kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第5章

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netrated　this　deep　into　the　western　borderlands　for　several　years　before　his　father's　death。　His　progress　of　the　summer　just　past　had　been　confined　primarily　to　Meara　itself；　and　the　flatlands　of　Kierney　and　Cassan。　And　even　were　bordermen　not　notorious　for　their　indifference　to　lowland　titles　of　nobility；　how　could　a　mere　border　sergeant　be　expected　to　know　his　king　by　sight？
〃I　am　Kelson；〃　he　said　patiently；　pushing　back　a　sweat…stained　arming　cap　from　damp　black　hair　and　handing　off　his　helmet　to　a　waiting　squire。　〃It　appears　that　the　presence　of　this　particular　Haldane　was　rather　timely。　You　are　…　？〃
The　man　dipped　his　head　in　dutiful　if　chilly　respect。
〃Gendon；　my　Lord　King；　in　service　to　the　Baron　of　Trurill。〃
Kelson　favored　the　man　with　the　same　sort　of　cool；　impersonal　nod　which　he　himself　had　received；　then　scooped　damp　tendrils　of　hair　from　his　face　with　the　back　of　one　mailed　gauntlet　as　he　glanced　over　the　prisoners　being　secured　by　Gendon's　men。　How　to　unbend　the　man？
〃Gendon；　eh？〃　he　said　neutrally。　〃Tell　me；　Master　Gendon；　what　brought　about　this　little　set　to？　Actually；　I'm　not　sure　you　needed　our　help　at　all。　They　weren't　very　well　armed。〃
〃They're　outlaws；　my　lord；〃　came　the　surprised　reply；　as　if　that　explained　everything。　〃They　raid　across　the　borders　for　livestock　…　sometimes　even　women　and　children。〃
〃Oh？〃
〃Well；　we　try　to　stop　it；　of　course；　my　lord；〃　the　man　went　on　a　little　defensively。　〃The　baron　posts　a　regular　patrol；　as　is　his　duty；　but　a　man　can　slip　off　into　these　hills　with　half　a　dozen　sheep　and　never　be　seen　again。　The　young　Laird　MacArdry　says　this　particular　lot　have　been　plaguing　Transha　as　well。〃
〃The　young　laird　…　you　mean　Dhugal；　the　chief's　son？〃　Kelson　asked；　his　more　personal　interest　suddenly　piqued。
Gendon　raised　one　eyebrow　in　surprise。　〃You　know　young　Dhugal；　my　lord？〃
〃You　might　say　that；〃　Kelson　replied　with　a　grin。　〃I　don't　suppose　you've　seen　him　lately？〃
〃Lately？　Aye；　my　lord。　Every　blessed　day。〃
But　as　Gendon　gestured　toward　his　men　and　twisted　in　his　saddle　to　look；　clearly　taken　aback　at　this　lowland　king's　apparent　recognition　of　highland　relationships；　Kelson　had　already　spotted　the　object　of　his　inquiry：　a　slight；　ramrod…straight　rider　wrapped　in　a　grey；　black；　and　yellow　plaid　which　only　partially　hid　the　russet　leather　of　a　neat　Connaiti　brigandine。　He　was　talking　to　a　Trurill　man　balancing　on　one　leg　beside　his　horse；　gesturing　for　someone　else　to　e　and　assist　the　man。　A　mail　coif　partially　obscured　the　hair　which　would　have　made　a　beacon　of　his　presence　out　of　war　harness；　but　the　shaggy　brown…and…white　spotted　border　horse　he　rode　was　well　known　to　Kelson；　though　its　markings　were　mon　enough　not　to　be　remarked　during　the　heat　of　battle　…　　doubtless　the　reason　Kelson　had　not　noticed　them　earlier。
The　MacArdry　heir　became　aware　of　the　royal　scrutiny　at　about　the　same　moment　Kelson　first　saw　him。　One　look　at　the　riders　sitting　beneath　the　royal　standard　was　enough　to　make　him　break　away　and　urge　his　mount　into　a　trot　toward　the　king；　grinning　hugely。
〃Dhugal　MacArdry；　what　the　devil　is　that？〃　Kelson　shouted；　pointing　a　gauntleted　finger　at　the　other's　steed　and　grinning　almost　as　widely　as　he。　〃Surely；　'tis　no　horse　that　looks　so　strange！〃
The　young　MacArdry　drew　rein　and　almost　flung　him　self　from　the　saddle；　pushing　his　coif　back　from　bright　copper…bronze　hair　as　he　thumped　to　both　knees　before　the　king's　horse。
〃Why；　'tis　the　beast　who　threw　Your　Grace　the　first　half…dozen　times　you　tried　to　ride　her！〃　Dhugal　replied。　His　sword　hung　from　a　baldric　over　his　left　shoulder；　rigged　to　be　drawn　from　the　left；　but　he　half…drew　it　with　his　right　hand　and　offered　the　pommel　in　salute；　face　glowing　with　pride。
〃Wele　to　the　borders　…　my　King！　It's　been　too　many　years。〃
〃Aye；　and　I　shall　trounce　you　for　a　knave　if　you　don't　get　off　your　knees　at　once！〃　Kelson　said　happily；　signalling　the　other　to　rise。　〃I　was　your　brother　before　I　was　your　king。　Conall；　look　how　he's　grown！　Ewan；　you　remember　my　foster　brother；　don't　you？〃
〃Aye；　Sire　…　and　the　mischief　with　which　both　of　you　used　to　terrorize　my　pages'　school！　'Tis　good　to　see　you；　Master　Dhugal。〃
〃And　you。　Your　Grace。〃
As　Dhugal　let　his　sword　slip　back　into　its　scabbard　and　stood；　and　Kelson　jumped　down　from　his　tall　R'Kassan　stallion；　Conall　also　nodded　in　tight…lipped　response　to　Dhugal's　slight　bow　in　his　direction；　the　two　had　been　rivals　in　those　earlier　days。　Though　nearly　as　tall　as　Kelson；　the　young　border　lord　looked　hardly　older　than　when　he　had　left　court　four　years　before；　a　sprinkling　of　freckles　across　his　nose　and　cheeks　only　adding　to　the　childlike　first　impression。　Large；　square　front　teeth　flashed　bright　white　as　his　face　creased　in　a　pleased；　open　grin；　the　smudge　of　reddish　mustache　across　his　upper　lip　hardly　more　than　adolescent　down。　But　the　eyes　which　met　Kelson's　were　no　longer　those　of　a　child。
The　two　young　men　embraced　exuberantly；　thumping　each　other　on　the　back　and　then　drawing　apart　to　study　the　other　more　soberly。　Kelson　did　not　resist　as　Dhugal　took　his　hand　and　pressed　fervent　lips　to　the　back　of　the　gauntlet　in　homage　before　looking　back　at　him。
〃How　are　you；　Dhugal？〃　he　murmured。
〃I　am　well；　my　prince；　now　that　you　are　here；〃　Dhugal　replied　softly；　in　the　cultured　court　accents　he　had　learned　so　many　years　before。　〃We　have　heard　stories　here　in　the　west；　of　course；　but　…　〃　He　shrugged　and　grinned　broadly。　〃Well；　frankly；　I　did　not　think　to　see　Your　Grace　in　person　until　the　day　I　came　to　claim　my　earldom。　The　borders　and　highlands　have　never　been　a　favorite　haunt　of　Haldane　kings。〃
〃The　borders　are　loved　by　this　Haldane；〃　Kelson　said；　flashing　with　fond　remembrance　on　the　image　of　Dhugal's　elderly　father；　who　had　fostered　Dhugal　to　court　when　he　was　seven　and　Kelson　nine。　〃And　praise　God　it　did　not　take　your　father's　death　to　bring　us　back　together　after　all。　How　is　old　Caulay？〃
〃He　does　as　well　as　one　might　hope；〃　Dhugal　replied；　a　trifle　more　subdued。　〃He's　not　travelled　since　your　coronation；　though。　I've　spent　the　past　three　years　standing　in　for　him；　learning　a　proper　border　soldier's　trade。　I　…　　don't　suppose　my　apprenticeship　can　last　much　longer　now。〃
〃His　illness　is　worse；　then。　Dhugal；　I'm　sorry；〃　Kelson　murmured。　But　before　he　could　continue；　Gendon；　the　Trurill　sergeant；　cleared　his　throat。
〃Your　pardon；　Lord　King；　but　young　MacArdry　does　have　duties。　Dhugal；　there　are　wounded。〃
〃Aye；　Sergeant；　I'll　see　to　them　directly。〃　Dhugal　gave　Kelson　a　short　bow　of　apology。　〃By　your　leave。　Sire。〃
〃Of　course。　My　men　will　assist。〃
Most　of　the　injuries　were　slight　…　the　minor　cuts　and　bruises　expected　of　any　rough　and　tumble　altercation　…　　but　a　few　of　the　men；　Trurill　and　prisoners　alike；　sported　more　serious　wounds。　One　man　was　dead；　despite　the　apparent　restraint　shown　by　all。　Kelson　detailed　his　battle　surgeon　and　the　squires　to　work　with　the　bordermen　and；　when　it　became　clear　that　Gendon　did　not　intend　to　return　to　Trurill　that　night；　gave　orders　for　camp　to　be　made。　Conall　he　assigned　to　Ewan's　supervision；　to　observe　how　the　old　duke　integrated　his　mand　with　Gendon's。
Kelson　himself　wandered　in　the　forming　Trurill　camp　with　only　Jodrell　for　escort；　saying　little　but　watching　everything　with　interest。　Recalling　Dhugal's　ment　about　the　〃stories〃　which　had　e　westward　in　the　past　three　years；　he　wondered　what　preconceptions　these　highland　men　might　have　about　him　as　a　result。　In　the　eyes　of　men　such　as　these；　that　Kelson　was　a　Haldane　was　reason　enough　to　suspect　him。　What　further　suspicion　might　have　been　generated　by　tales　of　his　magic？
But　when　he　tried　chatting　with　a　few　of　them；　he　sensed　that　their　reticence　had　as　much　to　do　with　his　lowland　origins　as　with　his　rank　or　any　vague　uneasiness　they　might　have　because　he　was　part　Deryni。　They　were　respectful　enough；　in　their　rough；　border　way；　but　they　offered　no　more　than　was　asked　for；　never　volunteering　information。
The　prisoners　volunteered　no　information　either；　though　that　was　hardly　surprising。　Nor　was　the　information　which　was　extracted；　sometimes　forcefully；　of　anything　but　local　interest。　Kelson　Truth…Read　a　few　of　them　while　others　asked　the　questions；　but　there　seemed　no　point　in　flaunting　his　Deryni　abilities　when　the　interrogators　were　getting　exactly　the　same　answers　he　was。　The　distance　between　these　men　and　himself　had　little　to　do　with　magic；　but　the　loneliness　was　just　as　real。　Eventually　he　found　himself　。watching　Dhugal　from　behind　and　signalled　Jodrell　not　to　speak。
Dhugal　was　kneeling　beside　the　most　seriously　wounded　of　his　own　men。　Kelson's　squire　Jatham　assisting　him；　unaware　of　the　royal　scrutiny。　His　plaid　lay　discarded　in　a　heap　beside　him；　sword　and　baldric　atop　it；　and　Kelson　could　see　that　he　had　unbuckled　the　front　of　his　brigandine　for　greater　ease　of　movement　as　he　bent　to　his　surgeoning　duties。
Dhugal's　patient　was　a　sturdy　mountain　lad　hardly　older　than　himself　but　half　again　as　large；　sporting　a　gash　from　wrist　to　elbow　which　would　probably　render　him　useless　as　a　swordsman　in　the　future；　if　he　even　kept　the　arm。　His　other　brawny　arm　was　pressed　across　his　eyes；　the　bearded　face　beneath　it　drained　of　color。　As　the　squire　poured　water　over　the　wound　and　Dhugal　loosened　the　tourniquet　above　it　just　slightly；　bright　blood　pumped　from　deep　within。　Even　from　where　he　stood。　Kelson　could　see　that　the　cut　had　severed　deep　muscles　and　probably　arteries。
〃Damn！〃　Dhugal　muttered　under　his　breath；　tightening　file　tourniquet　again　and　muttering　an　apology　as　his　patient　sucked　in　breath　between　his　teeth　in　pain。　Neither　he；　his　assistant；　nor　his　patient　seemed　to　notice　Kelson's　presence　as　he　picked　up　a　needle　trailing　a　length　of　gut　threat。
〃Ye　must　n？？　move　now；　Bertie；　if　we're　tae　save　yer　arm；〃　Dhugal　said；　his　earlier　court　accents　blurred　with　the　lilt　of　the　highlands　now；　as　he　positioned　the　bloody　arm　to　his　liking　and　shifted　Jatham's　grip。　〃Hold　him　steady　as　ye　can；　lad。〃
As　Bertie　braced　himself　and　young　Jatham　clamped　down　at　wrist　and　bicep。　Kelson　touched　the　squire's　shoulder　and　nodded　as　he　looked　up；　startled。　Dhugal；　too；　blinked　as　he　suddenly　became　aware　of　Kelson's　presence。
〃Why　don't　you　let　me　take　over　here；　Jatham？〃　he　said　to　the　boy；　smiling　and　signalling　him　to　move　aside。　〃He's　a　little　big　for　you　to　hold。　Go　with　Baron　Jodrell。〃
As　Jodrell　and　the　boy　withdrew。　Kelson　dropped　to　his　knees　across　from　Dhugal　and　rinsed　his　hands　in　the　basin　of　clean　water　near　the　patient's　head；　permitting　himself　a　little　smile　as　Dhugal　stared　at　Mm　in　amazement。
〃I　was　beginning　to　feel　useless；〃　Kelson　explained。　〃Besides；　it　looked　as　if　young　Bertie；　here；　nearly　outweighted　you　both。　Hello；　Bertie；〃　he　added；　as　their　patient　uncovered　his　eyes　to　squint　at　him　suspiciously。
〃Well；　then；〃　Dhugal　grinned；　the　lilt　of　the　highlands　muted　to　only　a　slight　blurr　as　he　shifted　to　court　dialect。　〃Last　I　heard；　you　weren't　a　battle　surgeon。〃
〃Last　I　heard；　neither　were　you；〃　Kelson　countered。　〃I　suspect　we've　both　learned　some　things　in　the　past　few　years。　What　would　you　like　me　to　do？〃
Dhugal　made　a　grim　attempt　at　a　chuckle。　〃Hold　his　arm　steady；　then　…　just　there；〃　he　said；　repositioning　the　arm　and　guidin