harkin's walls even as we speak； and Lachlan and Calder arrive with the Lady Caitrin's party within a few days … so we will have twice the number needed to make Judhael's consecration valid。〃
〃Twice the number of traitors；〃 Istelyn countered。
Loris' eyes narrowed。 〃You are as stiff…necked as ever； Istelyn。 I believe I am being bored with this conversation。 Judhael； ask the guards to e in； please。 Father Istelyn will be going to his new quarters now。〃
〃In the dungeons？〃 Istelyn asked； as Judhael bowed and moved past him to obey。
Loris returned him a prim smile。 〃I am not a man wholly lacking of a sense of propriety。 Henry。 Out of respect for the office you still technically hold； you shall be detained in reasonable fort until after Judhael's consecration as bishop。〃 He signed to the entering guards to wait just inside the doors。 〃For the sake of propriety； however； I shall require that you remove your vestments before going to your new quarters。 We should not want sacred raiment soiled； should you decide to resist your escort。〃
The mere suggestion that guards might lay hands upon him while still vested for the altar sent a chill up Istelyn's spine； but he knew the threat was not an idle one。 Loris' hard eyes had convinced him early on that there would be no quarter； even had he agreed to terms。 Slowly he removed the violet chasuble with its somber symbols of Advent and laid it across the waiting arms of Judhael； followed by maniple； cincture； stole； amice； and alb。 Finally he stood before them clad only in the violet cassock； slippers； and skullcap of a bishop； clasping the jewelled pectoral cross on his breast in silent affirmation of his continued defiance。 A guard came from behind and laid a fur…lined cloak around his shoulders； and Istelyn nodded surprised thanks as he drew it around himself against the cold。
〃Bishop Istelyn is to lodge temporarily with the young Master of Transha；〃 Loris told the guard captain。 〃Please escort him there with such respect as his behavior warrants。 He is to receive no visitors。 He has our leave to celebrate Mass privately and to minister to the boy； and may have what he needs for either intention。 You may go now。〃
The guards started toward him； but Istelyn ignored them to shoulder numbly past Loris and Creoda and make a reverent obeisance before the altar。 He wore his dignity like a mantle as he rose and went to his captors； even though he was sick with fear inside； but the guards responded to the outward nobility of the man and fell into step as a true escort rather than a custodial force。 He managed not to start shaking until they had closed the door of his prison chamber behind him。 He did not know how long he stood there with his back against the door； trembling and fighting down the nausea of defeat； until gradually he became aware of eyes watching him from the shadows of a fur…covered pallet near the pleasant fire。
〃Who's there？〃 he called softly。
〃Forgive me for not rising to greet you。 Excellency；〃 a young voice answered； 〃but my ribs hurt me if I move too much。 You must be Bishop Istelyn。〃
〃I am。〃
Cautiously Istelyn moved closer。 The boyish face the firelight revealed was far younger than he had been expecting。 Below a greyish bandage tied around the boy's forehead； tawny eyes gazed up at him with disconcerting directness； though a reddish smudge of mustache marked him as a little older than Istelyn had first thought … perhaps fourteen or fifteen。 Dark circles stained the fair skin underneath the eyes。 It was evident the lad had lived with pain for some time。
〃You must be the young Master of Transha；〃 Istelyn said； crouching down beside the pallet。
〃Almost the late Master of Transha； thanks to Loris' escort；〃 the boy replied； offering a hand from underneath his sleeping furs and essaying a tentative smile。 〃I'm called Dhugal by my friends。 This hardly seems the place for overmuch formality。〃
Istelyn took the extended hand briefly and returned the smile。 〃Then I shall call you Dhugal； young laird； since we seem to be destined at least to be colleagues。 Did they hurt you very badly？〃
〃The horses hurt me about as much as the men； I suppose；〃 Dhugal admitted； settling back against his mound of pillows with a barely bitten…back grimace。 〃After I got knocked off my pony； I was kicked a couple of times and nearly trampled。 The men only hit me in the head。 I've some cracked ribs； but at least the headaches seem to be letting up。 What day is it？〃
〃The fifth of December；〃 Istelyn responded。 〃We're in Advent season。 Shall I look at your injuries？ I haven't much skill in such matters； but perhaps I can do something。〃
Dhugal closed his eyes briefly and managed a slight nod。 〃Thank you。 I can tell you what to do。 I've had training as a battle surgeon myself； but there's only so much one can do on oneself as patient。 Have a look。 My ribs are the worst just now。〃
Dhugal was nude beneath the sleeping furs； his slender torso and limbs displaying the number of old scars one might expect of a lad trained in warrior disciplines； but Istelyn sucked in breath between his teeth at the massive bruising across the left ribcage。 Another bruise purpled the top of the right thigh in the precise outline of a horseshoe。 Istelyn could even see the prints of the nails which had held the shoe in place。
〃That one looks much worse than it is；〃 Dhugal said； brushing the bruise lightly with his right hand。 〃Which is not to say it doesn't hurt； or that I won't limp for a while； but at least I didn't break my leg。 If they'll give you bandages； or if something can be improvised； I need you to bind my chest。 Without support； even breathing can be an agony if I move the wrong way。 And coughing … 〃
As Dhugal braced both hands over his ribcage to draw a deeper breath carefully； Istelyn looked alarmed。
〃You haven't punctured a lung； have you？〃
Dhugal shook his head and winced as he pulled the furs back up to his waist。 〃I don't think so。 I'm not coughing blood。 I'd give a lot for a good night's sleep； though。〃
〃Loris said I might have medical supplies；〃 Istelyn said。 〃Perhaps they'll have something to help you sleep。 What about your head？ Any actual wounds？〃
Dhugal flinched as the bishop pulled the bandage from his head and began probing gently beneath the reddish hair。
〃No … and I don't think I've missed any fractures。 It's just the headaches； and they're letting up。〃
〃All right。〃 Istelyn managed a shaky smile as he rose and glanced apprehensively at the door。 〃Let's see whether Loris meant what he said about medical supplies。〃
An hour later； bundled in a cloak against the cold； Dhugal was sitting gingerly in a chair beside the fire and feeling more fortable than he had since before his capture。 So long as he did not breathe too deeply； the bandages Istelyn had bound around his chest gave him enough support so that his ribs no longer hurt beyond a dull ache … and that was fast receding as he sipped at the cup of wine he had directed Istelyn to prepare。
〃This should make me sleep at least through the night；〃 he told the bishop； as he took another swallow of the drugged wine and let the bitter undertaste roll over the back of his tongue。 〃If they'll let you have more； I want you to keep me sedated for at least another day and night beyond that。 I don't like leaving myself so vulnerable； but unfortunately sleep and rest are still the best treatments I know for head injuries like mine。〃 He sighed dismally。 〃It's too bad Kelson isn't here。 He could … ？〃
He broke off and glanced at the bishop furtively as he realized what he had almost said； afraid even a veiled reference to the king's newfound powers might offend the human Istelyn。 To his horror； Istelyn seemed to know exactly what he had been about to say。
〃He could do what？〃 the bishop asked。 〃Help you in some way with his magic？〃
Dhugal swallowed audibly； trying to stay on guard。 The drug was loosening his tongue as well as damping the pain。 Istelyn seemed trustworthy； but this was hardly the time to begin so controversial a discussion with a man whose sympathies were unknown。
〃I … don't want to offend you。 Excellency； but most clergy aren't altogether tolerant of … ah … magic。 Please forget I said anything。〃
〃Ah； then his