kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第17部分

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e　done　this；　but　Kelson　was　not　Brion。　They　would　just　have　to　adjust　to　the　fact　that　he　was　going　to　develop　his　own　style。　He　laughed　at　a　joke　Dhugal　murmured　in　an　aside；　and　when　Ciard　came　to　serve　them　roast　fowl　and　beef　on　a　trencher　of　hearty　highland　bread；　he　dug　in　with　his　fingers　in　proper　border　fashion。
He　and　Caulay　made　casual　small　talk　through　the　meal。　Kelson　touching　on　some　of　his　experiences　of　the　past　three　years　and　the　old　chief　proudly　recounting　Dhugal's　skill　as　a　future　border　chief。　Only　passing　ment　was　made　on　his　own　failing　health。
Out　of　respect　for　his　host。　Kelson　veered　away　from　politics　or　any　other　subjects　of　possible　controversy；　intending　to　save　such　conversation　for　more　private　surrounds；　perhaps　later　that　night。　But　just　before　the　sweet　was　served　…　a　sticky　confection　of　crushed　almonds　and　biscuit　and　honey　…　Caulay　made　passing　reference　to　his　brother　Sicard；　whose　wife　was　the　Mearan　Pretender。
〃What's　she　like；　the　Lady　Caitrin？〃　Kelson　asked；　trying　to　keep　too　much　interest　out　of　his　tone。　To　his　relief；　Caulay　was　neither　offended　nor　reticent；　wine　having　loosened　his　tongue　to　the　point　of　amiability。
〃Ach；　she　nurses　an　old　dream　whose　time　passed　lang　ago；〃　Caulay　said。　〃I　did　n？？　ever　like　her。　She's　of　an　age　wi'　me　…　no　spring　hen…chick；　she　…　but　she　has　fierce　baims　an'　a　fiercer　mate。　She　an'　my　brother　…　！〃
He　spat　contemptuously；　and　Kelson　raised　an　eyebrow　in　feigned　surprise。
〃You　and　Sicard　had　a　falling　out？〃
〃Ye　might　say　that；〃　the　old　man　allowed。　〃Truth　is；　he。　an'　I　were　never　close。　I'm　n？？　close　to　the　bairns；　either　…　leastways　not　the　boys。　Ithel　an'　Llewell；　they're　named　…　though　I　expect　ye　know　that。　About　your　age；　they　are　…　mayhap　a　year　or　so　younger。　The　girl；　though　…　〃
〃Not　another　daughter；〃　Kelson　breathed；　almost　to　himself。
Old　Caulay　immediately　caught　his　drift；　however；　and　laughed　uproariously　as　he　clapped　Kelson　on　the　shoulder。
〃Ach；　I　see　they've　been　pushing　ye　to　choose　a　mate；　haven't　they；　lad？　Well；　a　man　could　do　far　worse　than　sweet　Sidana。　Her　name　means　'silk'　in　the　old　tongue；　an'　she　has　all　the　grace　the　boys　an'　their　mother　lack。　Pretty　she　is；　as　well　as　heiress　to　a　great　name；　wi'　fine　sleek　hair　that　reaches　to　her　knees　…　brown　as　a　chestnut　burr　it　is　…　an'　eyes　like　a　bonnie　fawn。　Fair　white　teeth；　too；　an'　hips　tae　bear　a　man　many　fine　sons；　though　she　can　n？？　be　more　than　fifteen。〃
〃You　sound　as　if　you're　trying　to　marry　her　off；〃　Kelson　said　with　a　smile。　〃Are　you　trying　to　tell　me　something？〃
Caulay's　shoulders　lifted　with　a　coy　shrug；　even　though　he　was　shaking　his　head　no。
〃Weel；　'tis　not　I　who'd　presume　tae　barter　a　bride　for　my　king；　son；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃But　if　a　man　wanted　tae　resolve　an　old；　old　rift　an'　bring　peace　tae　his　people；　he　could　do　far　worse　than　marryin'　Sidana。　If　I　thought　it　would　help；　I'd　marry　Dhugal　to　her　…　or　praise　God；　if　I　were　a　younger　man；　an'　could　find　a　willing　priest；　I'd　marry　her　myself；　an'　she　my　own　dear　niece。〃
Kelson　smiled　wanly；　remembering　what　he　once　read　about　incest　of　an　only　slightly　closer　degree　toppling　a　throne　two　centuries　before　…　though　there　had　been　a　Deryni　question　in　the　case　of　Imre　and　Ariella；　as　well。
But　Caulay's　theoretical　solution　would　certainly　have　no　such　repercussions；　even　if　it　were　to　occur。　For　that　matter；　he　supposed　he　and　Sidana　were　distantly　related　…　his　eyes　glazed　a　little　as　he　tried　to　sort　out　the　generations　of　cousins　through　a　mon　great…great…grandfather　…　though　they　were　certainly　outside　the　bounds　of　consanguinity　proscribed　by　the　Church。
〃I　don't　think　it　will　be　necessary　for　you　to　make　the　sacrifice；〃　he　reassured　Caulay；　with　a　faint；　droll　grin。
〃Ach；　o'　course　not。　Tis　a　Haldane　husband　she'd　be　needin'；　not　another　borderer；　tae　muddy　matters　further。　If　not　Yer　Grace；　than　perhaps　yer　young　cousin；　there　…　〃
The　old　man　glanced　down　the　table　where　Conall　had　moved　to　sit　between　Ewan　and　Jodrell；　brooding　over　his　wine　cup。
〃Nah；　on　second　reflection；　Conall　would　n？？　do；〃　Caulay　went　on　more　soberly。　〃She　would　n？？　be　happy　with　the　likes　o'　him　…　though　methinks　yer　young　cousin　has　ambitions　o'　his　own。　Power　can　be　a　great　temptation；　son。　But　I　need　n？？　tell　ye　about　that；　do　I？〃
Surprised；　Kelson　glanced　at　Conall　and　then　back　at　Caulay。
〃Conall？〃
〃Ach；　I　dinnae　mean　to　cast　a　shadow　on　yer　cousin；　lad。　But　Sidana　is　a　fair　marriage　prize；　an'　could　give　her　husband　a　fair　claim　to　Meara。　With　the　right　persuasion；　from　the　right　man；　her　brothers　might　even　be　moved　to　abandon　their　claims。〃
Kelson　chuckled　grimly　and　shook　his　head；　running　a　finger　along　the　rim　of　his　cup。
〃I'm　trying　to　avoid　that　kind　of　persuasion；　Caulay；〃　he　said　softly。　〃I　don't　want　to　have　to　march　into　Meara　the　way　my　father　and　grandfather　did；　and　solve　things　with　a　sword。　But　I　don't　intend　to　give　up　what's　lawfully　mine；　either。〃
Caulay's　bearded　face　clouded　and　he　dropped　his　gaze　to　stare　into　the　depths　of　his　goblet。　〃That　may　be　the　only　way；　son；〃　he　whispered　darkly。　〃Young　Ithel　wants　a　throne。　He　won't　be　content　to　rule　over　an　exile　court　in　Laas；　once　his　mother　is　gone。〃
〃You　speak　as　if　that　might　be　imminent；〃　Kelson　breathed；　gently　reaching　out　to　read　the　truth　of　Caulay's　words。　〃Is　Ithel　plotting　something？〃
〃I　dinnae　know　particulars；　I　dinnae　care　to　know。〃　Caulay　took　a　long　pull　at　his　wine　and　shook　his　head。　〃It's　only　some　rumors　I've　heard。　What　young　man　does　not　have　ambition？　I　dinnae　care　to　say　more。〃
Chilled；　Kelson　nudged　his　cup　aside　and　stared　at　Caulay。　The　old　man　was　telling　the　truth；　as　far　as　he　went；　but　what　were　the　rumors　he　had　heard？　If　Ithel　of　Meara　was　actively　plotting　a　revolt。。。
〃I　need　to　know；　Caulay；〃　he　murmured；　as　he　touched　his　wrist　and　started　trying　to　Mind…See。　〃If　you　know　something　…　〃
〃I　know　nothing！〃　Caulay　whispered；　eyes　flashing　as　he　yanked　away　his　wrist。　〃An'　if　ye　press　me　for　nothing；　then　…　〃
The　skirl　of　pipes　began　outside　the　hall　just　then；　and　Caulay　broke　off　and　shook　his　head　apologetically；　taking　another　deep　draught　from　his　cup。　While　Kelson　searched　for　a　tactful　way　to　reapproach　the　subject；　two　pipers　marched　in　from　the　far　end　of　the　hall；　preceding　a　white…robed　old　man　brandishing　two　evergreen　boughs　like　bushy　swords。　Conversation　died　away　as　they　entered；　even　the　rowdier　of　the　clansmen　putting　aside　their　cups　to　brush　caps　in　salute　as　the　old　man　passed。　The　women　standing　curtseyed；　and　even　the　children　serving　table　stopped　where　they　were　to　render　appropriate　respect。
〃Kinkellyan；　the　chief　bard；〃　Dhugal　murmured　in　his　ear；　as　the　old　man　came　between　the　two　pipers　and　continued　toward　them。　〃This　could　be　very　important。　Stay　seated　for　now；　but　pay　very　close　attention。〃
As　the　man　reached　the　lowest　step　of　the　dais　and　stopped；　crossing　the　boughs　over　his　head　in　salute　as　he　bowed；　the　music　ended　and　Dhugal　stood；　raising　a　cup　in　answering　salute　to　the　man　in　white。
〃Bright　moon　and　starshine　on　thy　path；　noble　bard。　The　MacArdry　and　all　his　kin　wele　Kinkellyan　to　the　hall　of　Transha。〃
The　old　man　inclined　his　head　and　murmured　a　phrase　Kelson　did　not　quite　catch；　sweeping　the　narrow　boughs　in　his　hands　to　either　side　as　if　to　open　an　embrace。　Kelson　thought　he　had　heard　his　name；　but　he　could　not　be　sure。　Dhugal　replied　with　an　answering　phrase　in　the　border　tongue；　then　bowed　and　glanced　at　his　father。　Old　Caulay　seemed　to　have　forgotten　his　previous　agitation；　and　bowed　low　over　his　place　at　table　as　he；　too；　raised　his　cup　in　salutation。
〃Kinkellyan　offers　you　his　bardic　blessing　and　asks　that　you　be　afforded　the　enduring　friendship　of　the　clan；〃　Dhugal　murmured　to　Kelson　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth。　〃The　MacArdry　has　accepted　on　your　behalf。　Stand　up　and　bow；　and　then　do　whatever　seems　appropriate　after　Kinkellyan　and　I　have　finished。〃
As　Kelson　obeyed；　Dhugal　bowed　to　his　father　and　left　the　table；　descending　the　dais　to　enthusiastic　hammerings　of　fists　on　tabletops　by　all　his　kinsmen。　Kelson's　men　looked　mystified；　except　for　old　Ewan。
In　slow；　almost　ritual　mime；　Dhugal　took　the　bo