kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第16部分

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〃Bright　moon　and　starshine　on　thy　path；　noble　bard。　The　MacArdry　and　all　his　kin　wele　Kinkellyan　to　the　hall　of　Transha。〃
The　old　man　inclined　his　head　and　murmured　a　phrase　Kelson　did　not　quite　catch；　sweeping　the　narrow　boughs　in　his　hands　to　either　side　as　if　to　open　an　embrace。　Kelson　thought　he　had　heard　his　name；　but　he　could　not　be　sure。　Dhugal　replied　with　an　answering　phrase　in　the　border　tongue；　then　bowed　and　glanced　at　his　father。　Old　Caulay　seemed　to　have　forgotten　his　previous　agitation；　and　bowed　low　over　his　place　at　table　as　he；　too；　raised　his　cup　in　salutation。
〃Kinkellyan　offers　you　his　bardic　blessing　and　asks　that　you　be　afforded　the　enduring　friendship　of　the　clan；〃　Dhugal　murmured　to　Kelson　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth。　〃The　MacArdry　has　accepted　on　your　behalf。　Stand　up　and　bow；　and　then　do　whatever　seems　appropriate　after　Kinkellyan　and　I　have　finished。〃
As　Kelson　obeyed；　Dhugal　bowed　to　his　father　and　left　the　table；　descending　the　dais　to　enthusiastic　hammerings　of　fists　on　tabletops　by　all　his　kinsmen。　Kelson's　men　looked　mystified；　except　for　old　Ewan。
In　slow；　almost　ritual　mime；　Dhugal　took　the　boughs　from　the　old　bard　and　bowed　again；　then　crossed　them　in　saltire　above　his　head　and　pivoted　slowly　on　the　balls　of　his　feet　until　he　faced　Kelson；　bending　to　lay　them　that　way　on　the　floor　as　the　pipers　skirled　a　few　introductory　bars。　The　tempo　changed　as　he　straightened　and　set　his　hands　on　his　hips；　rising　again　on　the　balls　of　his　feet；　and　Dhugal　began　to　dance。
Kelson　felt　his　own　feet　stir　as　he　watched；　for　the　pipes　seemed　to　beckon　almost　magically。　For　just　an　instant；　as　Dhugal　moved　from　the　first　quarter　to　the　second；　his　eyes　locked　with　Kelson's　in　a　linking　so　profound　that　memory　surged　across　the　link　almost　as　surely　as　if　Dhugal；　too；　had　been　Deryni　and　deliberately　sent　his　thought　winging　into　Kelson's　mind　…　the　two　of　them；　half　a　lifetime　ago；　facing　one　another　over　crossed　swords；　not　evergreen　boughs；　treading　out　the　measures　of　the　dance　Dhugal　now　performed　as　it　was　meant　to　be　done。　All　at　once　Kelson　knew　what　Dhugal　had　meant　…　do　whatever　seems　appropriate　…　and　he　found　himself　edging　out　from　behind　the　table　and　down　off　the　dais　to　where　Dhugal　spun　and　leaped。
The　pipers　never　faltered　as　the　king　came　onto　the　floor。　Kelson　could　sense　the　expectation　of　the　audience　all　around；　some　pleased；　some　thoroughly　mystified；　but　the　old　bard　looked　not　at　all　surprised；　though　he　raised　a　white　eyebrow。　Dhugal　was　just　finishing　the　first　set　of　measuring　steps　around　the　ends　of　the　boughs；　pivoting　and　rocking；　with　first　one　arm　and　then　the　other　raised　above　his　head；　but　when　he　saw　Kelson　ease　into　the　quarter　which　was　about　to　be　opposite　him；　he　grinned　and　gave　a　nod；　setting　balled　fists　on　his　hips　to　repeat　the　first　set　as　he　pleted　the　figure。　Kelson　caught　the　very　first　step　of　the　repeat　by　letting　his　feet　carry　him　as　they　had　so　many　years　before；　mirroring　Dhugal　a　little　stiffly　at　first；　but　then　with　growing　confidence　as　those　in　the　hall；　clansmen　and　lowland　knights　alike；　looked　on　in　astonishment。
As　they　shifted　into　the　next　set　of　figures；　beating　out　a　more　emphatic　rhythm　as　they　danced　within　the　quarters　instead　of　all　around　the　edges；　feet　never　touching　the　branches。　Kelson　could　sense　that　throbbing　link　again；　melding　his　movements　with　Dhugal's。　With　rare　abandon；　he　let　his　world　shrink　down　to　flying　feet　and　evergreens　and　Dhugal's　joyous　grin。　He　was　only　dimly　aware　when　the　men　and　women　around　them　started　clapping　and　stamping　in　time　to　the　music；　urging　them　on；　sharing　the　magic　which　had　nothing　to　do　with　being　Deryni。
Kelson　was　panting　with　exhaustion　by　the　time　they　began　the　final　set　of　figures；　but　he　did　not　falter；　springing　lightly　from　quarter　to　quarter；　heel　and　toe；　until　finally　the　rhythm　changed；　the　music　ebbed　to　a　single　sustained　note；　and　he　and　Dhugal　were　bowing　to　one　another　on　opposite　sides　of　the　evergreen　cross；　hands　set　on　hips。　The　hall　went　wild。
The　clansmen　and　their　women　continued　to　cheer　as　the　two　grinning　young　men　half…collapsed　against　one　another；　both　of　them　gasping　for　breath。　Other　than　Ewan；　most　of　Kelson's　other　retainers　looked　stunned；　though　a　few　had　relaxed　enough　to　join　in　good…naturedly；　not　the　least　of　whom　was　Baron　Jodrell。　Conall　sat　sullenly　between　him　and　Ewan；　his　arms　folded　and　lips　set　in　grim　disapproval；　but　at　the　center　of　the　table　the　MacArdry　chief　was　beaming；　his　earlier　agitation　apparently　forgotten。　As　Dhugal　and　Kelson　stumbled　up　the　dais；　arm　in　arm；　he　held　out　a　newly　filled　cup　in　both　hands。
〃Air　do　slainte！〃　he　cried；　the　others　taking　up　the　shout　as　Dhugal　and　then　Kelson　drank　deeply　from　the　cup。　To　your　very　good　health！
The　cheering　subsided　as　Dhugal　held　up　an　arm　for　silence；　and　he　was　still　a　little　breathless　as　he　turned　Kelson　to　face　his　people；　one　arm　still　around　the　king's　shoulders。
〃Kinsmen；　this　is　my　foster…brother。　Kelson；〃　he　said　with　a　grin。　〃As　you　can　see；　he　is　a　brother　of　our　blood；　as　well　as　one　of　my　choosing。　That　he　is　also　my　king　is　a　great　joy　to　me；　and　I　freely　give　him　my　allegiance　as　lord　as　well　as　brother　and　kinsman。　Will　you　honor　him　the　same；　for　my　sake？〃
The　renewed　shouting　and　cheers　were　all　the　confirmation　Dhugal　needed。　As　Kelson　stood　back；　pleased；　still　panting　from　the　exertion　of　the　dance　and　wondering　just　how　he　had　managed　to　bring　them　around　…　these　dour　mountain　folk　who　were　usually　so　slow　to　admit　a　lowlander　to　their　midst　…　Dhugal　turned　and　knelt　at　his　feet；　slipping　his　joined　hands　between　Kelson's　and　touching　them　to　his　forehead　in　homage。
In　ragged　succession；　Dhugal's　borderers　joined　him　in　salute；　sinking　to　one　knee　in　their　places。　A　few　even　smiled；　inasmuch　as　any　borderer　did　when　obliged　to　follow　lowland　custom。　A　handful　remained　dour　and　grim；　but　all　of　them　knelt。　The　rarity　of　the　concession　was　not　lost　on　Kelson。
〃My　brother；　I　thank　you；〃　Kelson　said；　smoothly　raising　Dhugal　and　signalling　the　rest　of　them　to　rise。　〃And　to　you；　my　border　kinsman；　my　profound　thanks　as　well。　Please　believe　that　I　understand　the　honor　you　have　done　me。　And　if　there　be　some　of　you　who　yet　have　your　doubts　about　this　upstart　lowland　lord　who　es　among　you；　I　cannot　blame　you。　Nor　will　I　try　to　change　your　opinion　by　my　words。　My　actions；　I　hope；　will　speak　for　me；　in　that　I　shall　always　strive　to　be　your　true　and　gentle　lord。〃
His　own　men　pounded　on　the　tables　in　approval；　but　Kelson　held　up　his　hand　again　for　silence。
〃But　though　I　be　lowland　born；　yet　am　I　a　borderer　like　yourselves；　by　choice　and　chosen　blood；　as　my　brother　Dhugal　has　said。　I　would　assure　you；　therefore；　that　whenever　possible；　I　shall　place　the　considerations　of　the　clan　above　my　own　concerns；　an'　it　be　not　against　the　interests　of　the　other　folk　I　have　sworn　to　protect　and　defend。　In　token；　therefore；　I　ask　that　you　host　me　not　as　king　tonight；　but　as　kinsman；　and　that　you　join　with　me　in　toast　to　our　noble　chief：　The　MacArdry　…　long　may　he　guide　his　children　in　peace　and　plenty。　Air　do　slainte！
It　was　the　one　border　phrase　Kelson　could　remember；　and　he　blessed　old　Caulay　for　having　refreshed　his　memory　earlier；　but　it　produced　the　desired　response。　This　time　there　was　no　restraining　the　men　of　Transha。　The　hall　erupted　in　echo　of　the　traditional　border　toast；　even　the　most　dour　of　the　old　chieftains　raising　their　cups　with　more　thoughtful　expressions。　Soon　the　pipers　struck　up　another　dance　tune　and　the　floor　filled　with　other　dancers　eager　to　tread　a　few　steps　with　their　new　young　kinsman。　Some　of　the　girls　were　very　pretty。　Kelson　answered　their　first　few　invitations　with　laughing　good　humor　and　an　honest　attempt　to　follow；　but　the　dance　with　Dhugal　had　exhausted　both　his　knowledge　and　his　energy。　He　soon　had　to　bow　himself　out　and　retreat　to　the　safety　of　his　place　by　the　chief。　Dhugal　remained　on　the　floor。
Caulay　was　jovial　pany　for　what　remained　of　the　evening；　but　he　downed　three　cups　of　wine　to　every　one　of　Kelson's　and　quickly　began　to　show　the　effects。　Any　serious　return　to　their　discussion　was　impossible　under　the　circumstances；　so　they　were　soon　reduced　to　rambling　exchanges　about　the　dancers；　Dhugal's　escapades　and　prospects　for　the　future；　and　an　increasingly　maudlin　tendency　on　Caulay's　part　to　dwell　on　his　failing　health。　By　the　time　people　began　falling　asleep　at　table　and　bedding　down　in　the　hall　for　the　night。　Kelson　had　managed　to　diminish　the　effect　of　his　own　alcoholic　consumption　to　a　dull　buzz；　but　Caulay　was　on　the　verge　of　passing　out。　Dhugal　was　less　steady　on　his　feet　than　Kelson；　but　not　really　drunk；　either。
〃I　think　he's　about　had　enough；　don't　you？〃　Kelson　murmured；　when　Dhugal　returned　to　the　table　to　refill　his　cup　during　a　piper's　slowly　skirled　lament。
Dhugal　looked　down　at　his　father；　steadying　himself　on　the　edge　of　the　table　as　he　watched　old　Caulay　bobble　and　grin；　then　signalled　to　a　gillie　who　towered　at　least　a　head　and　a　half　above　either　him　or　Kelson。　The　man　scooped　up　his　chief　with　no　more　effort　than　Kelson　might　have　picked　up　a　three　year　old；　and　carried　him　tenderly　out　of　the　hal