kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第39部分

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　dismounting　with　alacrity　to　give　assistance　…　for　he　recognized　Sidana；　and　thought　her　richly　cloaked　panion　to　be　her　royal　brother。　The　man　presented　half　a　dozen　open　targets　as　he　eased　importantly　between　princess　and　supposed　prince　and　bent　to　the　latch　…　and　likely　never　even　felt　the　dagger　which　Dhugal　filched　from　the　man's　own　boot…top　and　jammed　home　underneath　his　ribs。
Before　the　stricken　guard　did　more　than　wobble；　eyes　glazing　even　as　a　half…gasp　died　in　his　throat；　Dhugal　had　wrenched　the　man's　sword　from　its　scabbard　and　was　lunging　to　catch　the　startled　bay　by　the　reins；　twisting　the　bit　to　yank　it　deftly　to　its　knees　and　unseat　its　hapless　rider。　The　exertion　jabbed　fire　across　his　ribs；　but　he　ignored　the　pain　and　vaulted　into　the　bay's　empty　saddle；　grunting　as　the　animal　lurched　to　its　feet。　He　kicked　it　into　motion；　hunting　for　his　stirrups。　The　horse　squealed　and　lashed　out　with　battle…trained　heels　at　foot　soldiers　approaching　from　the　rear。　Sidana　finally　screamed。
He　ignored　her　cry；　for　others　were　scattering　and　screaming　all　around　him　as　well；　parting　before　the　plunging　greathorse　like　a　surging　human　tide。　The　bay's　former　rider　snatched　at　his　reins；　but　Dhugal　whirled　his　mount　on　its　haunches　and　sent　the　man　staggering　…　in　the　direction　of　the　snorting　sorrel。　Brutally；　Dhugal　kneed　the　bay　between　the　man　and　his　intended　prize；　knocking　him　to　the　ground　before　he　could　grab　the　dangling　reins　of　either　steed。　The　bay　tried　to　bite　him　while　he　was　down；　and　the　man　came　up　cursing　it　and　him　and　slashing　with　a　dagger；　trying　to　hamstring　horse　or　rider。
The　man　was　bellowing　for　help　now；　still　trying　to　catch　the　sorrel。　Dhugal　had　to　stop　him；　or　his　chance　was　lost。　Swooping　precariously　low　to　slash　at　the　man；　he　blocked　another　attempt　to　remount；　at　the　same　time　praying　that　the　animal　would　rear。　To　his　astonishment；　it　did。　The　descending　hooves　slammed　the　man　directly　into　one　of　Dhugal's　swordblows。　Blood　sprayed　from　a　hand…wide　gash　in　the　man's　neck　and　reddened　the　trampled　snow　as　his　body　disappeared　under　the　sorrel's　churning　hooves。　Sidana；　cowering　against　the　still…closed　gate；　stared　at　the　carnage　in　mute　horror　as　Dhugal　grabbed　a　fistful　of　reins　and　glanced　around　wildly　for　the　nearest　escape　route　…　which　was　fast　being　filled　by　foot　soldiers　and　other　mounted　men　pressing　through　the　throngs。　He　suspected　that　most　of　them　had　no　idea　who　he　really　was。
There　was　clear　space　around　him　now　…　except　for　the　bloody　body　of　the　slain　and　trampled　guard　…　but　the　panicked　citizens　fleeing　his　horse's　hooves　would　block　pursuit　for　only　so　long。　He　must　take　his　chances　now。　Far　across　the　square　he　could　see　archers　approaching。　If　he　could　not　break　free　at　once；　they　would　cut　him　down。　Kneeing　his　mount　closer　to　the　gate　and　the　petrified　Sidana；　he　seized　her　upper　arm　and　dragged　her　UP　to　the　saddlebow　in　front　of　him；　to　shouts　of　dismay　from　the　approaching　soldiers。
〃Sorry；　coz；　but　you　must　be　my　escort　now；〃　he　gasped　fighting　to　keep　girl；　sword；　and　his　seat　as　he　made　the　bay　rear　in　defiance。　〃Out　of　my　way；　if　you'd　not　risk　the　lady's　safety！〃　he　shouted。
She　squirmed　in　his　grasp；　elbowing　him　in　the　ribs　hard　enough　to　nearly　make　him　drop　her；　but　he　only　swore　under　his　breath　and　held　her　the　more　tightly　clapping　heels　to　the　horse　and　incredulously　watching　the　guards　melt　from　his　path　as　he　bolted　for　freedom。　Sicard　and　his　sons　were　screaming　frantically　for　horses；　Caitrin　half…fainting；　Loris　mouthing　unheard　orders　as　Dhugal　shot　by　them。　His　passage　through　the　city　streets　became　a　blur　of　screaming；　scattering　people　and　shouting　soldiers　in　pursuit；　the　chaos　heightened　by　the　loose　horse　which　plunged　along　just　ahead　of　them；　helping　to　clear　a　path。　Only　a　handful　of　riders　pursued　them　at　first。　The　city　gates　stood　open　as　they　usually　did　during　daylight；　and　Dhugal　and　his　still…struggling　passenger　careened　past　the　gate　guards　and　out　across　the　snow…slick　draw　before　anyone　could　do　more　than　stare　in　surprise。
His　pursuers　were　heavier　than　he　in　their　war　harness；　so　Dhugal　managed　to　pull　away　slowly　for　the　first　few　miles　…　but　only　at　the　expense　of　his　gallant　bay；　running　out　its　heart　for　him。　Double…mounted；　he　could　not　sustain　such　a　pace　for　long　…　but　neither　could　his　pursuers。　He　had　temporarily　lost　sight　of　them　when　he　pulled　the　blown　bay　to　a　shuddering　halt　and　slid　from　its　back；　thrusting　his　sword　upright　in　the　snow。　The　horse　staggered　at　the　sudden　lessening　of　weight　and　nearly　went　down；　and　Sidana　clutched　at　the　saddle；　white…faced。
〃Easy；　good　friend；〃　Dhugal　murmured；　laying　hands　on　the　bay's　heaving　chest　and　soothing　with　his　voice。　〃Better　service　a　man　could　not　ask；　but　you　have　earned　your　rest。　Your　stablemate　shall　carry　us　from　here。〃
Still　stroking　the　spent　animal　with　one　hand；　he　turned　and　held　out　his　other　to　the　sorrel；　whistling　low。　The　second　horse　was　also　lathered　and　breathing　heavily；　steaming　in　the　cold　air；　but　still　with　spring　in　its　step　for　having　run　unburdened。　Whuffling　softly；　it　pricked　no　its　ears　and　came　to　butt　its　head　against　his　chest　and　present　a　sweaty　face　for　scratching。
〃There's　a　good　fellow；〃　Dhugal　said　with　a　grin　as　he　obliged；　glancing　up　at　Sidana　as　he　continued　to　stroke　both　animals。
Her　expression　brought　him　to　her　side　at　once；　to　lift　her　down　and　let　her　sink　onto　the　snow　in　a　heap　of　fur…lined　cloak；　weeping。
〃I'm　sorry　for　your　rough　treatment；〃　he　said；　easing　to　a　crouch　beside　her。　〃I　had　to　get　away；　though　…　　whatever　the　cost。〃
〃Whatever　for？〃　she　sobbed。　〃Didn't　my　father　offer　you　enough？　Can　you　betray　your　blood　so　easily？〃
〃To　have　stayed　would　have　been　to　betray　it　far　more；〃　he　replied。　Nervously　he　glanced　back　the　way　they　had　e。　〃What　your　father　is　doing　is　wrong。　He　usurps　the　rights　of　King　Kelson。〃
〃Kelson？〃　Sidana　hiccoughed　and　tried　to　stop　her　sobbing。　〃What　obedience　do　you　owe　him？〃
〃I　am　the　heir　of　Transha；〃　Dhugal　replied。　〃My　father　is　King　Kelson's　liegeman。〃
〃Your　father　is　his　liegeman。　You　have　sworn　no　oaths。〃
〃Have　I　not？〃
〃Well；　you　are　free　to　give　your　allegiance　where　you　will；〃　she　said；　staring　up　at　him　with　great；　accusing　eyes。　〃But　how　could　you；　with　your　family's　blood　joined　to　Meara's？　Your　uncle　is　my　father；　and　the　father　of　future　kings。　My　brother　will　someday　rule　a　reunited　Meara。　You　could　have　been　a　part　of　it　…　would　have　been　a　part　of　it。　Father　had　promised　you　a　dukedom！〃
Sadly　Dhugal　shook　his　head。　〃Only　my　king　may　give　me　that；　Lady；〃　he　said；　standing　to　rest　his　hand　on　the　bridle　of　the　bay。　〃And　it　is　not　your　brother　who　shall　rule　a　reunited　Meara；　but　mine。〃
〃But　…　I　thought　you　had　no　brothers。〃
He　shrugged　and　smiled。　〃None　yet　live　who　were　born　of　my　mother　…　but　I　have　a　brother；　fair　cousin：　a　brother　of　blood；　to　whom　I　owe　total　allegiance；　one　worth　forfeiting　my　very　soul　to　protect　and　serve　…　which　I　may　have　done；　by　breaking　my　oath　in　escape；　and　taking　you　with　me。〃　He　sighed。
〃But　having　risked　that；　I　don't　intent　to　waste　it　all　by　being　taken　now；〃　he　said；　offering　his　hand　to　help　her　rise。　〃Your　hand；　please；　my　lady；〃　he　added；　when　she　drew　back　in　protest。　〃Don't　force　me　to　add　another　offense　to　the　litany　of　my　crimes。　Despite　what　you　may　think；　I　was　taught　to　honor　and　revere　women。〃
Rebellion　and　indignation　flared　again　in　her　dark　eyes　but　Sidana　was　too　much　the　daughter　of　nobility　not　to　recognize　an　untenable　position。　Spurning　his　offer　of　assistance；　she　gathered　the　shreds　of　her　pride　around　her　with　the　fur…lined　cloak　she　wore　and　wobbled　to　her　feet；　though　she　did　allow　him　to　lift　her　onto　the　sorrel's　saddle。　She　sat　woodenly　as　he　scrambled　up　behind　her　and　reached　around　her　to　gather　up　the　reins。
A　moment　to　retrieve　the　sword　set　upright　in　the　snow；　and　then　he　set　heels　to　their　mount　and　urged　it　forward；　glancing　back　over　his　shoulder　at　the　dark　specks　of　their　pursuers。　The　bay　followed　them　for　a　while；　but　gradually　fell　behind　and　was　lost　as　the　sorrel　settled　into　a　modest　but　steady　pace。
They　managed　to　keep　moving　for　another　hour；　until　the　shadows　were　long　and　weak　on　the　virgin　snow　of　the　Cuilteine　Road；　but　their　horse　was　nearly　spent　as　Dhugal　drew　rein　at　the　top　of　a　rise　and　turned　to　look　back。　Their　pursuers　could　be　discerned　as　three　or　four　score　horsemen　now；　drawing　inexorably　nearer。　Sidana　stirred　in　his　arms　and　gazed　after　him；　the　wind　whipping　a　tendril　of　her　dark　hair　against　his　face。
〃My　father　will　kill　you；〃　she　said　softly；　not　turning　her　head　〃After　my　brothers　finish　with　you。〃
A　tightness　spreading　beneath　his　aching　ribs；　Dhugal　swallowed　and　shifted　his　gaze　in　the　direction　they　had　been　fleeing　…　toward　Gwynedd；　and　safety。　They　would　never　reach　it　now。　Their　horse　would　be　lucky　to　make　it　down　the　hill；　much　less　carry　them　beyond。　And　whether　or　not　Dhugal　were　calloused　enough　to　threaten　harm　to　Sidana　when　they　caught　up　to　him　…　and　even　if　he　followed　through　…　they　would　kill　him　for　what　he　had　done。　Whether　quickly　or　painfully　hardly　mattered；　under　the　circumstances。