kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第43部分

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n　his　mind　as　they　rode　here　this　morning；　and　a　possible　alternate　route　through　another　side　street。
Of　more　important　immediate　concern　was　the　help　or　hindrance　Dhugal　might　expect　from　the　milling　citizens；　many　of　whom　were　making　their　way　closer　to　kneel　for　the　new　bishop's　blessing。　From　what　he　had　overheard；　no　one　seemed　to　see　Judhael's　creation　as　Bishop　of　Ratharkin　as　any　encroachment　on　the　recently　installed　Istelyn；　for　Istelyn　was　Bishop　of　Meara。　Besides；　was　not　Bishop　Istelyn　standing　at　the　new　bishop's　side；　affirming　the　new　bishop's　legitimacy　by　his　mere　presence？　Clearly；　Judhael　was　meant　to　assist　the　bishop　installed　by　archbishops　and　king　a　fortnight　before　…　and　who　would　have　informed　them　otherwise？
The　presence　of　Caitrin　and　her　family；　standing　beneath　a　banner　in　the　Mearan　royal　colors；　only　added　local　interest；　for　who　of　the　mon　folk　knew　what　lord　had　placed　his　hands　between　whose？　If　Meara's　senior　royal　was　here；　publicly　witnessing　the　elevation　of　her　nephew　in　the　presence　of　the　king's　duly　appointed　and　enthroned　representative。　Bishop　Istelyn；　who　could　say　she　was　not　entitled？　And　a　prelate　of　Mearan　royal　blood　could　not　but　please　most　residents　of　this　ancient　Mearan　city；　regardless　of　the　lip…service　professed　to　the　Crown　of　Gwynedd。
Dhugal　dared　not　expect　support　from　Ratharkin's　citizens；　then。　But　at　least　the　public　acclamation　of　Judhael；　distasteful　as　it　was　to　Dhugal；　perhaps　gave　convenient　cover　to　explore　escape　options；　for　with　attention　centered　on　Judhael　and　the　rest　of　the　Mearan　royal　family；　there　was　very　little　notice　being　taken　of　Dhugal。　Foot　soldiers　mingled　with　the　throngs　in　the　square；　lining　the　cathedral　steps　as　well；　but　none　were　very　close　to　Dhugal。　Less　than　a　score　of　mounted　knights　and　men…at…arms　patrolled　the　area。　Two　of　them　sat　their　mounts　at　ease　near　the　gate　leading　back　into　the　cathedral　pound；　only　casually　watching　the　crowd；　but　the　nearest　other　men　on　horseback　were　clear　across　the　square。　If　Dhugal　could　make　his　way　close　enough　to　surprise　the　men　and　secure　one　of　the　horses。。。。
Blowing　on　his　gloved　hands　to　warm　them；　he　eased　his　way　a　few　steps　farther　to　his　left；　closer　to　the　guards；　casually　eying　the　nearer　horse　…　a　wiry；　fast…looking　bay。　Almost　immediately　the　animal　tossed　its　head　and　snorted；　swinging　its　hindquarters　against　the　sorrel　beside　it　and　dancing　a　little　jig　until　its　rider　curbed　it　sharply。　The　other　rider　looked　irritated　and　murmured　something　to　his　panion　that　Dhugal　could　not　hear；　as　he　jerked　at　his　own　mount's　mouth；　but　when　the　two　stood　once　more　at　ease；　both　of　them　were　several　horse…lengths　closer　than　they　had　been。　It　occurrred　to　Dhugal　to　wonder　whether　the　animals　somehow　had　been　aware　of　his　scrutiny；　but　he　dismissed　the　notion　almost　at　once。　He　was　good　with　horses；　but　not　that　good。
The　pageantry　of　Judhael's　acclamation　continued　on　the　cathedral　steps；　but　many　of　the　Mearan　folk　were　also　hailing　Caitrin　now。　From　under　his　hood；　Dhugal　watched　her　bask　in　their　homage；　wondering　whether　they　realized　their　treason　…　or　if　they　cared。　It　was　also　beginning　to　snow　again。　Soon；　despite　the　sweetness　of　public　acclaim；　they　would　all　pack　up　and　go　inside；　and　his　opportunity　would　be　lost。
He　sidled　a　little　closer　to　the　horses；　trying　his　best　to　appear　nonchalant　…　and　nearly　jumped　out　of　his　skin　when　he　felt　a　tug　at　his　cloak　from　the　right。
〃Ithel；　it's　getting　cold。　I　think　we　ought　to　…　oh；　I　beg　your　pardon。〃
The　voice　was　Sidana's；　and　as　he　curbed　his　initial　urge　to　whirl　in　response　and　slowly　turned　instead；　he　saw　by　her　expression　what　had　happened。　He　was　wearing　Ithel's　clothes。　Immediately　he　sensed　a　way　to　take　advantage　of　the　error　…　if　only　he　were　given　time　to　carry　through。
〃No　need　to　beg　my　pardon；　fair　cousin；〃　he　murmured　in　his　best　court　accents；　catching　her　gloved　hand　to　press　it　to　his　lips。　〃You're　the　only　one　who's　addressed　a　kind　word　to　me　all　morning　…　even　if　it　was　meant　for　someone　else。〃
She　blinked　uncertainly；　too　flustered　to　withdraw　her　hand。
〃In　faith；　cousin；　I　had　not　known　you　pined　for　our　kindness。　You　were　merry　enough　last　night；　but　wine　will　make　even　false　men　seem　hale　and　earnest。　My　father　was　not　certain　you　felt　the　bond　of　blood　as　strongly　as　we。〃
With　a　shrug；　Dhugal　let　go　her　hand　and　wrapped　his　cloak　more　closely　around　him；　stamping　his　feet　against　the　cold　and　withdrawing　turtlelike　into　the　closeness　of　his　hood。
〃In　faith；　cousin；　the　cold　out　here　is　cold　enough　without　the　chill　of　family　rejection。　The　ride　from　my　father's　lands　taught　me　much　of　the　realities　of　life。　If　my　uncle　your　father　can　make　my　fortune　in　the　new　order；　then　it　behooves　me　to　listen　to　my　blood　…　and　especially　to　so　fair　a　kinswoman。〃
The　color　rose　in　her　cheeks　at　that；　but　she　dared　a　tiny　smile　as　she　returned　his　gaze。
〃Are　you　flirting　with　me；　kinsman？〃　she　asked；　dark　eyes　teasing　just　a　little。　〃We　are　first　cousins；　after　all。〃
Dhugal　decided　not　to　pursue　that　line；　though　he　let　his　eyes　sweep　her　face　in　frank　appraisal。　With　a　tiny　smile　of　his　own；　he　shrugged　and　merely　brushed　a　few　snowflakes　off　the　ruff　of　her　hood。　She　paled　a　little　and　stifled　a　nervous　giggle；　poised　to　flee。
〃Wh…what　are　you　doing？〃　she　whispered。
〃Why；　displaying　cousinly　concern　for　your　well…being；　my　lady；〃　he　answered　softly。　〃Did　you　not　plain　of　the　cold；　only　a　moment　ago？〃
〃Aye；　it　is　getting　colder。〃
〃Then；　allow　me　to　act　in　your　brother's　stead；〃　he　said；　taking　her　arm　and　gesturing　gallantly　toward　the　side　gate　…　which　also　brought　him　closer　to　the　unsuspecting　guards。　〃I　would　not　have　so　fair　a　flower　as　my　cousin　blighted　by　the　chill。　We　can　warm　ourselves　by　the　fire　in　the　bishop's　hall　and　have　something　hot　to　drink。。。。〃
He　had　kept　his　face　averted　in　his　hood　as　they　walked；　ostensibly　against　the　wind；　and　as　he　set　his　hand　to　the　gate　latch　and　deliberately　fumbled；　the　two　mounted　guards　moved　closer；　the　man　on　the　sorrel　dismounting　with　alacrity　to　give　assistance　…　for　he　recognized　Sidana；　and　thought　her　richly　cloaked　panion　to　be　her　royal　brother。　The　man　presented　half　a　dozen　open　targets　as　he　eased　importantly　between　princess　and　supposed　prince　and　bent　to　the　latch　…　and　likely　never　even　felt　the　dagger　which　Dhugal　filched　from　the　man's　own　boot…top　and　jammed　home　underneath　his　ribs。
Before　the　stricken　guard　did　more　than　wobble；　eyes　glazing　even　as　a　half…gasp　died　in　his　throat；　Dhugal　had　wrenched　the　man's　sword　from　its　scabbard　and　was　lunging　to　catch　the　startled　bay　by　the　reins；　twisting　the　bit　to　yank　it　deftly　to　its　knees　and　unseat　its　hapless　rider。　The　exertion　jabbed　fire　across　his　ribs；　but　he　ignored　the　pain　and　vaulted　into　the　bay's　empty　saddle；　grunting　as　the　animal　lurched　to　its　feet。　He　kicked　it　into　motion；　hunting　for　his　stirrups。　The　horse　squealed　and　lashed　out　with　battle…trained　heels　at　foot　soldiers　approaching　from　the　rear。　Sidana　finally　screamed。
He　ignored　her　cry；　for　others　were　scattering　and　screaming　all　around　him　as　well；　parting　before　the　plunging　greathorse　like　a　surging　human　tide。　The　bay's　former　rider　snatched　at　his　reins；　but　Dhugal　whirled　his　mount　on　its　haunches　and　sent　the　man　staggering　…　in　the　direction　of　the　snorting　sorrel。　Brutally；　Dhugal　kneed　the　bay　between　the　man　and　his　intended　prize；　knocking　him　to　the　ground　before　he　could　grab　the　dangling　reins　of　either　steed。　The　bay　tried　to　bite　him　while　he　was　down；　and　the　man　came　up　cursing　it　and　him　and　slashing　with　a　dagger；　trying　to　hamstring　horse　or　rider。
The　man　was　bellowing　for　help　now；　still　trying　to　catch　the　sorrel。　Dhugal　had　to　stop　him；　or　his　chance　was　lost。　Swooping　precariously　low　to　slash　at　the　man；　he　blocked　another　attempt　to　remount；　at　the　same　time　praying　that　the　animal　would　rear。　To　his　astonishment；　it　did。　The　descending　hooves　slammed　the　man　directly　into　one　of　Dhugal's　swordblows。　Blood　sprayed　from　a　hand…wide　gash　in　the　man's　neck　and　reddened　the　trampled　snow　as　his　body　disappeared　under　the　sorrel's　churning　hooves。　Sida