kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第5部分

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　had　brought　forward。　〃Jodrell；　check　the　men；　please。〃
Conall　started　to　object　again　as　Jodrell　reined　his　horse　out　of　line　and　headed　quietly　back　along　the　column；　but　another　sharp　look　from　Kelson　silenced　him。　The　prince；　only　a　few　months　younger　than　Kelson；　had　been　along　on　the　Cardosa　campaign　two　summers　before；　but　he　still　had　much　to　learn　about　strategy　and　the　art　of　mand。　It　was　a　mon　failing；　and　not　entirely　Conall's　fault；　for　though　Gwynedd　mon　law　declared　fourteen　to　be　the　legal　age　of　manhood；　in　fact　few　boys　were　actually　called　upon　to　function　as　adults　for　several　more　years。
Chivalric　custom　recognized　this；　even　if　the　law　did　not；　denying　the　knightly　accolade　to　those　under　eighteen　except　on　rare　occasions。　Even　Kelson；　who　could　have　made　himself　such　an　exception　as　king；　had　declined　to　be　knighted　until　his　eighteenth　birthday。　If　Conall　gained　sufficient　experience　in　the　ing　year；　his　knighting　might　be　moved　forward　a　few　months　to　coincide　with　Kelson's；　but　meanwhile；　he　remained　in　the　subordinate　rank　of　squire；　royal　though　he　was。
That　was　little　fort　to　Kelson　just　now；　weighing　Conall's　inexperience　against　the　possible　dangers　of　the　ing　skirmish。　He　could　not　help　remembering　Morgan's　warning　about　the　difference　of　fighting　styles　and　wondered　whether　the　Deryni　lord　could　have　known　he　was　foretelling　the　future。　Border　fighting　favored　quick；　lightly　mounted　and　armed　raiding　bands；　not　the　heavier　horses　and　armor　to　which　Conall　was　accustomed　and　with　which　the　warband　was　equipped。　Should　the　terrain　ahead　boast　closer　maneuvering　room　than　what　lay　immediately　around　them；　the　inexperienced　among　Kelson's　pany　might　find　themselves　at　the　disadvantage　despite　their　numbers　and　superior　armor。
Still；　Kelson　supposed　he　could　let　his　untried　cousin　at　least　think　he　was　performing　an　important　function；　while　still　keeping　him　relatively　safe　and　under　watchful　eyes。　As　he　adjusted　the　angle　of　his　helm　and　secured　the　chin　strap；　he　cast　a　stem　glance　at　the　impatient　Conall；　then　relented　and　nodded　to　Traheme。　Immediately；　Conall　was　kneeing　his　charger　between　the　two　of　them　and　reaching　out　for　the　royal　standard；　tight…jawed　but　triumphant　as　his　gloved　hand　locked　around　the　polished　staff。
〃No　heroics；　now；〃　Kelson　warned。
〃Don't　worry。〃
The　crimson　of　the　banner's　field　seemed　almost　subdued　against　the　deep　green　of　the　surrounding　forest；　but　the　golden　Haldane　lion　shimmered　like　a　living　thing　as　Conall　gave　the　silk　a　shake　and　set　the　butt　of　the　staff　in　his　stirrup　rest。　The　prince's　grin　was　infectious；　and　Ewan　and　Traheme　as　well　as　Kelson　found　themselves　smiling　in　response　as　muffled　hoofbeats　approached。　Kelson　cast　about　for　hidden　dangers　as　a　returning　scout　burst　through　the　trees　and　reined　his　horse　to　a　sliding　halt；　but　he　sensed　nothing　other　than　the　body　of　men　ahead。
〃Liveried　men…at…arms。　Sire　…　lightly　mounted；　against　what　appears　to　be　a　band　of　brigands；〃　the　man　reported。　〃Maybe　twenty　on　a　side；　but　none　of　them　are　particularly　well　armored。〃
〃Whose　livery？〃　Kelson　demanded。
〃Trurill；　Sire。　Two　swords　in　saltire　over　a　third　in　pale；　all　on　a　blue　field。〃
Kelson　glanced　at　Ewan；　who　nodded　confirmation。　〃Those'll　be　Brice's　lads；　right　enough。　Do　we　have　maneuvering　room；　son？〃
〃At　least　as　good　as　here。　Your　Grace。　Part　of　the　area　is　an　open　glade。　Robard　has　stayed　to　watch　they　don't　shift　while　we're　planning。〃
〃Well　done。〃　Kelson　drew　his　sword　and　glanced　back　at　his　waiting　men。　〃Very　well；　gentlemen；　I　think　it's　time　to　show　ourselves。　If　we　can　manage　without　bloodshed；　so　much　the　better。　Traheme；　I　want　you　on　Conall's　other　side。　Jodrell；　you　ride　on　my　right。　Ewan；　deploy　the　men。〃
With　an　economy　of　silent　hand　signals；　Ewan　gave　the　necessary　orders。　As　ever。　Kelson　was　impressed　with　the　efficiency　and　polish　which　came　with　more　than　thirty　years'　experience　as　a　field　mander。　The　jingle　of　harness　and　the　wet；　sucking　sound　of　the　horses'　hooves　on　the　moss…covered　forest　floor　temporarily　covered　the　battle　sounds　as　the　knights　peeled　off　to　either　side　and　fanned　out　in　perfect　parade　ground　formation；　Ewan　and　one　of　the　senior　knights　each　taking　a　wing。　Kelson　urged　his　bay　forward　at　the　trot；　sword　at　the　ready；　he　and　his　escort　marking　the　center　of　a　deepening　crescent　intended　to　engulf　attackers　and　defenders　alike。　Ahead；　through　the　trees；　he　began　to　see　the　signs　of　battle。
〃Yield；　in　the　king's　name！〃　he　heard　Ewan　cry；　as　the　royal　knights　burst　upon　the　skirmish。　〃Hold；　in　the　name　of　Kelson　of　Gwynedd！〃


CHAPTER　TWO
They　all　hold　swords；　being　expert　in　war：　every　man　hath　his　sword　upon　his　thigh。
Song　of　Solomon　3：8

Kelson's　first　impression；　as　he　and　his　warband　burst　into　the　clearing；　was　one　of　brawl　rather　than　battle。　Though　most　of　the　Trurill　men　were　armed　with　swords　or　the　short　horse…spears　favored　by　bordermen；　their　opponents　seemed　limited　to　cudgels；　quarterstaffs；　and　the　occasional　dirk。　Nor　did　the　Trurill　men　appear　inclined　to　overpress　their　advantage。　Even　as　the　Haldane　ring　tightened。　Kelson　saw　a　Trurill　retainer　grab　his　opponent's　plaid　and　yank　him　off　his　pony；　cracking　him　across　the　back　of　the　head　with　the　pommel　of　his　sword　when　he　just　as　easily　could　have　killed　him。　Several　of　both　sides　lay　unmoving　or　groaning　feebly　on　the　ground；　but　few　seemed　seriously　injured。
Trurill　livery　and　leathers　swirled　and　surged　chaotically　around　Border　tartans　strange　and　familiar；　loose　ponies　and　an　occasional　terrified　highland　sheep　creating　additional　hazards　for　the　few　men　who　continued　to　fight　from　the　ground。　The　ponies'　whinnying　and　the　frantic　bleating　of　the　sheep　made　vocal　counterpart　to　the　grunts　and　exclamations　of　the　struggling　men。
The　confrontation　was　quickly　over。　With　shouts　of　〃A　Haldane！〃　the　royal　knights　closed；　shouldering　their　greathorses　deftly　between　the　smaller；　lighter　border　mounts　to　break　up　individual　skirmishes；　flat…blading　recalcitrants　who　tried　to　keep　on　fighting；　and　sometimes　bowling　over　horses　and　surprised　riders　of　both　sides。　Kelson　and　the　rest　of　the　royal　party　held　back　as　a　reserve；　but　their　help　was　never　necessary。　The　closest　Kelson　came　to　action　was　the　startled　leap　his　horse　made　when　one　of　the　sheep　suddenly　bolted　between　its　front　legs。
Soon　the　brigands　began　dropping　their　weapons　and　raising　their　arms　in　surrender。　With　a　shout；　the　Trurill　men　rallied　to　surround　them。　As　Kelson's　warband　pulled　back　to　sit　their　horses　quietly　at　the　perimeter　of　the　clearing；　still　encircling　captors　as　well　as　prisoners；　the　Trurill　men　began　ordering　the　prisoners　to　dismount　and　to　bind　them；　a　few　starting　to　see　to　the　injured。　Ewan；　scanning　his　own　mand　for　injuries　and　seeing　none；　kneed　his　charger　to　Kelson's　side　and　saluted　with　upraised　gauntlet。
〃Well；　that　was　a　pleasant　enough　romp。　Sire；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　nodding　toward　the　borderers。　〃You　there　…　　Trurill　Sergeant'〃　he　called　in　a　louder　voice。　〃Attend　us　at　once！〃
At　his　mand；　one　of　the　older；　better　armored　Trurill　men　glanced　back　at　him；　then　broke　away　from　the　rest　of　his　band　and　rode　slowly　toward　the　royal　party；　eying　the　Haldane　standard　with　something　akin　to　suspicion。　He　gave　perfunctory　salute　with　his　sword　as　he　reined　in　before　them；　glancing　first　at　Kelson　and　Conall；　then　at　Ewan。
〃You　are　well　e；　sir；〃　the　man　said；　sheathing　his　sword。　〃By　your　plaid；　I　make　you　a　highland　man。　Would　you　be　The　Claibourne；　then？〃
But　before　Ewan　could　reply；　the　man　glanced　less　certainly　between　Kelson　and　Conall　once　again。　〃And　you；　my　lords　…　I　thank　you　for　your　assistance。　We　see　few　Haldanes　this　far　west。〃
And　doubtless　wish　to　see　fewer　still。　Kelson　thought　sourly；　as　he　also　sheathed　his　sword　and　removed　his　helmet。
He　supposed　he　should　not　be　annoyed　that　the　man　did　not　recognize　him。　Other　than　his　own　brief　foray　into　Culdi　two　years　before　for　the　ill…fated　wedding　of　Kevin　McLain　and　Morgan's　sister　Bronwyn；　Kelson　doubted　any　other　Haldane　had　penetrated　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　sur