kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第14部分

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charge's　side。　The　man's　almost　uncanny　ability　in　the　field　had　mystified　Kelson　even　in　the　old　days；　and　Deryni　perceptions　gained　since　their　last　contact　had　added　no　further　explanation。
〃Ciard。　I　might　have　known；〃　Kelson　muttered　aside　to　Dhugal；　as　he　returned　his　attention　to　the　narrowing　trail　ahead。　〃I　suppose　next　you'll　be　telling　me　he　does　it　with　that　borderer　Second　Sight　you　mentioned　yesterday。〃
〃Why；　I　thought　your　kind　knew　all　about　such　things；〃　Dhugal　replied　with　another　chuckle。　〃You　really　needn't　worry；　though。　I　personally　guarantee　my　people's　loyalty　…　though　I　should　warn　you　not　to　be　surprised　if　your　wele　seems　a　little　cool　at　first。　Even　if　you　weren't　the　king；　you　are　a　lowlander。　Both　make　you　an　oddity　this　far　west。〃
And　being　Deryni　makes　me　odder　still；　Kelson　added　in　his　own　mind；　pleting　what　Dhugal　had　not　said。　Despite　Dhugal's　assurance；　he　could　not　suppress　a　faint　itch　between　his　shoulderblades。
The　air　tasted　increasingly　of　salt　as　they　approached　the　castle's　outer　defenses；　and　the　gulls　screeching　overhead　gave　odd　counterpoint　to　the　dull　clop　of　mud…clogged　hooves　and　the　muted　jingle　of　harness。　Ewan　and　Conall　followed　directly　behind；　the　rain…soaked　Haldane　standard　flapping　wetly　against　Conal's　gloved　hand　and　occasionally　lifting　enough　on　the　rising　wind　to　actually　be　read。　Dhugal　had　advised　them　not　to　furl　it；　so　that　there　could　be　no　mistaking　their　identity。　The　rest　of　the　warband　also　followed　by　twos；　Ciard　with　one　of　Ewan's　gillies　and　then　Jodrell；　Traheme；　and　the　rest　of　the　column　…　knights；　squires；　and　servants。
They　came　within　easy　bowshot　of　the　outer　curtain　before　Kelson　at　last　spotted　lockouts　manning　the　battlements　high　above；　barely　silhouetted　against　the　grey　sky。　Torchlight　flickered　at　some　of　the　arrow　slits　piercing　the　stone　of　the　barbican　gate；　betokening　human　habitation　there　as　well　…　a　suspicion　confirmed　by　Kelson's　Deryni　senses　…　but　no　one　appeared　at　closer　hand。　The　column　slowed　almost　to　a　stop　as　they　neared　the　gatehouse。
〃They　know　who　you　are；　but　not　why　you're　here；〃　Dhugal　murmured；　as　the　heavy　doors　swung　outward　and　chains　clattered　on　windlass　drums；　raising　the　heavy　portcullis。　〃One　can　hardly　blame　them　for　being　wary。〃
〃I　suppose　not。〃
As　soon　as　there　was　headroom　beneath　the　portcullis；　Ciard　kneed　his　pony　past　them　with　a　scrambling　of　unshod　hooves　and　jogged　into　the　gatehouse　passage；　seizing　a　torch　from　a　wall　bracket　before　leading　on　across　the　drawbridge　beyond。　He　reined　in　and　looked　back　as　he　reached　the　other　side；　gesturing　for　them　to　follow；　and　Dhugal　set　heels　to　his　own　pony　at　once。　Kelson　glanced　upward　as　he　and　the　rest　of　the　column　followed　Dhugal　through　the　gatehouse；　and　was　rewarded　with　a　glimpse　of　a　red…cheeked　border　face　watching　from　a　murder…hole　high　above。　The　man　gave　a　nod　and　touched　two　fingers　to　the　front　of　his　highland　bonnet　before　disappearing；　but　Kelson　sensed　that　the　salute　was　as　much　for　Dhugal　as　for　him。
The　hollow　clatter　of　the　horses'　hooves　on　the　drawbridge　gave　way　to　the　more　solid　ring　of　steel　on　flint　paving　as　they　reached　the　other　side　of　the　ditch　protecting　the　outer　ward；　and　as　they　resumed　climbing；　Kelson　reflected　that　if　ever　a　castle　had　been　designed　to　take　all　advantage　of　its　natural　defenses；　Transha　was　it。　The　road　spiraling　upward　to　the　left　rapidly　became　a　steep；　narrow　killing　zone；　the　seaward　side　sheering　off　in　a　heart…stopping　plunge　to　the　surf　crashing　far　below。　On　their　unshielded　right；　the　keep　itself　rose　forty　feet　above　their　heads；　the　gaps　along　the　crenellated　wall　providing　easy　vantage　points　from　which　to　bombard　an　approaching　enemy。　The　way　was　wide　enough　for　two　border　ponies　side　by　side；　but　the　Haldane　greathorses　were　obliged　to　go　single　file。　Sea　gulls　swooped　in　for　a　closer　look　at　the　intruders；　veering　off　with　angry　cries　when　a　horse　would　snort　or　a　cloak　would　flap。　The　smell　of　the　sea　was　strong；　even　when　they　had　passed　beneath　a　second　gatehouse。
〃Bring　light　for　the　young　master　and　his　guests！〃　Ciard　cried；　turning　his　pony　in　a　tight　circle　and　waving　his　torch　as　the　Haldane　column　clattered　into　the　inner　ward。　〃'Tis　I；　Ciard　O　Ruane。　Th'　young　master　is　home。　Where　is　Caball　MacArdry？　Bring　light；　I　tell　ye！〃
His　voice　brought　immediate　response。　As　torches　flared　all　around　the　perimeter　of　the　yard　and　voices　began　to　buzz；　a　breathless　stableboy　came　scurrying　to　take　his　pony。　Kelson　sat　his　greathorse　beside　Dhugal　and　the　spotted　pony　and　watched　Ciard　stride　toward　them。　Behind　them；　the　yard　was　filling　with　the　rest　of　the　Haldane　warband；　but　Kelson　signalled　them　to　remain　mounted　before　himself　swinging　to　the　ground。　Dhugal　was　already　there　to　take　his　reins；　giving　both　their　animals　over　to　Ciard　before　setting　his　hand　under　Kelson's　elbow　to　guide　him　toward　the　stair　leading　up　to　the　great　hall。
〃Ho；　Caball！〃　Dhugal　called；　as　the　door　to　the　hall　opened　and　a　knot　of　tartan…clad　men　began　to　descend　the　stair。　Some　of　them　had　pulled　an　edge　of　plaid　over　their　heads　against　the　rain；　and　a　few　bore　torches。　The　leader　wore　the　two　feathers　of　a　clan　chieftain　in　his　cap；　and　his　bearded　face　split　in　a　pleased　grin　as　he　came　hurrying　down　to　meet　the　unexpected　visitors。
〃Master　Dhugal！〃
〃My　father's　castellan；〃　Dhugal　murmured　aside　to　Kelson；　as　the　men　reached　the　bottom　of　the　stair。　〃Caball；　is　all　prepared　to　give　fair　guesting　to　the　King's　Majesty？　Sire；　I　present　my　kinsman　Caball　MacArdry；　who　speaks　for　the　clan　and　The　MacArdry。　How　is　my　father；　Caball？〃
〃The　MacArdry's　leal　greeting。　Lord　King；〃　Caball　replied；　touching　his　cap　in　salute　and　making　his　nod　include　his　young　master　as　well　as　his　sovereign。　〃Dhugal；　Himself　will　be　heartened　to　see　ye　hame　sae　unexpectedly。〃　He　returned　his　attention　to　Kelson。　〃We　cannae　offer　more　than　simple　border　fare　on　sae　short　a　notice；　but　The　MacArdry　looks　forward　tae　greetin'　ye　himself；　when　ye　hae　refreshed　yerself；　an'　extends　his　hospitality　tae　yerself　an'　yer　men　tae　sup　with　him　in　his　hall。〃
〃Please　tell　the　MacArdry　that　I　look　forward　to　seeing　him　as　well；〃　Kelson　replied；　inclining　his　head　graciously。　〃I've　not　had　that　pleasure　since　he　came　to　see　me　crowned；　and　Dhugal　tells　me　he's　not　been　well　of　late。　I'm　sorry　to　hear　that。〃
The　castellan　dipped　his　chin　in　clipped　acknowledgment；　rain　dripping　from　his　beard。
〃As　for　the　fare；〃　Kelson　went　on　with　a　disarming　smile；　〃we've　been　in　the　field　for　several　days。　Any　hot　meal　and　a　roof　over　our　heads　will　be　most　wele。〃
Caball　seemed　to　unbend　a　little　as　he　glanced　back　at　Dhugal。　〃I　think　we　can　do　that　much　for　ye；　sir　…　an'　perhaps　a　mite　better。　Dhugal；　we'll　bed　th'　King's　Grace　an'　such　others　as　he　wishes　in　yer　quarters。　The　men　can　sleep　in　the　hall　with　our　own　garrison；　when　supper's　done。〃
〃Prince　Conall　will　be　with　us；　then；〃　Dhugal　replied；　looking　to　Kelson　for　confirmation；　〃and　perhaps　Jodrell　and　Traherne　…　or　Duke　Ewan；　of　course；　unless　they'd　prefer　to　sleep　with　the　men。　Will　that　be　satisfactory；　Sire？〃
〃Ewan　of　Claibourne？〃　Caball　murmured；　head　jerking　up　to　search　the　riders　behind　the　king。　〃By　yer　leave；　sir；　I'll　make　th'　rest　of　the　arrangements　with　him。　Dhugal；　take　His　Grace　in　out　of　the　rain。〃
He　and　his　henchmen　were　already　moving　past　them　before　Kelson　could　do　more　than　nod；　border　affinity　for　another　highland　man　drawing　the　castellan　instinctively　toward　Ewan's　distinctive　tartan　mantle；　his　casual　salute　in　Kelson's　direction　almost　an　afterthought。　Kelson　was　only　bemused；　used　to　the　brusque　manners　of　bordermen　from　his　dealings　with　Dhugal　and　his　attendants　as　a　boy；　but　an　affronted　Prince　Conall　kneed　his　greathorse　nearer　the　king　in　shocked　outrage。
〃Do　you　intend　to　let　him　treat　you　that　way？〃　he　demanded　in　a　loud　stage　whisper；　bending　beneath　the　dripping　Haldane　standard　to　peer　at　Kelson。　〃He　dismissed　you　like　a　servant！〃
〃He　asked　my　leave。　Don't　make　a　scene；〃　Kelson　warned；　as　he　laid　a　hand　on　his　cousin's　reins。　〃The　man　has　a　job　to　do。〃
〃Yes！　To　show　proper　respect　for　his　overlord！〃
〃No　disre