kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第41部分

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to　do　next。　Between　them　and　the　skirmish　site；　most　of　Kelson's　knights　sat　their　horses　in　a　long　single　line；　ready　to　repel　any　renewed　attack。　Behind　the　line；　the　remaining　Haldane　riders　kept　watch　over　the　prisoners：　six　in　all　…　　four　now　standing　bunched　before　Traheme　and　Conall；　hands　bound　behind　them；　two　more　having　minor　injuries　tended。　None　of　the　captives　were　heavily　armored；　and　several　wore　only　court　attire　…　no　armor　at　all。
〃Did　you　interrupt　some　festive　occasion；　Dhugal？〃　Kelson　asked　over　his　shoulder；　as　they　approached　Traheme　and　Conall。
Dhugal　grimaced；　leaning　around　the　king　to　inspect　the　captives　as　they　drew　rein。
〃They　would　call　it　so。　Sire。　Archbishop　Loris　consecrated　Judhael　of　Meara　Bishop　of　Ratharkin　this　morning。　And　I　suppose　you've　guessed　they　have　Bishop　Istelyn　to　prisoner。〃　His　face　lit　with　surprise　and　then　pleasure　as　he　got　a　good　look　at　the　sullen　young　man　standing　closest　to　Conall's　horse；　hands　bound　behind　and　a　rope　halter　running　from　his　neck　to　Conall's　hands。
〃Well；　fancy　that！〃
〃Someone　you　know？〃　Morgan　asked；　feeling　Sidana's　silent　gasp　of　horror。
Dhugal　laughed　and　clapped　Kelson　on　the　shoulder；　his　earlier　uneasiness　apparently　past。
〃Know　him？　Aye；　indeed。　Your　Grace。　Oh；　this　is　rare　luck。　Sire；　may　I　be　the　first　to　mend　to　your　acquaintance　Prince　Llewell　of　Meara；　the　younger　of　this　lady's　brothers。〃　He　gestured　grandly　in　her　direction。　〃Well　done；　Conall。　Did　you　capture　him？〃
Conall　drew　himself　up　importantly；　uncertain　whether　to　be　more　pleased　at　the　status　of　his　prize　or　annoyed　at　Dhugal's　omission　of　his　proper　title。
〃Of　course　I　did。　Llewell　of　Meara；　you　say？〃　he　repeated；　prodding　disdainfully　at　Llewell's　back　with　a　booted　toe。
Llewell　bore　the　affront　without　physical　resistance；　but　his　brown　eyes　blazed　as　he　twisted　to　glare　up　at　Conall。
〃You　never　would　have　taken　me　if　my　girth　hadn't　slipped；〃　he　said　hotly。　〃My　father　will　return　for　us！〃
〃Yes；　under　a　parley　flag；〃　Kelson　retorted；　directing　their　attention　to　the　party　heading　toward　his　line。　〃Hardly　a　dashing　rescue　mission；　I　think；　but　we'll　hear　what　they　have　to　say。〃
Sick　at　heart；　Llewell　whirled　to　crane　his　head　in　that　direction。
〃My　sister　and　I　have　done　nothing　wrong；〃　he　said　desperately。　〃You　have　no　right　to　hold　us！〃
〃Have　I　not？〃　Kelson　leaned　his　forearms　casually　on　the　high　pommel　of　his　saddle。　〃And　what　should　I　do　with　subjects　who　defy　my　laws　and　usurp　my　authority　in　my　own　lands？〃
〃But　ours　is　the　better　claim；〃　Llewell　began。　〃Our　line　es　from　…　〃
〃I　know　all　about　the　line　from　which　you　spring；〃　Kelson　interrupted。　〃The　matter　was　settled　nearly　a　hundred　years　ago。〃　He　glanced　up　at　the　squire　riding　back　from　the　defending　Haldane　line；　the　knot　of　Mearan　riders　slowly　approaching　under　a　white　flag；　then　stood　in　his　stirrups　and　shaded　his　eyes　to　peer　farther　out　on　the　darkening　plain。
〃I　see　them；〃　Morgan　said；　noting　the　numbers　of　the　torches　another　approaching　body　bore；　perhaps　half　an　hour's　hard　ride　away。　〃Sicard's　reinforcements。　We'd　best　make　this　brief。　Sire。〃
〃My　thought；　precisely。〃　Kelson　kneed　his　horse　over　to　the　new　mount　another　squire　was　bringing　up　for　Dhugal　and　helped　him　shift　across。　〃Llewell；　I'll　oblige　your　father　for　a　few　minutes；　but　I　think　you　can　see　why　I　don't　intend　to　stay　around。　Jodrell；　prepare　the　men　to　ride　out　as　soon　as　we've　parleyed。　Conall；　we'll　need　a　horse　for　your　prisoner　as　well。　And　Morgan　…　bring　the　girl　partway。　They　may　be　more　inclined　to　reason　if　they　see　she's　safe。〃
Torches　hastily　lit　sputtered　in　the　falling　snow　as　they　rode　out。　Kelson　and　Dhugal　led；　Sidana　still　sitting　stiff　and　frightened　before　the　silent　Morgan；　half　a　length　behind。　Conall　and　Traheme　flanked　the　mounted　Llewell；　with　an　escort　of　four　knights　behind。　Among　the　dozen　riders　who　approached　from　the　Mearan　side；　Dhugal　identified　Sicard　MacArdry　and　his　son　Ithel　in　the　lead。　All　but　the　four　principals　drew　rein　within　hearing　distance　of　a　central　point　between　them。　Kelson　and　Dhugal　riding　on　to　meet　Sicard　and　Ithel。　They　stopped　a　horse…length　apart。
〃I　have　never　done　you　any　harm；　Sicard　MacArdry；〃　Kelson　said　quietly。　〃Why　have　you　broken　faith　with　me？〃
Sicard　turned　a　cold；　disdainful　look　on　Dhugal；　holding　a　torch　beside　the　king；　then　glanced　back　at　Kelson。
〃I　never　swore　you　any　oaths。　Kelson　of　Gwynedd。　My　young　kinsman；　on　the　other　hand；　betrayed　his　blood　and　broke　oaths　sworn　on　holy　relics；　before　many　witnesses。　Do　not　speak　to　me　of　faith　with　an　oath…breaker　sitting　at　your　side　as　counsel。〃
〃He　serves　far　older　faith　than　oaths　sworn　under　duress；〃　Kelson　answered。　〃But　I　think　you　did　not　e　to　argue　my　Lord　Dhugal's　shortings；　if　such　they　are。　I　assume　you　wished　to　verify　your　children's　safety。　As　you　can　see；　they　have　not　been　harmed。〃
Sicard's　tight…lipped　glance　flicked　to　his　son；　anxious　but　hopeful　in　his　bonds　between　Conall　and　Traheme；　then　more　briefly　and　painfully　to　Sidana。
〃I　want　them　back；　Haldane；〃　he　muttered；　forcing　himself　not　to　look　at　them　again。
Kelson　inclined　his　head　gracefully。　〃A　father　could　not　want　otherwise；　my　lord。　And　that　is　easily　arranged。　I　have　no　quarrel　with　children。〃
〃And　the　price？〃　Sicard　asked。
〃For　a　beginning；　the　return　of　my　bishop。　Henry　Istelyn。〃
〃I　do　not　have　him。〃
〃Not　with　you；　no。　But　you　can　get　him。〃
Sicard　shook　his　head。　〃He　is　Loris'　hostage；　not　mine。〃
〃Loris'　treason　is　old。　I　do　not　hold　you　answerable　for　that。　Your　treason　is　more　recent；　and　might　be　forgiven　if　I　received　sufficient　surety　of　your　future　loyalty。　If　Istelyn　is　returned　unharmed　and　you　deliver　Loris　into　my　hands；　I　would　be　willing　to　discuss　a　general　amnesty　for　all　your　family。〃
〃You　would　never　do　that！〃
〃I　have　said　that　I　would。〃
〃And　what　if　I　refuse？〃
〃You　will　never　see　your　children　again。　And　in　the　spring；　I　shall　lead　an　army　into　Meara　and　scour　the　land　until　I　have　found　you；　your　wife；　and　every　other　living　member　of　the　Mearan　royal　house　and　put　them　to　the　sword。〃
〃You　would　never　do　that！〃　Sicard　gasped。
〃Do　you　wish　to　test　that　belief？〃　Kelson　countered。　〃If；　on　the　other　hand；　you　present　yourself；　your　lady　wife；　and　the　rest　of　your　family　before　my　court　by　Christmas；　delivering　the　traitor　Loris　and　his　supporters　into　my　hands　and　pledging　your　true　homage　as　dutiful　vassals　of　my　crown；　then　this　all　may　be　resolved　most　happily　for　all　concerned。〃
〃Those　are　no　terms　at　all！〃　Sicard　said　with　a　contemptuous　spit　into　the　snow　beside　him。　〃You　must　take　me　for　an　idiot！　No　sane　man　would　agree　to　that。〃
〃Then　perhaps　you　had　best　go　a　little　mad；　Sicard！〃　Kelson　retorted；　glancing　at　the　torches　now　closer　by　half　the　original　distance。　〃And　I　should　be　mad　if　I　remained　to　debate　the　issue　with　you。　I　did　not　expect　you　to　give　me　your　answer　without　more　sober　reflection。〃
〃But　what　of　my　children？〃
〃You　have　a　fortnight　to　tell　me　what　will　bee　of　them；〃　Kelson　replied；　gathering　up　his　reins　in　preparation　to　leave。　〃I　must　have　your　decision　by　Christmas　Court。　In　the　meantime；　I　give　you　my　word　that　they　shall　not　be　harmed　…　and　I　trust　you　will　make　me　the　same　assurances　regarding　Bishop　Istelyn。〃
〃I　told　you；　that　is　not　within　my　power。。。。〃
〃Then　find　a　way　to　make　it　so！〃
〃I　cannot！〃
〃A　fortnight！〃　Kelson　repeated。　And　as　he　and　Dhugal　wheeled　their　horses　and　started　back；　the　Haldane　line　edged　forward；　curtailing　any　thought　Sicard　might　have　entertained　of　following　after。　With　a　glance　backward　at　the　approaching　reinforcements；　still　a　quarter…hour　too　far　away　to　make　a　difference；　Sicard　cast　one　final；　longing　glance　at　his　son　and　daughter　being　drawn　back　among　their　captors；　then　reined　his　mount　around　and　rode　off　at　the　gallop　with　his　remaining　son。　Llewell　took　the　turn　of　events　stoically　enough；　only　bowing　his　head　and　biting　back　a　sob　as　father　and　brother　receded　into　the　dusk　and　the　nearer　torches　moved　off；　but　Sidana　burst　into　distraught　weeping。
〃No！　They　can't　leave　us！〃　she　gasped；　struggling　to　wiggle　from　Morgan's　grasp。　〃Father！　Father；　e　back！〃
The　attempt　was　futile；　of　course；　but　a　hysterical　woman　was　the　last　thing　Morgan　wanted　on　his　hands　if　they　were　going　to　have　to　make　a　run　for　it。　Pulling　off　his　right　glove　with　his　teeth　while　he　restrained　her　in　his　shield　arm；　he　caught　Kelson's　eye　and　municated　his　intention。　Kelson　agreed。　Pinning　the　struggling　girl　firmly　against　his　mail…clad　chest；　Morgan　pressed　his　hand　over　her　eyes　and　willed　her　to　sleep。　Immediately；　she　went　boneless　and　relaxed　in　his　arms；　head　lolling　against　his　shoulder。
〃What　have　you　done？〃　Llewell　gasped。　He　wrenched　at　his　bound　wrists　helplessly　as　he　tried　to　kick　his　horse　closer　to　see。　〃Oh；　God；　what　have　you　done　to　her？〃
〃She's　not　been　hurt；　he's　only　made　her　sleep；〃　Kelson　said　sharply；　plunging　his　horse　between　Llewell's　and　Morgan's　to　seize　Llewell　by　the　shoulder。　〃And　if　you　keep　your　head；　I'll　not　use　on　you　what's　been　used　on　her。〃
〃Was　it　magic？〃　Llewell　managed　to　whisper　around　an　almost　tearful　gulp。
〃No；　but　I　haven't　the　time　to　explai