et back in place … though something in the family tableau before him cautioned him not to presume by sitting until invited。
〃My queen；〃 Sicard said softly； before Loris could choose a suitable remark； 〃we are yours to mand； as you know well； but I fear the Haldane has struck a telling blow this time。 Is it your wish to continue as we have thus far； knowing that we He under the ban of the Church？〃
〃Not the ban of the Church！〃 Loris snapped。 〃The ban of a handful of outlaw bishops who have betrayed their oath of obdience to me！ He remembered himself sufficiently to bow slightly in apology。 〃Forgive me。 Highness； but there can be no question of capitulating simply because of a bit of parchment and wax。 This is what I think of it！〃
With a grandiose flourish； he flung it into the fireplace but at Caitrin's urgent gasp； Ithel scrambled onto the raised hearth and rescued it； pinching out the embers along the edges where it had started to bum and stifling an oath as molten wax dripped on his hand from one of the seals。
〃That is not the answer；〃 Sicard said； rising to pull a straightbacked chair beside his wife's。 〃And that bit of parchment and wax； as you call it； seemed to give you cause for consternation。 Archbishop。 Nor does denying it make it cease to exist； unfortunately。〃
He took Caitrin's hand in his as he sat； chafing at it in futile attempt to fort。 Loris scowled。
〃The writ is an annoyance。 It has no force；〃 he said。 'Those who issued it had no authority to do so。〃
〃What matters authority？〃 Caitrin whispered。 〃One needs no authority to make a curse … and that is what it is； for all its highflown language。 We folk of the hills understand such things。 Archbishop。 You cannot dismiss a curse as lightly as that。〃
〃Then we must counter it as you think appropriate；〃 Loris said； easing into the chair behind him and studying them both carefully。 〃Shall I curse them back？ It would give me great personal satisfaction。 I can and shall countermand the writ and proclaim the same against the House of Haldane and her outlaw bishops。 But you must do your part as well。 Highness。 Ibis needs must be the spur which drives you to give the king the answer he deserves。 We must not be intimidated by Haldane threats anymore。〃
〃The Haldane has learned to threaten well； for all that he is hardly grown；〃 Caitrin replied dully； picking up the other document which had acpanied the exmunication： Kelson's answer to her last defiance。 〃He repeats his demand for my surrender。 Archbishop。 And he still holds my Llewell and Sidana to hostage。〃
〃You yourself pointed out not a fortnight ago that they are of age。 Highness。 They knew the dangers。〃
〃But they are my children！〃 Caitrin said。 〃Shall I abandon them to their fate？ Shall they suffer the wrath of the Haldane usurpers and die the death so that I may wear a crown？〃
Grim and determined； Loris slipped to his knees before her； lifting his palms in entreaty。
〃Do you not think they would willingly give their lives to secure the throne of Meara for its rightful queen？〃 he countered。 〃This land has lain under the rule of foreign princes for far too long already； noble lady。 Malcolm Haldane wrenched it from the lawful heiress a century ago； and he and his heirs have kept it in thrall ever since； despite the cries of your people。 You have the means to bring an end to Haldane tyranny。 For the sake of your people； you dare not shrink from your sacred duty。〃
White…faced； Caitrin listened to his words； fingers intertwined with those other husband； her one remaining son crouched beside her with the scorched scroll of exmunication all but forgotten in his hands； her nephew standing silent and stricken behind them in his episcopal purple。 When the archbishop had finished； Caitrin bowed her head。 After a moment tears splashed on her and Sicard's joined hands。
〃It appears that I must offer my children's lives on the altar of my aspiration；〃 she finally said； shaking her head bitterly。 〃But you are right。 Archbishop。 I have a duty。〃
With her free hand； she reached across to take Ithel's and bring it to her lips； then held it cradled against her breast as she looked up。
〃Very well。 The writ must be reversed； and you shall pronounce the ban against the Haldane court and bishops。 What else？〃
Loris inclined his head in acknowledgment； folding his hands precisely on his upraised knee。
〃You must give the Haldane your answer in terms that will leave no doubt of your resolve。 Highness；〃 he said。 〃And you yourself must carry through with the threats that you have made。〃
〃What … threats？〃 Caitrin breathed。
Controlling a smile of triumph； Loris rose and returned to his chair； setting his hands precisely on the arms。
〃Istelyn； Madame。 He must be executed。 You have said you would do it。 You must follow through。 Istelyn is a traitor。〃
Caitrin blanched。 Ithel gasped。 Sicard looked decidedly unfortable。
〃But； he is a priest； a bishop！〃 Judhael whispered； equally horrified。
〃He has betrayed his oaths and is no longer fit to be regarded as other than betrayer；〃 Loris retorted。 〃If you like； I shall degrade him from the priesthood and exmunicate him as well。〃
〃Can this be done to a bishop？〃 Caitrin asked。
〃I am the apostolic successor of Saint Peter； given authority to loose and to bind；〃 Loris said haughtily。 〃It was I who consecrated Istelyn bishop。 What I created； I can also uncreate。〃
〃Then he would be executed as a layman；〃 Sicard said。
〃As a layman and exmunicate。〃 Loris shifted his gaze deliberately to Caitrin。 〃You are aware of the penalty for treason。 Highness？〃
Caitrin stood； turning slightly away to wring her hands。
〃Must he suffer that？〃 she whispered。
〃He is a traitor；〃 Loris said。 〃And the penalty for treason … 〃
〃I know the penalty for treason。 Archbishop；〃 she said steadily。 〃To be hanged； drawn； and quartered … I know。〃
〃And shall it be done？〃
Shoulders slumping； Caitrin of Meara bowed her head in reluctant agreement。
〃It shall be done；〃 she said in a low voice。 〃And may God have mercy on his soul。〃
Sentence was carried out the following morning； just past dawn。 Impressed by Loris with the importance of witnessing the execution； to underline the fate of future traitors； the Mearan royal family watched from a doorway overlooking the snowy castle yard。 Loris and his bishops waited restlessly at the foot of the steps。 Out in the wan sunlight； ranks of soldiers in the livery of Culdi； Ratharkin； and Laas lined up along either side of the execution area。 Four teams of horses； restless under the hands of their grooms； stood ready behind the ranks nearest the stables； tossing their heads and stamping and snorting in me cold morning air； harness all a jingle。 Snow still lay thick in the center of the yard where black…clad executioners waited around a hastily erected scaffold； anonymous behind their masks。
Muffled drums rolled as the condemned man emerged from a doorway across the yard； surrounded by guards； blinking in the sunlight； barefooted in the snow。 The cold December wind stood his hair on end and plastered his thin gown to his body。 His hands were bound behind him。 He stumbled a little as his escort led him toward the scaffold。
He appeared pale but posed as he walked to his fate。 He had been stunned by the harshness of his sentence； but it had e as no real surprise； knowing Loris' spite。 He had never expected to leave Ratharkin alive。 He had known a brief； soul…wrenching moment of despair when he learned they had set aside his priesthood； for he had thought they would leave him that fort； at least； but the exmunication which followed had only renewed his conviction that any pretense of episcopal authority on Loris' part held no validity whatsoever。 Henry Istelyn was a priest and bishop despite anything Loris might say or do。 His captors might kill his body； but his soul was answerable only to God。
He had been briefly troubled that they would not allow him the solace of another priest in those final； predawn hours； for a last confession and munion。 It was an almost automatic reaction for any pious man facing death。 But then he reminded himself sternly that it was only the outward forms of those sacraments which were being denied him。 Just before the dawning；