kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　you；　but　there's　no　reason　you　can't　control　that　instead　of　me。　It　will　make　my　part　a　little　trickier　with　you　pletely　conscious；　but　I'm　willing　to　give　it　a　try；　if　you　are。〃
〃What　do　I　have　to　do？〃　Dhugal　replied　warily。
〃Just　stand　behind　me　and　put　your　hands　on　my　shoulders。　Let　your　thumbs　rest　on　the　back　of　my　neck。〃
〃Like　this？〃　Dhugal　whispered；　as　he　gingerly　obeyed。
〃That's　fine。〃
Kelson　took　Caulay's　flaccid　left　hand　and　cradled　it　against　his　knee；　then　glanced　over　his　shoulder　as　he　straightened。
〃Now　e　a　little　closer；　so　I　can　lean　against　you　for　support。　It's　going　to　seem　like　I've　fallen　asleep　…　　rather　like　what　I　did　to　Bertie　yesterday　…　and　I　don't　want　to　fall　off　the　stool。　Don't　laugh！〃　he　added；　as　he　sensed　Dhugal's　surprise。　〃I　really　am　going　to　be　somewhat　at　your　mercy。〃
He　could　feel　Dhugal's　whole　body　tense　behind　him。　Then；　in　a　very　faint　voice：
〃Kelson；　I'm　not　sure　I　can　do　this。〃
〃Yes；　you　can；〃　he　said　patiently。　〃Dhugal；　there's　absolutely　no　danger。　If　you　should　freeze　up；　which　is　most　unlikely；　the　worst　that　can　happen　is　that　I　won't　make　the　contact。　Now；　trust　me；　all　right？〃　He　reached　back　to　touch　Dhugal's　forearm　in　brief　reassurance。　〃Take　a　few　deep　breaths　to　relax　now；　and　try　to　let　your　mind　go　blank。〃
He　followed　his　own　instructions　and　felt　Dhugal's　cautious　response。
〃That's　right。　Another　deep　breath　now；　and　let　it　out　slowly。　Close　your　eyes。　Imagine　all　the　tension　flowing　out　of　your　body　as　you　exhale。　Let　yourself　drift　now；〃　he　continued；　as　Dhugal　edged　into　light　rapport。　〃You're　doing　just　fine。　Soon　I'm　going　to　bring　your　father　into　the　link；　but　if　he　can't　provide　enough　power　I'll　need　to　draw　from　you　as　well。　You　may　not　even　be　aware　of　it。　At　most；　you'll　feel　a　slight　sort　of　a　tickling　sensation　in　your　head。　Breathe　again　now；　deeply。。。。〃
While　he　let　Dhugal　continue　settling；　Kelson　turned　his　attention　briefly　to　Caulay；　reaching　out　tendrils　of　control　as　Morgan　and　Duncan　had　taught　him　and　tying　in　the　potential。　He　had　not　expected　it　to　be　enough；　so　he　was　not　disappointed。　At　least　he　was　able　to　confirm　that　it　was　Morgan　he　was　seeking；　and　that　Morgan　sensed　a　mutual　effort　to　bring　the　contact　through。　He　could　feel　Dhugal's　untapped　potential　towering　at　his　back；　fiercely　supportive　but　still　a　bit　too　tentative　for　fort；　and　knew　he　would　have　to　go　a　little　farther　than　he　had　told　Dhugal　he　would。
Gently　he　reached　out　with　his　senses　and　brushed　Dhugal's　mind；　keying　the　triggers　which　would　enable　him　to　slip　Dhugal　into　a　light　control　trance　despite　what　he　had　said；　for　he　could　not　afford　to　have　Dhugal　falter　in　midcontact。　Gradually　Dhugal's　head　nodded　lower；　lower；　until　finally　his　chin　was　resting　against　the　top　of　Kelson's　head；　though　he　was　not　truly　asleep　…　only　drifting　in　a　placid；　twilight　state。
After　another　few　heartbeats。　Kelson　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　waiting　contact；　opening　his　mind　to　fill　with　Morgan's　message。
Well　done；　my　prince；　came　Morgan's　whispered　thought　in　his　mind。　I　really　wasn't　certain　I　could　reach　you。　Who　else　is　in　the　link？
Caulay　and　Dhugal；　Kelson　replied。　And　Dhugal　is　still　partially　conscious；　so　try　not　to　let　anything　surge；　or　he's　going　to　feel　it　and　scare　himself　to　death　pulling　out。
He　caught　the　impression　of　laughter；　like　tinkling　silver　bells；　and　then　a　more　sober　note。
A　brave　lad　and　a　true　friend；　Morgan　sent。　Why　don't　you　bring　him　back　to　Culdi　with　you？
I'm　needed　already？　Kelson　queried。
Aye。　Cardiel　asked　me　to　contact　you。　He　and　Arilan　have　in　mind　to　promote　Istelyn　to　the　See　of　Meara；　and　they'd　like　your　official　opinion。　I　told　them　I　thought　you'd　approve；　but　you　ought　to　do　it　in　person。
The　logic　of　the　request　was　apparent；　and　the　importance　of　the　summons　beyond　question；　but　Kelson　sensed　something　more；　vague　and　less　pleasant；　lurking　beneath　the　surface。　Dhugal　stirred；　perhaps　sharing　some　of　that　uneasiness；　and　Kelson　had　to　tighten　his　control　just　a　little。
What's　wrong？　he　asked。　What　is　it　you　haven't　told　me？
Someone　tried　to　kill　Duncan　earlier　this　evening　…　　merasha　on　the　dagger。
What？
One　of　his　own　retainers　…　hardly　more　than　a　boy；　really。　Unfortunately；　he's　dead。
And　Duncan？
As　his　own　shock　and　concern　reverberated　in　the　link；　he　could　feel　Dhugal　tense　and　try　to　withdraw。　Relentlessly　he　clamped　down　on　the　controls；　determined　to　hold　the　link　just　a　little　longer；　even　if　doing　so　frightened　Dhugal。
He's　all　right！　Morgan's　reassurance　came　lancing　through。　A　bad　slash　on　his　palm　that　I　can　probably　heal　in　the　morning；　and　the　expected　aftereffects　from　the　drug；　but　no　permanent　damage。　Just　get　back　as　soon　as　you　can。
The　emotion　behind　Morgan's　thought　was　controlled；　but　very　powerful。　Despite　Kelson's　attempt　to　buffer　its　intensity；　Dhugal　recoiled　at　the　alien　sensation；　the　link　began　to　quiver。　No　longer　trusting　the　luxury　of　worded　munication。　Kelson　sent　agreement　and　an　urgency　to　break　contact　for　Dhugal's　sake　…　and　was　out　of　the　link；　as　much　pushed　as　of　his　own　volition。　As　he　twisted　around　to　grab　the　trembling　Dhugal　by　the　wrists；　he　continued　to　catch　the　ragged　after…echo　of　Duncan's　pain　as　it　had　e　through　Morgan's　perception　…　only　now　it　was　ing　from　Dhugal。
〃Stop　it！〃　he　whispered　harshly；　giving　Dhugal　a　shake　and　trying　to　force　reason　past　the　panic。　〃Look　at　me；　Dhugal！　Take　a　deep　breath　and　listen！　Let　it　go！　You're　all　right！　Duncan　is　all　right。　Will　you　…　〃
As　his　mind　probed　at　Dhugal's；　bright　pain　seemed　to　explode　behind　his　eyes；　rebounding　against　his　swiftly　raised　shields　and　somehow　echoing　back　to　Dhugal　with　even　greater　force。　Dhugal　cried　out；　doubling　up　and　sinking　to　the　floor　despite　Kelson's　attempt　to　support　him；　then　lay　there　sobbing　blindly　…　dry；　wracking　heaves　as　he　gasped　for　breath；　rocking　in　Kelson's　arms。
Kelson　was　stunned。　As　he　held　the　shuddering　Dhugal　and　tried　to　fort　him；　he　could　find　nothing　to　account　for　the　reaction。　With　the　breaking　of　the　link　with　Morgan；　Dhugal　should　have　felt　nothing　further。
But　when　Kelson　at　last　tried　another　tentative　probe；　the　reason　became　abundantly　clear。
〃Shields！〃　he　whispered；　withdrawing　as　quickly　as　he　could　and　thrusting　Dhugal　far　enough　away　to　stare　at　him　in　shock。　〃Mother　of　God；　Dhugal；　where　did　you　get　shields？　Can　you　hear　me；　Dhugal？　You've　got　shields！　Dhugal；　are　you　all　right？〃
Groggily；　Dhugal　uncurled　and　managed　to　sit　up；　holding　his　head　with　one　hand　and　leaning　against　Kelson's　knee　for　support。　Kelson　did　not　press　him　for　further　response；　only　waited　while　Dhugal　got　his　bearings　and　gradually　raised　his　head；　dragging　a　sleeve　across　his　tear…stained　face。　His　gaze　was　still　a　little　glassy　as　he　looked　up　at　the　king；　and　he　seemed　to　be　having　trouble　focusing。
〃Dhugal；　what　happened？〃　Kelson　breathed。
Dhugal　made　a　brave　attempt　at　a　smile。　〃I　was　about　to　ask　you　the　same　question。　God　…　my　head　hurts！〃
〃Somehow　you　managed　to　pick　up　some　of　what　Morgan　was　sending　me；〃　Kelson　whispered。　〃Then　you　slammed　down　shields　on　the　link。　How　did　you　do　that？〃
〃Do　what？〃
〃Shield。　Most　humans　can't。　Everything　was　fine　until　Morgan　told　me　about　the　attack　on　Duncan；　and　the　merasha。〃
〃What's　merasha？'　Dhugal　asked　blankly。
〃Oh；　sweet　Jesu；　of　course　you　don't　know。　It's　a　drug。　I　don't　know　where　it　es　from。　But　it　muddles　Deryni　senses　so　that　we　…　can't　use　our　magic。　I've　never　had　it　used　on　me；　but　Morgan　has　…　and　now　Duncan。　And　I　know　it　was　used　to　make　my　father　vulnerable　to　Charissa's　magic；　so　she　could　kill　him。〃
Dhugal　shivered。　〃It　sounds　terrible。〃
〃So　was　what　happened　when　you　tried　to　back　out　of　the　link！　And　you've　got　shields；　for　God's　sake！　He　doesn't；〃　he　stabbed　one　hand　toward　the　sleeping　Caulay　in　a　gesture　of　frustration；　〃and　you　didn't　seem　to；　either；　until　we　started　getting　that　rebound　from　Duncan。　What　the　devil　happened？　Can　you　remember　anything　at　all？〃
Dhugal　rubbed　at　his　temples　and　winced。　〃I　can't　think　with　you　yelling　at　me。〃
〃I'm　not　yelling　at　you；　I　just　have　to　know　what　happened；〃　Kelson　said；　a　little　less　emphatically。　〃You　scared　the　hell　out　of　me。〃
〃I　scared　the　hell　out　of　me；　too。〃
Cautiously　Dhugal　took　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out　slowly；　not　looking　at　Kelson　as　he　tried　to　ease　himself　back　to　memory　of　the　pain。
〃It's　still　mostly　a　jumble；〃　Dhugal　finally　went　on　haltingly；　〃but　I　do　remember　that　after　you　stopped　talking；　I　got　sort　of　…　drowsy。〃
〃That　was　my　fault；〃　Kelson　muttered。　〃I　confess　I　did　a　little　more　than　I'd　told　you　I　was　going　to。　But　that　shouldn't　have　made　you　react　the　way　you　did。　What　else　do　you　remember？〃
〃I　…　have　a　vague　impression　of　General　Morgan　laughing。　。。。　Something　about　bishops；　too　…　and　…　and　then　a　terrible　pain　in　my　head。〃
〃That　must　have　been　Duncan　and　the　merasha；〃　Kelson　said；　nodding。　〃Somehow；　you　got　farther　into　the　link　than　I　thought　…　just　enough　to　channel　some　of　the　emotion。　I　wasn't　expecting　shields；　though。　Caulay　doesn't　have　them。〃
〃He　doesn't　have　my　knack　with　animals；　either；〃　Dhugal　countered；　almost　a　little　irritated；　〃and　he　used　to　be　as　good　a　tracker　as　Ciard。〃　He　paused。　〃Maybe　it　does　have　something　to　do　with　the　Second　Sight；　though。　Maybe　…　maybe　shields　go　along　with　that。〃
〃Maybe；〃　Kelson　replied。
But　Dhugal's　ment　about　the　animals　had　struck　a　responsive　chord　in　Kelson；　so　that　the　part　about　the　Second　Sight　barely　even　registered。　He　recalled　his　father　telling　him　how　Morgan　could　charm　deer　to　the　very　gates　of　the　city　if　he　wanted　to；　and　some　passing　mention　he　remembered　of　Morgan's　sister　Bronwyn　being　able　to　call　the　birds　from　the　sky。　If　their　ability　came　of　being　Deryni；　then　what　about　Dhugal？　Dhugal　was　also　good　with　animals　…　and　that　would　certainly　account　for　the　shields。
〃Let's　try　this　again；〃　he　said；　slipping　his　hands　to　either　side　of　Dhugal's　head　before　the　other　could　object。　〃Try　not　to　fight　me。　This　is　the　only　way　we're　going　to　find　out　more　about　what　we're　up　against。〃
But　Dhugal　gasped　and　tried　to　pull　away　at　once　as　Kelson's　first　probe　clashed　against　the　shields　again。
〃God；　what　are　you　doing　to　me？〃
〃I　don't　want　to　hurt　you；〃　Kelson　answered。　〃Try　to　relax。　I'll　ease　up　while　you　do；　but　you've　got　to　help　me。　Don't　fight　me；　dammit！　The　more　you　struggle；　the　more　it's　going　to　hurt！〃
But　the　pain　of　Kelson's　probe　had　already　pushed　Dhugal　beyond　reason　again；　contorting　him　into　a　shuddering　fetal　ball。　Kelson　tried　several　approaches；　but　the　shields　refused　to　budge。　He　could　also　sense　Dhugal's　heartrate　rising　dangerously。　He　would　have　to　stop。
〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　murmured；　as　he　withdrew　altogether。　〃God；　I　wish　I　knew　where　you　got　those　shields！〃
He　doubted　Dhugal　had　heard　him；　but　he　kept　repeating　his　apology　while　he　waited　for　Dhugal　to　e　around；　kneading　the　rigid　shoulders　until　finally　Dhugal　stirred；　uncurling　enough　to　turn　frightened；　pain…dulled　eyes　on　him。
〃I'm　sorry；〃　Kelson　said　again。　〃I　didn't　want　to　hurt　you。　I　really　am　sorry。　Are　you　all　right？〃
Dhugal　nodded　groggily　and　sat　up　with　Kelson's　help；　lifting　a　hand　in　r