you　are　Maryse's　child。　Shall　I　tell　you　why？〃
Dhugal　nodded　solemnly。
〃Because　Maryse's　child　by　me　would　be　part　Deryni　…　　and　I　think　that's　what　we've　been　getting　hints　of；　ever　since　you　and　Kelson　got　back　together；〃　Duncan　said　steadily。　〃I　think　that　night　at　Transha；　when　you　helped　Kelson　reach　Alaric；　was　a　catalyst　that　went　awry。　Your　Deryni　potentials　started　to　be　touched　for　the　first　time；　but　it　was　frightening；　and　you　froze　up。　That　would　also　explain　why；　when　we　later　tried　to　read　you　and　find　out　what　had　been　going　on；　you　felt　most　fortable　with　me。　Do　you　remember？〃
Dhugal's　eyes　had　been　getting　wider　and　wider　as　Duncan　spoke；　now　his　hands　were　trembling。　Quickly　he　clamped　them　together　to　make　them　stop；　not　daring　to　take　his　eyes　from　Duncan's。
〃I　…　want　to　believe　you；〃　he　finally　managed　to　whisper。　〃I　mean　no　disrespect　to　my　f　…　to　Lord　Caulay；　but　if　…　if　you　are　my　father；　it　would　certainly　explain　a　lot。〃
Slowly　Duncan　drew　deep　breath。　The　time　was　e　to　take　the　final　chance。
〃I　know　of　only　one　way　to　prove　that　to　you；　beyond　what　I've　already　done；　Dhugal；〃　he　said　softly。　〃If　I　am　your　father；　then　you're　Deryni；　too。　And　if　you're　Deryni；　then　…　if　you're　willing　…　I　should　be　able　to　form　a　mind…link　with　you　and　show　you　exactly　what　I　remember　about　your　mother　and　me。　I　loved　her　very　much；　Dhugal；　and　I've　e　to　care　a　great　deal　for　you；　over　the　years；　before　I　ever　suspected　you　might　be　my　son。　I　can't　make　up　for　all　the　years　you've　lived　in　ignorance　…　　and　that's　the　fault　of　no　one　who's　still　alive　…　but　I　can　try　to　bridge　the　gap　now　that　I　know　it's　there。　Do　you　trust　me？〃
〃Yes；〃　Dhugal　breathed。
〃No；　do　you　really　trust　me？〃　Duncan　insisted。　〃You　trusted　me　before　and　weren't　able　to　let　me　in。　Do　you　think　you　might　be　ready　now？〃
〃Duncan；　I'm　not　sure　we　really　hav