kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第59部分

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s　even　to　a　wife　without　leave。
But　the　thing　he　would　not　share　remained　a　niggling　frustration；　doubly　irritating　to　Richenda　because　Morgan　would　not　really　acknowledge　its　existence。　To　ease　the　rebuff；　he　gave　her　his　perception　of　the　events　since　their　last　reunion：　the　color　and　intrigue　of　the　synod　at　Culdi；　Loris'　escape；　the　attempt　on　Duncan's　life；　Kelson's　foray　into　the　borderlands　of　Transha　…　and　Dhugal　and　his　shields。
〃Shields？〃　Richenda　whispered；　drawing　back　to　search　his　eyes　even　as　her　mind　continued　to　read　what　he　offered。　〃Is　he　one　of　us？〃
〃We　think　so；〃　Morgan　replied；　〃but　we're　not　sure。　No　one　can　get　past　the　shields；　and　he　doesn't　know　how　to　lower　them。　Most　attempts　to　read　him　have　been　so　painful　that　he's　bee　afraid　for　anyone　else　to　try　…　　except　Duncan。　Duncan　doesn't　hurt　him；　but　Duncan　doesn't　get　past　the　shields；　either。〃
〃Does　Dhugal　want　to　be　read？〃　Richenda　asked。
Morgan　shrugged。　〃He　says　he　does　…　though　he　hasn't　gone　out　of　his　way　to　let　us　try。　Not　that　any　of　us　have　had　the　time　to　pursue　the　matter。　Maybe　you'll　have　some　ideas　for　new　approaches。　Duncan's　actually　the　logical　choice　to　do　it；　but　he's　been　as　busy　as　the　rest　of　us。〃
By　the　time　he　had　given　her　the　rest　of　what　he　knew　of　Dhugal　…　the　capture　by　Loris；　Istelyn's　mortal　danger；　the　daring　escape　from　Ratharkin；　with　its　resultant　royal　hostages；　and　Dhugal's　totally　unexpected　reaction　to　Duncan's　consecration　…　Richenda　was　quite　taken　with　the　challenge　the　young　border　lord　presented。
〃I　have　a　few　ideas　already；〃　she　said　thoughtfully。　〃Be　sure　I　get　to　meet　him　at　court　tomorrow。〃
〃You'll　hardly　be　able　to　avoid　it；〃　Morgan　chuckled。　〃He's　being　formally　invested　as　Earl　of　Transha。　And　then　the　real　excitement　begins。〃
〃Caitrin's　answer　to　Kelson's　ultimatum；〃　Richenda　guessed。
Morgan　sighed　and　nodded。　〃Aye。　And　since　we　really　don't　expect　her　to　submit；　it's　almost　certainly　war　in　the　spring　…　and　a　royal　wedding　for　Kelson　and　Sidana　at　Twelfth　Night。〃
Richenda　stiffened　in　his　arms　and　turned　her　face　away　at　that；　and　Morgan　could　only　hold　her　close　in　fort　and　wait　for　the　moment　to　pass；　regretting　the　off…handedness　of　his　last　remark。　He　had　never　pressed　her　for　the　intimate　details　of　her　own　first　marriage；　but　he　knew　she　had　had　no　more　say　about　it　than　Sidana　would　have。　Unless　they　entered　the　religious　life；　marriages　of　state　were　almost　inevitable　for　daughters　of　great　houses。　Richenda　had　been　just　sixteen　when　she　married　Bran　Coris；　and　had　never　even　seen　her　future　husband　before　their　wedding　day。
〃Oh；　I　understand　all　the　dynastic　reasons　for　a　marriage　between　Gwynedd　and　Meara；〃　she　finally　said；　huddling　back　into　the　curve　of　his　arm　for　reassurance。　〃They've　been　fighting　for　generations。　It　could　finally　resolve　that　old；　old　argument。〃
She　gave　a　heavy　sigh　before　continuing。
〃But　Kelson　and　Sidana　…　they're　people；　Alaric；　not　kingdoms。　I　don't　know　the　girl　at　all；　but　I　know　Kelson。　He's　a　kind　and　generous　young　man；　and　I　know　he'll　do　his　best　to　make　the　marriage　more　than　just　a　legal　form　for　getting　heirs；　but　…　but　…　〃
〃But　neither　of　them　really　has　a　choice；〃　Morgan　said；　answering　what　she　could　not　articulate。　〃I　know。　It　doesn't　make　me　very　happy　either。　Unfortunately；　such　duties　go　with　a　crown。〃
〃I　suppose。〃　She　was　silent　a　long　time；　her　thoughts　shuttered　inside　those　private　areas　Morgan　would　not　have　thought　of　invading；　until　finally　she　sighed　again。
〃Well；　if　the　marriage　happens；　you're　going　to　have　to　take　charge　of　Kelson；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　know　how　a　man　feels　about　such　things；　but　I　do　know　how　a　woman　feels。　Despite　whatever　she　may　want；　Sidana　of　Meara　will　probably　be　our　next　queen。　She's　bound　to　be　afraid　and　unhappy　and　upset；　but　there's　no　reason　it　has　to　be　as　bad　as　it　could　be。　I've　been　in　a　similar　position；　perhaps　I　can　help　her　see　the　positive　aspects。　If　you'll　allow　it；　I'll　ask　to　be　a　lady…in…waiting　…　and　her　friend；　if　she'll　have　me。　I　feel　so　sorry　for　the　girl；　Alaric。〃
〃My　beautiful　Richenda；〃　Morgan　murmured；　drawing　her　closer　into　the　circle　of　his　arms。　〃I　am　so　very；　very　glad　I　found　you。〃
He　had　also　found；　he　reflected；　as　he　drifted　off　to　sleep；　at　least　a　temporary　diversion　for　his　wife's　discontent　so　long　as　she　remained　in　Rhemuth；　at　any　rate。

Early　Christmas　morning；　Haldane　scouts　reported　the　approach　of　a　Mearan　herald　and　a　man…at…arms；　perhaps　two　hours　away　at　their　present　pace。　A　page　brought　the　news　to　Kelson　in　Dhugal's　chamber；　where　king　and　border　lord　had　been　speculating　on　that　very　subject　while　Dhugal　dressed　for　his　investiture。　The　king　himself　wore　an　ankle…length　court　robe　of　Haldane　scarlet；　ermine　showing　at　wrists　and　hem　and　along　the　deep　slits　front　and　back；　but　he　had　not　yet　put　on　his　crown　Or　the　other　accoutrements　of　his　kingship。
〃I　don't　like　the　sound　of　that；　do　you？〃　Kelson　asked；　when　page　and　squire　had　been　dismissed；　watching　Dhugal　knot　a　narrow　sash　over　his　grey　woolen　tunic。　〃A　herald　and　one　man…at…arms。　Not　even　a　delegation。　What　do　you　suppose　it　means？〃
With　a　snort；　Dhugal　shook　out　a　cloak　of　fine　MacArdry　tartan　and　slung　it　around　his　shoulders；　holding　it　closed　with　one　hand　while　he　rummaged　in　a　wooden　casket　for　a　suitable　brooch。　The　yellow；　black；　and　grey　plaid　made　bright　contrast　to　the　nubby　grey　wool　beneath。
〃Not　a　surrender；　I'll　warrant　…　but　then；　we　never　did　really　expect　that；　did　we？　I　take　it　you　will　receive　them？〃
〃I　will　…　after　we've　finished　with　your　investiture。　It　won't　do　them　any　harm　to　cool　their　heels　for　a　while。　That's　part　of　what　heralds　are　paid　to　do。〃
〃That's　true；　I　suppose。〃
As　Dhugal　threaded　the　pin　of　a　heavy　ring　brooch　through　the　two　edges　of　his　cloak。　Kelson　raised　an　eyebrow　and　leaned　closer；　tipping　the　carved　silver　toward　the　light　with　two　fingers　underneath　the　edge。
〃That's　a　striking　piece。　Border　silver？〃
Dhugal　nodded　and　turned　the　ring　into　place；　fussing　with　the　arrangement　of　the　cloak's　folds　on　his　shoulders。
〃Aye。　This　one's　a　MacArdry　clan　motif。　It's　been　in　the　family　for　generations。　I　suppose　I　really　ought　to　wear　the　chief's　tore；　too。　Ciard　said　he'd　put　it　in　the　bottom　of　the　casket。　Would　you　see　if　you　can　find　it？〃
With　a　grunt　for　answer。　Kelson　turned　his　attention　to　the　wooden　casket。　He　remembered　the　tore。　Old　Caulay　had　worn　it　when　he　came　forward　to　swear　fealty　at　Kelson's　coronation。　Underneath　several　other　brooches　and　rings；　something　the　right　size　and　shape　lay　wrapped　in　the　folds　of　a　white　rabbit　pelt。　Ornately　chased　end　bosses　in　the　shape　of　golden　horses'　heads　protruded　from　the　fur　as　Kelson　slid　it　out　from　under　the　other　things；　but　he　handed　it　off　without　a　second　look　as　he　continued　to　poke　at　what　was　left　in　the　chest。
〃It　looks　like　Ciard　brought　you　the　entire　Transha　treasury；〃　he　said；　pulling　out　a　ring　encrusted　with　granulated　gold。　〃Is　this　a　Transha　seal？〃
〃That？　Oh；　aye。　Transha；　as　opposed　to　MacArdry。〃　Dhugal　burnished　the　tore　against　his　sleeve　and　then　slipped　it　around　his　neck；　pulling　his　braid　free　and　adjusting　the　cloak　and　collar　so　they　would　not　interfere。　〃It　probably　ought　to　be　added　to　the　rest　of　the　regalia；　actually。　I　think　it　goes　with　the　coronet。　Does　someone　have　that？〃
〃Probably　Ciard；〃　Kelson　replied。　〃One　of　your　men；　at　any　rate。〃　He　slipped　the　signet　on　his　own　finger；　where　he　would　not　lose　it；　and　poked　in　the　casket　some　more。　〃Here；　this　one's　nice　…　the　cloak　clasp　with　the　lion's　head。　Why　don't　you　wear　that　instead　of　the　ring　brooch？〃
〃That？〃　Dhugal　gave　it　a　perfunctory　glance　as　he　took　it　from　Kelson；　they　shook　his　head　and　put　the　clasp　back　in　the　casket。
〃Not　today　for　that　one；　I　think　…　though　I　promise　to　wear　it　to　your　wedding；　if　you　end　up　marrying　Sidana。〃　He　closed　the　lid　of　the　casket　with　a　hollow　clunk。　〃I'm　told　my　father　gave　it　to　my　mother　on　their　wedding　day　…　which　makes　it　far　more　suitable　for　a　celebration　of　love　than　for　the　creation　of　a　warlord；　don't　you　agree？〃
〃Hmmm；　I　suppose。　I　still　like　it　better　than　the　ring　brooch；　though。〃
Dhugal；　thrusting　a　sheathed　dirk　through　the　back　of　his　sash；　grinned　and　gave　a　sheepish　nod。
〃So　do　I；　if　you　really　want　the　truth。　But　if　I　didn't　wear　the　proper　badges　of　my　rank　as　chief；　especially　for　my　first　formal　reception　at　court；　I　might　offend　my　clansmen。　They　think　it's　far　more　important　to　be　their　chief　than　it　is　to　be　your　earl。　You　know　how　it　is　in　the　borders。〃
〃Oh；　aye；〃　Kelson　said；　mimicking　Dhugal's　broad　border　accent　and　smiling　as　he　bade　him　twirl　around　for　inspection。
He　was　sober　again　by　the　time　Dhugal　finished　turning；　though；　the　grey　Haldane　eyes　shadowed　with　just　a　trace　of　apprehension。
〃What's　wrong？〃　Dhugal　asked。
Sighing；　Kelson　glanced　at　his　boots。　〃I　wish　that　all　I　had　to　do　this　morning　was　to　make　you　an　earl；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I'm　not　looking　forward　to　the　rest。〃
〃Neither　is　anyone　else；〃　Dhugal　replied。
〃Then；　why　do　we　do　it？〃
〃I　suppose　…　because　we　have　to。〃
〃We　have　to；〃　Kelson　repeated。
Drawing　a　deep　breath；　he　let　it　out　explosively　an