ight stairs； closed by the monks' dorter； Loris hardly dared to breathe。 Once past； he could breathe； but their route became a maze of unfamiliar turns and jogs。 He had no idea where he was。
Another descending stair gave way to downward…sloping corridor； then to rock…hewn tunnel； then to rough sea cave … and a harrowing descent of the remainder of the cliff face by rope； to board a waiting curragh。 Loris clung to the sides of the tiny craft and prayed as the curragh left the shelter of the cove and headed out through the swells； not relaxing until a ship suddenly loomed out of the fog ahead； spars stark and skeletal in the darkness。 As he scrambled aboard； the master of the ship tugged at his forelock and gave silent signal for the crew to begin rowing。
〃God prosper Your Excellency in your work；〃 said a muffled voice； kneeling shadow…vague to grasp the newer's hand and kiss it。
〃Gorony？〃 Loris whispered； raising the man to peer and then embrace him。 〃Gorony； Gorony； I feared never to see you again； or to taste freedom！ Oh； I am well blessed with such service！〃
Gorony pulled away far enough to incline his head in thanks； smiling contentedly。 〃I had powerful allies； my lord。 But not powerful enough； I fear； to prevent your enemies from making our task more difficult from this point on。 The Lord Judhael was not elected to the See of Meara。 Tomorrow morning； Bradene and Cardiel will invest Henry Istelyn in Ratharkin； before the king and most of his court。〃
〃Istelyn？ Damn！〃 Slamming one fist into his other palm； Loris half turned away from Gorony； moving farther into the bow。 The wind was freshening as the ship ghosted further from the shelter of the sea cliffs； and canvas rustled and snapped as the crew hoisted the sail aloft and caught the air。
〃Do you know how it happened？〃 Loris asked； after taking a moment to subdue his anger。
Gorony shrugged。 〃Not in detail。 Excellency； but one gathers that the Deryni McLain had a hand in it。 Incidentally； I regret to report that our diversion was unsuccessful。 McLain still lives and will himself be consecrated bishop at Easter； to serve Cardiel。〃
〃A viper in the episcopate！〃 Loris spat vehemently over the rail。 〃What about our agent？ Did he talk？〃
〃Apparently not。 McLain killed him during the attack。 Fortunately； not even Deryni can make the dead speak … especially when merasha is involved。〃
〃Ah； then the boy did manage to wound him。〃
〃Aye； though not deeply enough to do real damage： a slash across one palm； from what I hear。 Apparently Morgan was able to heal that； though not right away； with the merasha in it。 McLain was quite up to attending Mass the next noon； and seemed to bear no sign of the wound。〃
〃Blast him for the Deryni heretic he is！ … that both of them are！ … and that is going to be a bishop！〃 He indulged an explosive sigh； then glanced at Gorony more mildly。
〃How does this change our plans； then； my friend？ You've worked miracles enough； simply to get me out of Saint Iveagh's； but there's no way we can reach Ratharkin in time to prevent the investiture。〃
〃That's true； my lord。 However； by the time we can reach Ratharkin； the king and his court will be on their way back to Rhemuth。 For all the winter； Meara's new bishop will be guarded only by his garrison … and most of them owe obedience to the Bishop of Culdi or to Judhael himself。〃
〃Do they； indeed？〃 Loris breathed。
〃Even so； my lord；〃 Gorony replied； smiling。 〃Nor does Bishop Creoda's support end with the gaining of your freedom。 He proposes to help you depose Istelyn and then consecrate Judhael in his place。 The king won't even know for several weeks； if things go as they should … and the snows will make it almost impossible to do anything about it until spring。 By then； you and the Princess Caitrin should be firm allies。〃
When Loris had digested the information； he nodded。 〃Creoda； too； has served me well。 Have we a third bishop available； to make the validity of Judhael's consecration beyond question？〃
〃We hope to … ah … 'persuade' Istelyn to assist；〃 Gorony said carefully。 〃His cooperation would lend us credence in the eyes of royalist supporters in the city； and perhaps ease the situation through the winter。 Failing that； Mir de Kierney and several of the other itinerant bishops are remaining within easy access of Ratharkin。 Once the city is secured； you shan't lack for bishops to do your bidding。〃
〃How many？〃 Loris asked。
〃For now； perhaps as many as seven； not counting Judhael or yourself。 Three hold titled sees。〃 Gorony paused。 〃I should add that none of these know that you are involved besides Creoda and Judhael； though the cause of Mearan independence binds them all。 However； I think they can be persuaded readily enough to support you； once it's learned you plan to champion the Princess Caitrin。〃
Loris snorted under his breath； then glanced around behind them before looking at Gorony。 〃Do you think I care a whit about her； Gorony？ It's my see I want back … and I want the Deryni who took it from me。 I want them very badly。〃
〃I believe you may just get your wish； my lord。〃 Gorony smiled。 〃You'll find these bishops far more biddable than the last lot … and by starting with a united Meara； there's nothing to prevent the creation of more bishops who will do as you ask them。 Meara can be but the first step。〃
〃Ah； Gorony； you do understand quite well； don't you？〃 Loris murmured appreciatively。 〃I'll not forget； I promise you。〃 He sighed as he glanced out at the blank sea ahead。 〃How long before we make landfall？ I am eager to be about our work。〃
〃Tomorrow； dawn。 From there； it's two or three days' ride to Ratharkin。 We expect no opposition。 Why don't you rest； my lord？〃
〃Thank you。 I believe I shall。 And I may even sleep … now。〃
Sleep had fled Saint Iveagh's not long before； however； the abbot suspending the Office of Prime for the first time in thirty years。 The old monk who knelt trembling before the abbot and the brethren hastily assembled in Loris' empty chamber was nearly weeping； his voice barely audible； even though the abbot had already dispensed all in the room from the Order's Rule of speaking in a whisper save during Divine Office。
〃I cannot explain it。 Father Abbot。 He is simply gone。 He asked to attend Vespers； so that he might hear Brother Jeroboam preach； and I myself locked his door when he returned。 Here is the key。〃 He extended it in both hands； not looking up。 〃I will swear on whatever holy relics you require that it has not been out of my possession。〃
Another monk stepped forward from the ranks and knelt beside the distraught man。
〃It is true。 Father Abbott。 Brother Wenceslaus had the key when he returned from escorting Father Loris back to his room。 He and I kept vigil in the Lady Chapel until pline。 Both of us looked in on Father Loris before retiring； but he seemed to be asleep … and he often omits the early morning offices。 There was no occasion to check on him again until we came to rouse him for Prime。〃
The abbot； rumpled and disheveled in a hastily donned mantle pulled over his sleeping gown； sank wearily onto a stool and sighed。
〃Then； he could have been missing for many hours；〃 he murmured。 〃How can this have happened？ Brother Wenceslaus； please believe that I do not hold you personally to blame； but could there possibly have been a second key？〃
Another brother； bending to inspect the door latch by the light of a candle another monk held； tut…tutted primly to himself and shook his head as he glanced up at the abbot。
〃I doubt there was another key。 Father Abbot。 The lock shows definite signs of tampering … perhaps one of the tinkers who paid us visit in the last few days。〃 He paused a beat。 〃Or some other stranger。 I don't suppose anyone has questioned Brother Jeroboam？〃
The abbot shook his head miserably。 〃Unfortunately； I am informed that Brother Jeroboam is also missing。 Alas； it appears the good preacher was not what he appeared。 That we did not recognize this is the fault of no one in this Order； but the fact remains that the prisoner entrusted to our charge has escaped。 We have failed in our duty。〃
As he sighed again； the assembled brethren hung their heads guiltily。
〃Well； there is no help for it but to tell the king； m