"Kurtz, Katherine - Deryni Chronicles 02 - Deryni Checkmate 1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)

"I know Gorony," Duncan nodded. "Was anything added to the final draft of the letter? Anything that isn't in here?" He tapped the parchment with a well-manicured forefinger.
"Nothing," Hugh replied. "I made the final copy from this one," he gestured toward the letter on the table, "and I watched both of them sign and seal it. I don't know what they told Gorony after I left. And of course I have no idea what they may have said to him in advance."
"I see." Duncan turned the information over in his mind and nodded. "Is there anything else we should know?"
Hugh looked at his feet and wrung his hands together. There was another message, of course. But he had not counted on Duncan's earlier angry reaction, and he was not sure just how he should phrase the second matter now. It would not be easy, no matter' how he phrased it.
"There is something else you should know, Duncan." He paused, unable to look up. "I had not thought to find you here, but there is another matter which came under my pen tonight. It concerns you personally."
"Me?" Duncan glanced at Kelson and Nigel. "Go on. You may speak freely here."
"It isn't that." Hugh swallowed with difficulty. "Duncan, Corrigan is suspending you. He's calling you to answer before his ecclesiastical court for dereliction of duty, probably tomorrow morning." "What?"
Duncan stood, hardly aware that he did, and his face was ashen against the black of his cassock. Hugh could not raise his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Duncan," he whispered. "Apparently the archbishop thinks you were responsible for some of what happened at His Majesty's coronation last fall-begging your pardon, Sire," he glanced at Kelson. "He gave me his draft of the writ not an hour ago, asking to have it as soon as possible. I gave it to one of my clerks to copy and came straight here, intending to find you after I'd told His Majesty about the other matters."
He dared to look at Duncan finally, and whispered, "Duncan, are you mixed up in magic?"
Duncan moved toward the fireplace as one in a trance, his blue eyes wide, all pupil. "Suspended," he murmured disbelievingly, ignoring Hugh's question. "And called before his court."
He looked at Kelson. "My Prince, I must not be here tomorrow when that writ is served. It's not that Fm afraid you know that. But if Corrigan takes me into custody now ,.."
Kelson nodded gravely. "I understand. What do you want me to do?"
Duncan thought a moment, looked guardedly at Nigel, then at Kelson. "Send me to Alaric, Sire. He must be warned of the threat of Interdict anyway, and I'll be safe from Corrigan at his court. It may even be that I can sway Bishop Tolliver to delay implementation of the Interdict."
"Ill give you a dozen of my best men," Kelson agreed. "What else?"
Duncan shook his head, trying to formulate a plan of action. "Hugh, you say that Gorony took the sea route. That's a three-day journey by ship, possibly less in storm weather if they pile on all canvas. Nigel, how are the roads between here and Alaric's capital this time of year?"
'Terrible. But you should be able to make it ahead of Gorony if you change horses along the way. Also> the weather gets a little better as you go south."
Duncan ran a weary hand through his short brown hair and nodded. "All right, I'll have to try it At least I'll be out of Corrigan's jurisdiction once I cross the Corwyn border. Bishop Tolliver has been a friend of sorts in the past. I doubt he'd arrest me on Colony's word alone. Besides, Gorony hopefully won't know about Corrigan's summons, even if he does get there ahead of me."
"It's settled, then," Kelson said, standing and nodding in Hugh's direction. "Father, I thank you for your loyalty. It shall not go unrewarded. But will it be safe for you to return to the archbishop's palace after what you've told us? I can offer my protection, if you like. Or you could go with Father Duncan."
Hugh smiled. "My thanks for your concern, Sire, hut I believe I can serve you best if I return to my duties. I'll not have been missed yet, and I may be able to tell you more at a later date."
"Very well," Kelson nodded. Good luck to you,
Father."
"Thank you, Sire," Hugh bowed. "And Duncan," he paused to clasp Duncan's hand and search his eyes, "be careful, my friend. I don't know what you've done and I don't want to know, but my prayers will be with you."
Duncan touched his shoulder in reassurance and nodded, and then Hugh was gone. As soon as the door had closed behind him, Duncan picked up the parchment and began refolding it, the crisp rustle the only sound in the still room. Now that he had a plan, his initial anger and shock were well under control, but he watched Kelson as he slipped the letter into his violet cincture. The boy was standing beside his chair, staring unseeing at the door and apparently oblivious to the fact that there was anyone else in the room. Nigel still sat at the table across from Duncan, but he too had withdrawn into a private world.
Duncan picked up his goblet and drained it, noticing the bent rim and realizing that he must have done it. He replaced the goblet silently and looked toward Kelson.
"I plan to take Hugh's letter with me if you have no objections, My Prince. Alaric will want to see it."
"Yes, of course," Kelson replied, shaking himself out of his reverie. "Uncle, will you see about the escort? And tell Richard he's to go along. Father Duncan may have need of a good man."
"Certainly, Kelson."
Nigel rose catlike and moved toward the door, slapping Duncan's shoulder as he passed. Then the door was closed, and there were only the two of them. Kelson had moved to the fireplace as Nigel left, and now he stared intently into the flames, resting his forehead on folded forearms along the edge of the mantel.
Duncan clasped his hands behind him and studied the floor uncertainly. There were things that onlv he and Kelson and Alaric had ever talked about, and he sensed it was something of this nature that was troubling the boy now. He had thought at the time that Kelson had taken this evening's events far too calmly, but he didn't dare wait much longer to get on the road. Corrigan just might decide to serve that writ tonight. And the longer Duncan waited, the farther aliead Gorony would be with the fateful letter.
Duncan cleared his throat gently, saw Kelson's shoulders stiffen at the sound.
"Kelson," he said quietly, "I have to go now."
"I know."
"Is there any message I should take for Alaric?"
"No." The boy's voice was husky, strained. "Just tell him tell him "
He turned toward Duncan, his face pale, desperate. Duncan moved to his side in alarm, took him by the shoulders and gazed deeply into the wide, frightened eyes. The boy stood stiff and straight, fists clenched tightly at his sides, not in defiance but in fear. And the grey eyes filling with unbidden tears were no longer the eyes of a brave young king who had vanquished evil to keep his throne, but those of a child forced too soon and too long to function as an adult in a complex world. Duncan sensed all of this in less than a heartbeat, and he stared down at the boy in compassion. For all the young king's maturity, he was still a boy of fourteen and a frightened one at that.
"Kelson?"
"Please be careful, Father," the boy whispered, his voice trembling on the brink of tears.
On impulse, Duncan pulled the boy to him and held him close, felt the proud young shoulders shudder convulsively as- he surrendered to the rare luxury of tears. As Duncan stroked the raven head, he felt the boy relax, heard the stifled sobbing diminish. He hugged the boy closer still in a short gesture of comfort, then began to speak softly.
"Shall we talk about it, Kelson? It isn't nearly as terrifying if you look it in the eye."
"Yes it is," Kelson sniffed, his voice muffled agaipst Duncan's shoulder.
"Well, now, I don't like to contradict kings, but I'm afraid you're wrong this time, Kelson. Suppose we consider the worst that can possibly happen and work up from there."
"V-very well."
"All right, then. Whafs on your mind?"
Kelson pulled away slightly and looked up at Duncan, then wiped his eyes and turned toward the fireplace, still in the protective circle of Duncan's left
arm.
"What " he whispered tremulously, "what will happen if you and Alaric are taken, Father?"
"Hmm, that depends on when and by whom," Duncan answered lightly, trying to reassure the boy.
"Suppose Loris captures you?"
Duncan considered the question. "Well, first I'd have to answer before the ecclesiastical court. If they could prove anything, which is open to debate, they could degrade me from the priesthood, strip away my orders. I might even be excommunicated."