kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第15章

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His　voice　was　more　animated　now；　the　tone　so　casual　and　glib　that　he　might　have　been　back　at　table；　confiding　opinions　over　a　cup　of　good　ale；　except　that　his　eyes　were　closed。
〃The　Lady　Caitrin？〃　Kelson　asked。
〃Aye。　Cate　Quinnell　…　an'　she　callin'　herself　a　princess！〃　Caulay　went　on　contemptuously。　〃They've　bee　a　brazen　lot；　an'　that's　for　sure　…　high　an'　mighty；　where　they　think　ye　cannae　see　them。　'Tis　said　they　keep　court　as　if　she　were　a　queen；　and　not　upstart　pretender。〃
Kelson　nodded　and　relaxed　control　just　a　little　more。　He　did　not　like　the　implications　of　what　the　old　man　was　conveying；　but　the　delivery　was　just　about　perfect。
〃As　if　she　were　a　queen；　eh？〃　he　repeated　softly。
〃Weel；　surely　ye　knew；　lad　…　an'　ye　must　n？？　allow　it　tae　go　on。　They　say　she　takes　liberties　due　only　a　sovereign。　She　that　steals　yer　homage　also　steals　yer　honor。〃
Kelson　could　sense　Dhugal　bristling　indignantly；　but　he　stayed　him　with　a　gesture。　This　was　not　the　time　for　righteous　outrage。　If　Caulay　was　using　homage　in　its　legal　sense；　the　situation　in　Meara　was　even　more　serious　than　he　had　been　led　to　believe。　Homage　implied　the　granting　of　land　in　return　for　service　…　the　military　service　of　knights。　If　Caitrin　of　Meara　was　receiving　homage　as　suzeraine　of　Meara　…　
〃Caulay；　what　liberties　has　she　taken？〃　Kelson　asked；　glancing　at　Dhugal's　stunned　face。
〃She　swears　knights　tae　her　service；　wi'　the　promise　o'　land　when　Meara　is　free　again；〃　Caulay　replied　promptly。　〃An'　new　knights　hae　been　made。　Even　the　two　boys　hae　been　knighted；　an'　they　younger　than　yerself！〃
Kelson　felt　his　own　anger　rising　to　match　Dhugal's；　and　he　had　to　push　it　down　with　a　conscious　effort。
〃Who　knighted　them？〃
〃My　brother；〃　came　Caulay's　response；　though　not　quite　so　promptly；　this　time。　〃I　wouldna'　hae　thought　it　possible　…　my　own　kin；　that　swore　faith　tae　yer　father；　God　bless　'im。　I　couldnae　believe　it　mysel'；　when　I　heard　the　news。　Young　Ithel　brags　that　he　is　a　knight　now；　and　will　one　day　be　Prince　of　Meara　of　his　own　account。　Would　he　hae　died　at　birth！　He　is　n？？　true　MacArdry；　an'　that's　for　sure！〃
〃I　see。〃　Kelson　probed　gently　for　a　physical　image　of　the　upstart　Ithel。　〃Tell　me　about　this　Ithel；　then。　I　want　to　know　everything　you　can　remember。〃

And　in　Culdi；　Alaric　Morgan　prepared　to　enter　his　own　kind　of　grim；　dark　concentration；　opening　a　red　leather　case　half　the　size　of　his　fist　and　dumping　out　a　handful　of　polished　cubes　carved　of　ivory　and　ebony。　They　clicked　against　each　other　and　the　table　top　with　solid；　satisfying　snicks　as　he　set　them　down；　reflecting　dark　and　light　as　Morgan　brought　a　single　candle　closer　on　the　table　before　him。
Quickly　he　arranged　the　cubes　in　the　traditional　pattern：　four　white　in　the　center；　forming　a　single　larger　square；　the　four　black　set　one　to　each　corner；　not　quite　touching。　The　champion's　signet　on　his　right　hand　gleamed　as　well；　as　he　poised　his　fingertips　above　the　center　of　the　white　square；　but　he　ignored　it　for　the　moment　as　he　set　his　thoughts　in　order。
The　odd　black　and　white　dice　were　called　Wards　in　the　parlance　of　those　who　knew　about　such　things；　named；　like　the　most　secure　perimeter　fortifications　of　a　castle；　for　their　function　of　defense。　To　set　wards　was　to　create　a　magical　sphere　of　protection　enpassing　the　area　defined　by　the　four　points　at　which　the　individual　wards　were　placed；　containing　the　energy　within　and　restraining　the　entry　of　disruptive　forces。　Such　protection　was　all　but　essential　when　one　intended　a　magical　operation　such　as　Morgan　planned　…　　for　to　reach　Kelson　at　such　distance；　and　without　prior　preparation；　would　require　that　Morgan　place　his　body　in　deep　trance；　oblivious　to　physical　sensation　or　danger；　while　his　mind　ranged　forth　in　search　of　the　king。
〃Prime。〃
As　he　spoke　the　nomen　of　the　cube　in　the　upper　left　er　of　the　white　square；　he　touched　it　with　his　fingertip　and　sent　power　into　its　matrix。　Instantly　the　cube　began　to　glow　from　deep　within　…　milky；　opalescent　white。
〃Seconde。〃
The　process　was　repeated　with　the　cube　at　the　upper　right；　with　similar　results。
〃Tierce。　Quarte。〃
He　was　halfway　through　his　preparation；　the　four　white　cubes　forming　a　square　of　ghostly　white　light。　He　could　feel　the　power　drain。　Slowly　and　deliberately　he　drew　deep　breath：　tangible　cue　to　trigger　the　reversal　of　polarities　from　white　to　black；　positive　to　negative；　male　to　female；　the　other　side　of　the　balance。　The　pull　this　time　would　be　subtly　different；　slightly　more　difficult　to　channel；　but　well　within　his　abilities。　Breathing　out　softly；　he　brought　his　fingertip　toward　the　black　cube　resting　near　the　upper　left　of　the　white　square。
〃Quinte〃
A　tiny　spark　jumped　between　his　fingertip　and　the　cube　just　before　they　touched；　green…black　fire　kindling　from　within。　Quickly；　before　his　momentum　was　lost；　Morgan　shifted　his　attention　to　the　upper　right　black　cube；　bringing　his　forefinger　nearer。
〃Sixte。〃
Again；　the　eerie　glow。
When　the　process　had　been　repeated　for　Septime　and　Octave；　all　eight　of　the　cubes　shimmered　with　internal　light；　four　white　and　four　black。　Now　for　the　mating　of　opposites；　the　balancing　of　energies　to　build　the　watch…towers。
Rubbing　a　hand　across　his　eyes；　Morgan　sighed　and　picked　up　Prime；　shifting　his　balance　points　again　and　readjusting　control　as　he　brought　the　cube　near　its　black　counterpart；　Quinte。　He　could　feel　the　tug　of　the　opposites　attracting　as　he　closed　the　distance；　the　black　cube　almost　seeming　to　rise　that　last　fraction　of　space　to　meet　the　white　as　he　spoke　the　word　of　power。
〃Primus。〃
The　two　cubes　fused　in　a　single；　silvery　grey　oblong。　One　down。　Breathing　deeply；　Morgan　pushed　the　pleted　first　ward　a　little　to　one　side　and　plucked　Seconde　from　its　fellows；　mating　it　to　Sixte。
〃Secundus。〃
Again；　the　silver…glowing　rectoid。
When　he　had　pleted　Tertius　and　Quartus；　he　set　the　four　wards　on　the　floor　around　his　chair　like　tiny；　glowing　towers　and　sat　down　again；　feeling　for　the　balance　points　in　his　mind　a　final　time　before　he　set　things　into　motion。　manding　now；　he　pointed　to　each　of　the　wards　in　turn　and　spoke　the　words；　sensing　the　surge　as　the　elements　meshed　and　flared。
〃Primus；　Secundus；　Tertius；　Quartus；　fiat　lux！〃
It　was　like　suddenly　being　inside　a　tent　of　pale；　silvery　light。　The　very　air　around　him　seemed　to　shimmer。　As　he　lowered　his　arm　and　sat　back　in　his　chair；　he　could　feel　the　wards　like　an　insulating　cocoon；　shielding　and　protecting。
Satisfied；　he　adjusted　the　candle　again　and　laid　his　hands　along　the　arms　of　his　chair；　positioning　the　signet　on　his　right　hand　to　catch　the　light。　It　was　a　tangible　symbol　of　the　faith　binding　friend　to　friend；　protector　to　sovereign；　the　golden　Haldane　lion　etched　on　the　curve　of　the　gold…set　onyx　oval　seemed　to　stare　at　him　in　the　dimness。　Morgan　used　it　now　as　a　focus；　willing　himself　to　still　and　center；　conjuring　the　king's　face　over　the　lion's。
He　could　feel　his　breathing　slowing；　his　pulsebeat　steadying；　and　gradually　his　vision　began　to　narrow　until　only　the　ring　was　in　his　gaze。　Doggedly　he　held　Kelson's　image　before　his　mind；　letting　his　eyelids　droop　lower；　lower；　until　they　closed　and　the　image　of　Kelson　alone　remained。　Awareness　of　his　body　receded　as　the　mental　image　sharpened；　and　as　he　stretched　his　senses　northward；　all　his　concentration　was　centered　on　the　ring；　the　face；　the　mind。

After　a　long　while；　almost　at　the　limits　of　perception；　he　at　last　sensed　what　he　had　e　to　find。
And　in　Transha；　immersed　in　his　questioning　of　Caulay　and　the　concentration　needed　to　maintain　control；　Kelson　pushed　aside　the　first　vague　brushing　at　his　mind。　He　and　Dhugal　listened　with　horrified　fascination　as　the　old　man　wove　a　tale　of　treachery　far　more　widespread　than　either　of　them　had　dreamed。
But　as　Caulay　reiterated　the　rumors　he　had　heard　of　knights　gone　over　to　the　Mearan　Pretender　and　of　Ithel　Quinnell's　growing　popularity；　a　hint　of　Morgan's　urgency　began　to　penetrate　…　though　not　its　source；　at　first。　The　king　tensed　as　it　brushed　for　the　first　time　at　a　conscious　level；　momentarily　shutting　out　Caulay's　rambling　as　he　tried　to　track　it　down。　When　it　proved　too　elusive；　he　laid　a　hand　on　the　old　man's　wrist；　shaking　his　head。
〃Enough；　Caulay。　Hush　for　a　minute；〃　he　whispered。　He　closed　his　eyes　to　listen　better。
Nothing。　Then　the　lightest　of　feather…brushes。　He　sensed　it　might　be　Morgan；　but　even　when　he　turned　all　his　concentration　toward　picking　up　the　next　touch；　he　could　not　be　sure　of　more　than　the　touch　sensation。
〃What　is　it？〃　Dhugal　whispered；　leaning　closer　on　his　stool。　〃Is　something　wrong？〃
Carefully；　Kelson　shook　his　head；　trying　not　to　lose　the　all　too　tenuous　contact　hovering　at　the　edge　of　consciousness。
〃Not　here；〃　he　murmured。　〃Someone's　trying　to　reach　me；　though　…　very　far　away　and　very　faint。　And　it's　urgent。〃
A　little　catch　of　breath　from　Dhugal's　direction；　and　the　sense　of　awe　and　apprehension　mixed。　Then：　〃Do　you　know　who　it　is？〃
Kelson　nodded　slowly；　still　straining　to　make　it　clearer。　〃Morgan；　I　think；　I　can't　…　quite　…　pull　it　in。〃
〃Morgan？　But　you　said　he　was　in　Culdi。〃
〃He　is；　so　far　as　I　know。　And　at　this　range；　for　me　even　to　be　aware　of　this　much　is　incredible。〃
Slowly　he　opened　his　eyes　to　look　across　at　Dhugal；　though　he　kept　tenuous　touch　with　the　continuing　call。　The　sense　of　urgency　persisted；　as　did　the　growing　conviction　that　the　source　was　Morgan。　After　all　he　had　done　already。　Kelson　knew　he　had　no　chance　of　bringing　the　contact　through　on　his　own；　but　there　just　might　be　another　way。　It　was　much　to　ask；　however。
〃What　is　it？〃　Dhugal　breathed。　〃Why　are　you　looking　at　me　that　way？〃
〃Did　you　mean　what　you　said　before；　that　you　wouldn't　let　yourself　be　afraid　of　me？〃　Kelson　countered。
Dhugal　turned　a　little　pale　beneath　his　coppery　hair；　and　Kelson　could　sense　the　queasy　apprehension　rising　in　his　chest。
〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Dhugal　whispered。　〃No；　make　that；　'What　are　you　going　to　do　to　me？　You　need　me　for　something；　don't　you？　To　help　you　reach　Morgan。〃
〃Yes。〃　Kelson　glanced　briefly　at　the　sleeping　Caulay。　〃I　need　one　or　both　of　you　to　augment　my　strength。　His　might　be　enough；　but　I'd　like　you　in　the　link　as　well。〃
Dhugal　swallowed　hard；　making　no　attempt　to　hide　his　fear。
〃M…me？〃
With　a　sigh。　Kelson　managed　a　none…too…patient　nod。　He　was　finding　it　increasingly　difficult　to　concentrate　on　reassuring　Dhugal　and　still　maintain　whatever　contact　he　had　with　whoever　was　trying　to　reach　him；　but　a　slightly　different　approach　was　already　taking　shape　in　his　mind。
〃It's　the　not…knowing　that's　the　worst；　isn't　it？〃　he　guessed。　〃You　see　Caulay；　obviously　unconscious；　and　you're　afraid　of　what　might　happen　to　you　…　and　that　you　wouldn't　even　know。　Loss　of　control。〃
〃I　…　suppose　so。〃
Nodding　again。　Kelson　stood　and　came　around　the　end　of　the　bed；　staying　Dhugal　with　a　gesture　when　he　eased　off　the　stool　and　started　to　back　away。
〃Let's　try　something　a　little　different　from　what　I　originally　had　in　mind；　then；　〃　he　said；　climbing　onto　the　stool　and　motioning　for　Dhugal　to　e　behind　him。　〃This　shouldn't　be　nearly　as　frightening。　I　need　physical　contact　to　make　my　link　with　you；　but　there's　no　reason　you　can't　control　that　instead　of　me。　It　will　make　my　part　a　little