kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第67部分

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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　and　looked　up　with　a　grin　that　was　only　a　little　strained。
〃Well；　if　you　put　it　that　way；　I　suppose　it's　time　I　finished　putting　on　the　badges　of　my　rank；　don't　you　think？　Can't　make　you　an　earl　without　them；　you　know。〃
〃Certainly　not！〃　Dhugal　retorted；　picking　up　the　cue。
They　continued　to　banter　on　that　level　all　the　while　Kelson　finished　dressing；　and　even　up　to　the　very　doors　of　the　great　hall。


CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN
And　I　shall　even　betroth　thee　unto　me　in　faithfulness。
Hosea　2：20
Christmas　Court：　The　tang　of　evergreen　and　cedar　in　Kelson's　nostrils　…　more　pungent　scent　of　pine　knots　dipped　in　pitch；　lighting　his　way　through　the　packed；　murmuring　hall。　Silver　trumpet　voices；　a　flourish　of　drums。　Bright…clad　forms　giving　him　obeisance　as　he　moved　among　them；　rows　of　courtiers　in　holiday　finery；　some　lightly　armed；　ladies　bright　and　graceful　as　songbirds。
As　on　most　great　feast　days；　he　wore　the　jewelled　state　crown　of　his　coronation　rather　than　the　simpler　circlet　of　gold　he　usually　favored。　His　black　hair　fell　loose　on　his　shoulders。　A　belt　of　gilded　leather　girded　his　father's　sword　at　his　waist；　a　jewel…encrusted　sceptre　lay　cradled　in　the　crook　of　his　left　arm。　Before　ascending　the　dais　to　the　canopied　chair　of　state；　he　passed　to　the　left　where　the　bishops　waited　and　knelt　briefly　for　Bradene's　Christmas　blessing；　hoarding　the　brief　peacefulness　as　he　took　his　throne。
It　was　to　be　the　only　island　of　calm。　No　sooner　was　he　seated　than　the　drums　rolled　to　mand　attention　to　a　herald　who　proclaimed　the　opening　of　Christmas　Court。　The　loyal　greetings　of　his　vassals　followed　…　mostly　a　rapid　blur。　Head　inclining　to　acknowledge　their　bows；　hand　extending　to　receive　the　brush　of　lips　in　homage；　murmured　words　of　thanks；　of　inquiry　after　their　families　and　lands；　each　man　replaced　by　the　next　in　rapid　succession。
He　brightened　at　the　unexpected　approach　of　Derry　…　for　he　had　not　known　the　young　lord　was　ing　to　Christmas　Court　…　then　rose　to　kiss　the　smiling　Richenda's　hand　when　Morgan　brought　her　forward；　suddenly　understanding　Derry's　presence。　Still；　one　presentation　ran　into　the　next　all　too　quickly；　the　pace　slowing　only　when　Dhugal　came　forward　to　be　invested。　And　even　that　sped　by　too　fast　to　really　savor。
Border　plaids　and　braids　and　silver…mounted　dirks；　the　skirl　of　pipes。　Dhugal　kneeling　before　him。　Words　of　condolence　for　the　death　of　the　old　earl；　wele　for　the　new。　The　act　of　homage　and　oath　of　fealty；　Dhugal's　hands　between　his　own。
Dubbing　with　the　great　sword；　bright　line　of　silver　gleaming　between　them　…　and　girding　Dhugal　with　another　sword；　DhugaTs　own；　on　the　gilded　belt　of　his　earldom。。。。
〃With　this　sword　defend　the　defenseless　and　punish　evil；　always　remembering　that　honor；　like　the　sword；　has　two　edges：　justice　and　mercy。。。。〃
The　presentation　of　banner　and　cauldron：　tokens　of　Dhugal's　authority　to　lead　in　war　and　his　duty　to　feed　and　support　his　vassals。。。　and　the　vesting　with　the　ring　and　coronet。
〃Though　its　worth　in　precious　metal　is　token　of　thy　rank　and　dignity；　let　its　weight　also　remind　thee　of　thy　duty；　and　of　the　responsibility　which　thou　sharest　now　with　us。　Arise；　Dhugal　MacArdry；　Earl　of　Transha；　and　stand　at　our　right　hand；　among　our　other　well…beloved　and　trusty　counsellors。〃
Pipers　had　skirled　again　in　spirited　interlude　as　Dhugal's　clansmen　paraded　him　around　the　hall　on　their　shoulders；　chanting　a　border　salute；　but　all　too　soon　the　maelstorm　began　anew。
The　Mearan　herald　ing　forward；　courteous　in　his　own　demeanor；　but　delivering　words　of　defiance　in　behalf　of　his　mistress　…　spurning　the　offer　of　clemancy；　abandoning　the　royal　hostages　to　their　fate。
And　Istelyn's　bloody；　waxen　head　displayed　aloft　by　a　handful　of　matted　hair；　stark　declaration　of　the　fate　of　any　man　who　broke　faith　with　Meara。
And　even　then　it　did　not　stop。　The　hall　erupted　to　howls　of　outrage　and　shouted　threats　of　retribution。　Several　women　fainted。　More　than　one　of　Kelson's　retainers　had　to　be　forcibly　restrained　from　taking　out　his　fury　on　the　herald　before　the　man　was　whisked　away　into　protective　custody。　When　king　and　chief　advisors　had　retired　to　the　privacy　of　the　council　chamber；　reaction　exploded　even　more　heatedly。　Too　stunned　and　sick…at…heart　even　to　think　about　what　he　was　going　to　do　next。　Kelson　sat　with　his　head　in　his　hands　and　merely　shut　out　everything　for　several　minutes；　letting　the　others　get　the　anger　out　of　their　systems；　only　looking　up　when　Bradene；　close　on　his　left；　called　him　repeatedly。
〃Sire？　Sire；　I　beg　of　you！　I　am　not　a　vengeful　man；　Sire；　but　this　is　an　unforgivable　affront；〃　Bradene　was　saying；　twisting　his　pectoral　cross　in　nervous；　agitated　hands。　〃Surely　there　is　no　longer　any　question　of　marrying　a　Mearan！〃
〃If　I　don't　marry　her；　my　only　other　choice　is　to　kill　her；〃　Kelson　said　wearily。　〃Would　you　have　me　vent　my　anger　against　an　innocent　hostage？〃
〃Innocent？〃　Jodrell　snorted。　〃Since　when　did　the　guilt　or　innocence　of　hostages　have　anything　to　do　w