kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第19部分

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t　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　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　te