uarters where you'll be secure from prying eyes until we're ready to confront Bishop Istelyn in the morning。 I expect you're in need of sleep yourselves。〃
〃A few hours will suffice；〃 Loris said； as they headed out the door。 〃I wish little delay before informing Istelyn of the error of his ways。 Perhaps we can。。。〃
Dhugal lost the thread of Loris' words in pain； groaning anew as Gendon and one of Trurill's knights lifted him between them and began slowly walking him toward the door。 His only thought； as he tried to make his feet move with theirs through the fog of anguish； the pounding in his head； was that Kelson must be informed of what was happening here。 But he did not know how he was going to acplish that。
CHAPTER EIGHT
Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels。
Isaiah 47：13
Kelson and his warband swept into Rhemuth the following forenoon on the fringes of a thunderstorm； half…frozen and soaked to the skin despite oiled riding leathers and fur…lined cloaks。 Prince Nigel met them in the castle yard； bare…headed and heedless of the rain pelting down； and set his hand urgently on the king's bridle。 The ill tidings he conveyed set a chill on Kelson which had nothing to do with the storm。
〃Loris？ But that isn't possible。〃
The words carried to the others of his close circle … Morgan and Duncan； Cardiel and Aribn … despite the downpour。 Young Baron Jodrell was the first to spring from his horse when the others would have sat there dumbly in the rain； all but immobilized by shock。 His movement jarred the rest of them to action。 Kelson beckoned his intimates to follow as he dismounted and splashed up the steps to the shelter of the great hall； anger warring with despair。
〃I expect you'll want to question the messenger yourself；〃 Nigel said； handing off Kelson's sodden cap and gloves to a page and hurrying to keep up。
〃Yes； but tell me briefly what he said right now； so I'll be prepared。〃
He listened tight…lipped as he stalked through the great hall； unclasping his wet cloak with one hand while his other fumbled at the buckle of his sword belt。 Morgan collected cloak and sword as he shed them； passing them to another page in exchange for a towel which Kelson used on his dripping face and hair。 Nigel left king and pany in a small withdrawing chamber while he went to get the messenger。
They sought the meager fort of the fire while they waited； heaping sodden outer garments in a er and exchanging guarded glances； no one wanting to be the first to break the silence。 Jodrell played squire to the tight…jawed Kelson； removing vambraces and spurs and helping him shinny out of his mail shirt； while Payne and Rory； NigeFs younger sons； moved among the others with cups of mulled wine。 The king stiffened at the approach of footsteps outside the door； hastily drawing a dry robe over his clammy undertunic。
〃This is Father Bevis； my liege；〃 Nigel said； ushering in a nervous…looking young priest in the sea blue robes of Saint Iveagh's Fratri Silentii。 〃He has been given dispensation from his abbot to speak aloud。〃
The man had the courage to e forward alone； but he could not bring himself to meet Kelson's eyes as he knelt at his feet。 Glancing at the others to draw them nearer。 Kelson wrapped his robe closer and sat with his back to the fire； stretching one leg slightly to the side so Jodrell could pull off a soggy boot。
〃Be wele at our court。 Father Bevis；〃 he said formally； 〃though I fear I cannot say that your news is wele。 Forgive me if Baron Jodrell continues to disarm me while we speak； but I should rather not take a chill … especially if； as it seems； my old enemy is once more at large。〃
The priest's tonsured head bobbed even lower。
〃Nay； it is I who must ask to be forgiven。 Sire … I and my brethren。 We have failed you。〃 His voice was hardly above a whisper despite his dispensation。 〃We made every effort to keep the Lord Loris secure as you manded； but he … got out。〃 He looked up fearfully。 〃Please do not hold us entirely to blame。 Sire。 Father Abbot says he must have had help from outside。〃
Morgan； warming his backside to Kelson's right； snorted contemptuously； but Kelson only shook his head and sighed； bracing himself so Jodrell could pull off his other boot。
〃Please rise。 Father；〃 he said patiently。 〃My uncle has told me the gist of your message already。 We are certain that your noble Order did all within their power to ensure the former archbishop's safe detention。 Did you find no trace of him？〃
〃None； Sire。 And an itinerant preacher calling himself Brother Jeroboam was also missing。 We think he may have had some part in it。 Archb … I mean Father Loris specifically asked that the man be allowed to hear his confession a few days before。 We thought he simply had been moved by the man's preaching。〃
〃Moved right out of Saint Iveagh's；〃 Cardiel muttered。 But Kelson ignored the remark。
〃I see。 And the escape occurred when？〃
〃Six days ago。 Sire … the Eve of Saint Andrew's … sometime after pline； we think。〃
〃Saint Andrew's Eve；〃 Kelson murmured。 〃While we were in Ratharkin。 That's been six days；〃 he added； glancing aside at Morgan。 〃He could be anywhere。〃
〃Would it were in hell！〃 Morgan said bitterly。
Kelson sighed again and started to turn toward Cardiel and Arilan； then remembered the priest still standing before him。
〃Ah； thank you for bringing us this news。 Father Bevis。 We may wish to question you further； but for now you have our leave to wait outside。 The pages will show you where。〃
As his cousins escorted the priest from the room； clearly disappointed to miss what might happen next。 Kelson pivoted on his stool to face the fire； waiting while the others found seats。 Nigel and the bishops claimed the remaining stools； so Jodrell hunkered down on the edge of the raised hearth。 Duncan chose to remain standing； his arms folded across his chest as he leaned against the wall to the left of the fireplace。 Morgan； too restless to sit or stand； paced a short； fidgeting path between Duncan and the king。
〃Very well； gentlemen。 Any ideas where Loris might be headed？〃 Kelson asked。
Cardiel pursed his lips and exchanged a glance with his brother bishop； who had not yet said a word。
〃Toward the source of his aid； of course。 Sire。 He cannot have acted alone in this … and all Gwynedd knows and understands why he was relieved of his office and sent to Saint Iveagh's。 That means his help must surely e from outside Gwynedd。 Two possibilities e to mind immediately： Meara or Torenth。〃
〃Not Torenth；〃 Arilan said。 〃Not while Deryni hold the Torenthi throne。〃
〃Meara； then；〃 Cardiel said； when Arilan did not go on。 〃The implications； while quite different； are hardly more reassuring； however。〃
〃How so？〃 Kelson asked。
〃Secular and ecclesiastical politics are very closely intertwined in Meara； Sire； as we are all aware。 Loris is very much a political creature。 He has always found his support among the conservative clergy … and such clergy were very much involved in the dispute over who should be Bishop of Meara。 He garners support from rebel factions as well。 Two years ago； it was Warm de Grey； today … well； why not the Mearan Pretender？ So long as it suits his plans to regain his position； I should think Edmund Loris would support just about anyone。〃
〃A sad mentary on the man who once was Primate of All Gwynedd；〃 Duncan muttered。
〃Let's talk about Meara； then；〃 Kelson said。 〃Who in Meara might profit from Loris' release？〃
〃That's simple；〃 Nigel said。 〃The Mearan Pretender and her kin。〃
〃Especially ecclesiastical kin；〃 Cardiel agreed； glancing at Arilan； who still was oddly quiet。 〃Like Judhael。 Denis and I had quite a discussion about him after the attempt on Duncan； Sire。 My brother in Christ made light of my notion that Judhael might have been functioning as an agent for his aunt。〃
Morgan； noting Arilan's sullen expression； decided he had best reveal what he had learned。
〃He's innocent of that； at least。 Excellency；〃 he said quietly。 〃Or if he is involved； it's without the direct knowledge or assistance of his aunt。 Nor did he know anything about the attempt on Duncan。 I … ah … questioned him about it that evening。〃
Arilan's reaction conveyed both surprise and anger。 〃You quest