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kept Finally, Morgan signalled silence and strode toward the main door a wide, deep-carved thing of dark-stained oak signed with a great green gryphon. He put his eye to the gryphon's eye and peered through to the other side, then held a finger to his lips for silence and eased the door open. There was another door beyond that, and he listened at that second door for a long while before returning and closing the first one securely behind him. "There's a guard out there, just as I feared. Duncan, will you come and listen with me? If he's receptive enough, we may be able to control him through the door. Otherwise, we're going to have to kill him." "Let's give it a try," Duncan nodded, heading toward the familiar door and slipping through the opening beside Morgan. a a T T n n s s F F f f o o D D r r P P m m Y Y e e Y Y r r B B 2 2 . . B B A A Click here to buy Click here to buy w w m m w w o o w w c c . . . . A A Y Y B B Y Y B B r r The two stood with heads and hands against the second door for a long time, eyes closed, their breathing light and controlled. But finally Morgan shook his head and opened his eyes, drawing a thin-bladed stiletto and testing its point against the end of his thumb. His lips mouthed the word, "Ready?" to Duncan, and the priest nodded grim assent as his hand moved to the lock on the door. As Kelson and Cardie! moved closer, to watch in morbid fascination, Morgan dropped to one knee and ran the fingers of bis left hand along the door until he found a narrow crack. The blade of the knife was put to the crack, poised for just an instant, then thrust through the crack in a clean, sure stroke. When the blade was withdrawn, it glistened wetly with a dull red shine, and there was a faint moan and sliding sound from the other side of the door. With a shake of his head, Duncan pushed open the door against some resistance. Outside, against the open door, lay the limp body of a rebel guard, blood welling slowly from a red-stained spot on his lower back. He did not move; and after a second's hesitation, Morgan grasped him under the arms and began pulling him into the chamber. Cardiel's face clouded as the man was deposited on a portion of floor uncovered by carpet, and he signed the air above the man's head with a cross as he stepped across the body to join the others. "I'm sorry, but it was necessary, Bishop," Morgan murmured, closing the door behind them and motioning them to follow. Cardiel said nothing, but merely nodded and did as he was told. Five minutes of stealthy wandering took them to a series of ornately carved panels at the end of a hallway. There was a torch burning in a brass cresset beside the panels, and Morgan snatched up the torch in one gloved hand as the fingers of the other moved across the panels in a quick, agile pattern. The center panel moved, receding far enough for them to pass through one at a time. Morgan motioned them through, then followed and closed the panel behind them. He led them several dozen yards before stopping to turn toward them once again. "Now, listen, and listen carefully, because I probably wont have time to repeat this. The place where we are now is the beginning of a series of secret passages which honeycomb the walls of this castle. The branch we're going to take leads to my personal living quarters, where I'd be willing to wager either Warin or the archbishops have taken up residence. Now, no more talking until I say it's all right. Agreed?" There was no dissent, so the four began walking once more, coming at length to a portion of the passage which was heavily carpeted and hung with thick draperies along the walls. Morgan handed the torch to Duncan and moved. to the leftband wall, where he drew aside a fold of the velvet curtain and peered through a peephole. He scanned the room beyond carefully, taking in all the familiar accoutrements of the chamber which had been his own until a few short months ago, then drew back with a look of grim determination. As he had suspected, Warin de Grey now occupied the chamber, and seemed to be in conference with some of his men. With a curt gesture, Morgan motioned for Duncan to douse the light, then pointed out several other peepholes. They would see what the rebel leader was saying to his men before barging in unannounced. "Well, do you think there's aught he can do against us?" one of tbe men with a a T T n n s s F F f f o o D D r r P P m m Y Y e e Y Y r r B B 2 2 . . B B A A Click here to buy Click here to buy w w m m w w o o w w c c . . . . A A Y Y B B Y Y B B r r Warin was asking plaintively. "I don't mind fightin' the Deryni, and I'm not even that afraid of dyin', if need be, but what if the duke uses magic against us? We dinnae have any defense against him, save our faith." "Is that not enough?" Warin mused, sitting back in the chair beside the fireplace and lacing his fingers together. "Well, yes, but " "Trust the right of our mission, Marcus," a second man said. "Did the Lord not stand by us when Warin had the Deryni cornered at Saint Torin's? His magic was of no avail that day." Warin shook his head and stared into the flames. "Not a good analogy, Paul. Morgan was drugged when I captured him at Saint Torin's. I even believe he told me the truth that day, that he could not have used his magic against me while he was under the influence of the mind-twisting Deryni drug. His cousin would not have revealed himself otherwise. Duncan McLain had kept his secret far too long to reveal himself for any other than dire reasons." "Then, we dinnae know what the duke might do," Marcus interjected. "Mayhap he could bring this whole castle tumbling down around us, if he chose. He could " "No, he is a rational man, for all that he is Deryni. He would not destroy this place unless there were no other way. He " There was a staccato knock at the door, followed by a repeat of the knock before anyone could react. Warin broke off what he had been about to say and glanced at his two lieutenants. "Come," he called. The knocking was repeated, more insistently this time, and Paul strode quickly to the door. "They can't hear you, Lord. This room is pretty well soundproofed. I'll let them in." As Paul reached the door, the knock was repeated, even more urgently, if that were possible, and as Paul drew back the latch a sergeant in the garb of Warin's militia almost fell into the room. "Lord, Lord, you must help us!" he sobbed, dashing across the room to throw himself at Warin's feet. "Some of my men were stacking stones near the north rampart, when the entire pile collapsed." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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