kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第77部分

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some　odd　sensations；　perhaps　even　some　unfortable　ones；　but　I　promise　I　won't　hurt　you。　To　start；　all　I　want　you　to　do　is　concentrate　on　the　crystal　and　try　to　seen　Maryse　in　your　mind's　eye。　Have　you　seen　paintings　of　her？〃
Dhugal　closed　the　crystal　in　his　fist　and　gave　another　nod。
〃One　miniature。　That　was　a　long　time　ago；　though。〃
〃Then　let　me　paint　a　picture　in　your　mind　with　my　words；〃　Duncan　said　softly；　closing　one　hand　around　Dhugal's　hand　that　held　the　crystal　and　resting　the　other　on　top　of　his　head　as　if　in　benediction。　〃Close　your　eyes　and　try　to　see　her；　in　as　much　detail　as　you　can　remember。　Don't　force　it；　though；　try　to　coax　it。　See　her　fair　hair；　like　molten　silver　flowing　halfway　down　her　back；　bound　across　the　brow　with　a　fillet　of　tiny　metal　flowers。。。　primroses；　I　think　they　were。〃
He　could　feel　Dhugal　relaxing　under　his　touch；　and　he；　too；　closed　his　eyes；　seeing　the　image　of　a　long…lost　love。
〃There　were　tiny　golden　stones　set　in　the　centers　of　the　flowers；　the　exact　shade　of　her　eyes　…　almost　the　same　shade　as　yours；〃　Duncan　went　on　quietly。　〃And　she　wore　a　gown　of　pink　that　matched　her　blush。。。　fair；　very　fair　skin。。。。〃
As　he　spoke；　gently　insinuating　thoughts　along　with　words；　he　could　begin　to　read　the　image　forming　in　Dhugal's　mind　as　well　as　his　own；　just　on　the　surface　at　first；　then　gradually　eroding　the　pulsing；　troublesome　shields。
〃She　had　a　laugh　like　silver　bells。。。　a　serenity　as　still　and　deep　as　the　lake　at　Shannis　Meer。。。。〃
Even　as　Duncan's　voice　trailed　off　and　he　tried　a　stronger　probe；　he　was　past　Dhugal's　shields　and　in　his　mind；　driving　the　memories　across　the　unconscious　links　and　into　Dhugal's　consciousness；　holding　the　channel　open　relentlessly　when　Dhugal　sensed　what　was　happening　and　would　have　drawn　back　in　momentary　panic。　He　felt　Dhugal　gasp　as　something　psychic　snapped；　but　he　damped　the　sharp　wrench　of　pain　which　followed　even　as　he　pulled　Dhugal　closer　and　gave　him　physical　fort。
All　in　an　instant；　all　the　barriers　were　down　and　Dhugal　was　with　him；　reliving　those　halcyon　days　with　Maryse。　Shy　meetings　in　corridor　and　castle　hall；　wind…blown　rides　on　the　downs　around　the　castle；　shared　meals　of　travel　fare　under　the　forest　canopy　of　nearby　Alduin；　tender　glances　and　shy；　chaste　kisses　in　the　warm；　earthy　shadow…space　between　their　ponies；　sheltered　from　prying　eyes　…　
And　then　the　clans　were　home；　the　awful　news　spreading：　how　Ardry　MacArdry；　tanist　of　Maryse's　clan；　had　quarrelled　with　a　McLain　retainer　over　a　tavern　wench　。。。　MacArdry　blood　spilling。。。　the　hangman's　noose　for　the　murderer　and　grim；　silent　escort　for　both　bodies　back　to　Culdi；　just　long　enough　for　the　MacArdry　to　gather　up　the　rest　of　his　family　and　go；　before　a　blood　feud　broke　out　anew。
Maryse's　panic　as　they　realized　the　personal　significance　of　what　had　happened。。。　Duncan's　despair。。。　defiant　agreement　in　a　castle　hallway　to　meet　in　the　chapel　later　that　night。。。　the　rendezvous　itself　…　desperate；　fearful　at　the　presumption　as　they　made　their　vows　before　God　alone。。。。
And　then　the　consummation；　in　a　warm；　sheltered　corner　of　the　stable　loft　…　hurried；　fumbling；　only　partially　satisfying；　but　joyous；　nonetheless。。。　and　parting　so　soon　after。。。　and　parting　for　good；　the　next　morning；　as　Duncan　watched　her　and　her　family　ride　out　of　Culdi　and　out　of　his　life；　neither　of　them　dreaming　that　she　carried　the　child　of　their　love。。。。
The　sheer　force　of　the　emotion　which　surged　with　Duncan's　remembrance　flooded　through　Dhugal's　mind　with　such　a　pressure　that　no　resistance　was　possible；　nor；　once　the　pathways　were　in　use；　did　Dhugal　feel　any　further　fear　or　apprehension。　Duncan　sensed　almost　the　exact　instant　when　Dhugal　made　that　conscious　choice　to　let　the　mindlink　fill　him　…　and　the　surge；　as　Dhugal　opened　to　his　father's　mental　touch；　gave　new　impetus　to　the　sharing　Duncan　now　pursued　even　more。
Sparing　only　the　areas　of　confidence　which　might　not　be　shared　with　anyone　…　his　priestly　secrets　and　duties；　the　confidences　of　others　…　Duncan　poured　forth　all　the　memories　of　the　years　he　and　Dhugal　had　lost；　intertwining　them　with　Dhugal's　own　…　sparser；　for　sheer　number；　but　no　less　potent　and　treasured；　for　his　part。　And　Dhugal；　once　he　sensed　how　it　was　done；　entered　joyously　in　the　sharing。
Neither　of　them　could　later　remember　at　what　point　Dhugal　had　lurched　even　closer　to　twine　his　arms　around　Duncan's　waist；　weeping；　or　when　Duncan's　own　joyous　tears　began　…　only　that；　when　the　sharing　at　last　began　to　ebb　and　normal　consciousness　gradually　intruded；　they　found　themselves　huddled　together　for　fort；　Dhugal　half　in　his　father's　lap；　Duncan　gently　stroking　his　son's　hair　and　soothing　as　he　withdrew　mental　contact；　the　old　barriers　gone　between　them。
〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Duncan　whispered　after　a　moment。
Sniffling　contentedly；　Dhugal　drew　away　far　enough　to　look　at　Duncan　and　nod；　dragging　a　sleeve　across　his　eyes。
〃My　head　hurts　a　little；　right　behind　my　eyes；　but　it's　probably　just　my　hangover。　It's　all　right。〃
〃Let's　see　if　I　can　make　it　better　than　all　right；〃　Duncan　murmured；　laying　his　hand　over　Dhugal's　forehead　and　touching　thumb　and　middle　fingers　to　the　quickly　closed　eyes。　〃Take　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out。。。　and　feel　the　pain　dissolving。　That's　right。〃
Only　the　lightest　of　healing　touches　was　required　to　ease　the　afterache。　Duncan　could　read　it　across　the　light　rapport　between　them　as　easily　as　he　could　read　Morgan；　when　they　worked　together。　As　he　withdrew　his　hand；　Dhugal　opened　his　eyes　to　stare　at　him　in　awe。　This　time；　all　shadow　of　disfort　was　gone　from　behind　the　almond…amber　eyes。
〃Was　that　your　healing　magic？〃　Dhugal　asked。
〃Just　a　little；〃　Duncan　smiled。　〃And　if　you　don't　get　off　my　leg；　I'm　going　to　have　to　heal　a　terminal　muscle　cramp；〃　he　added；　shifting　Dhugal's　weight　and　wincing　as　circulation　started　to　return。　〃I'm　afraid　we　didn't　plan　this　very　well。　I　should　have　made　you　more　fortable。〃
Awkwardly；　and　almost　a　little　embarrassed；　Dhugal　staggered　to　his　feet；　weaving　a　little　until　Duncan　guided　him　back　to　the　edge　of　the　chair。
〃I'm　only　a　little　wobbly；〃　Dhugal　protested。　〃I'll　be　fine。　Kelson　must　be　waiting　for　us；　though。　I　can　hardly　wait　to　tell　him。〃
〃I　…　think　we'd　better　wait　until　after　the　ceremony　for　that；〃　Duncan　said；　steadying　him　by　the　shoulder。　〃Your　first　instinct　was　very　good。　He　has　a　few　other　things　on　his　mind　right　now。　This　will　keep。〃
〃But；　aren't　we　late？〃
Duncan　shook　his　head。　〃What　we　did　took　far　less　time　than　you　think。　You've　got　time　to　catch　your　breath。〃
〃Oh。〃　With　a　shy　grin；　Dhugal　let　himself　relax　a　little；　then　impulsively　snatched　up　Duncan's　hand　and　pressed　it　to　his　lips。
〃Father；〃　he　whispered　wonderingly。　〃You　really　are　my　father　…　and　that　means　I'm　Deryni；　too。〃　He　paused　to　swallow。　〃Do　you　know　that　I　wished　about　the　Deryni　part；　that　first　time　I　saw　Kelson　use　his　powers？　He　put　a　man　to　sleep；　so　that　I　could　sew　up　his　arm。　I　thought　was　just　dreaming　at　the　time；　but　was　I　starting　to　realize；　even　then？〃
〃Perhaps；〃　Duncan　answered　gently。　〃I　expect　your　skill　with　horses　probably　es　from　that；　too。　Bronwyn　used　to　call　the　birds。　Maybe　you'll　even　make　a　healer　some　day。〃
〃Me？　A　healer？　Oh；　but　I　could　never　learn　it　all。　It　must　take　years。〃
〃We'll　have　the　years　now；〃　Duncan　murmured。　〃We'll　be　given　the　time　and　the　teachers。　You'll　be　amazed　at　how　fast　some　of　the　skill　es；　once　you　know　what　you　are。　And　Alaric　and　I　can　teach　you　what　we　know　…　　and　Richenda。〃
〃Lady　Richenda　is　Deryni？〃
〃Aye；　and　trained　in　a　far　different　tradition　than　Alaric　and　I　were。　You'll　enjoy　getting　to　know　her。〃
Dhugal　blushed。　〃If　she'll　ever　speak　to　me。　Do　you　think　Duke　Alaric　told　her　what　I　said　about　her　last　night？　I　didn't　mean　it　the　way　it　sounded　…　honestly。〃
〃I　know　you　didn't；　son。　And　if　Alaric　has　told　her；　I'm　sure　she　hasn't　taken　offense。　Speaking　of　Alaric；　however；　I　think　it　probably　is　time　to　join　him　and　Kelson　now。〃
〃Aye；　and　see　our　king　properly　married！〃　Dhugal　agreed。　He　remembered　the　shiral　as　he　stood；　and　touched　it　to　his　lips　almost　reverently　as　he　held　it　out　to　Duncan。
〃Here。　You　probably　ought　to　have　this　back。〃
〃No；　y