kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第62部分

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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；　you　keep　it；　in　memory　of　your　mother。〃
〃But　…　that　leaves　you　with　nothing　of　hers；〃　Dhugal　began。
〃It　leaves　me　with　everything；〃　Duncan　replied；　touching　a　fingertip　to　Dhugal's　cheek。　〃I　have　her　son。〃

And　in　another　chamber　not　far　away；　another；　spiritual　son　prepared　for　his　nuptials；　fretting　and　impatient　as　his　dressers　made　final　adjustments　to　his　wedding　finery。　The　velvet　of　Kelson's　full…length　crimson　cloak　was　powdered　with　scores　of　tiny　Haldane　lions　worked　in　fine　gold　bullion；　his　tunic　quartered　in　the　same　fabric　for　two　panels　and　its　reverse　for　the　other　two；　silk…embroidered　lions　of　scarlet　on　cloth　of　gold。　As　a　pliment　to　his　bride's　highland　ancestry；　he　had　bound　his　hair　at　the　nape　of　his　neck　with　a　golden　cord；　though　it　was　not　braided；　border…style。　A　golden　state　crown　of　crosses　and　leaves　intertwined　had　been　brought　out　of　the　vaults　of　the　castle　treasury；　said　to　have　been　worn　by　Malcolm　Haldane　at　his　wedding　to　another　Mearan　princess　nearly　a　century　before；　and　Kelson　ran　a　careful　finger　along　one　of　the　leaves　and　glanced　at　Morgan　as　the　dressers　packed　up　the　last　of　their　accoutrements　and　left。　Some　even　said　the　crown　had　once　belonged　to　Cinhil　Haldane；　perhaps　even　the　infamous　Festils　before　him。　If　it　had；　perhaps　Saint　Camber　had　seen　and　even　touched　it。
〃Do　you　think　I'm　doing　the　right　thing？〃　Kelson　asked　Morgan；　when　they　were　alone　at　last。　〃It　isn't　what　I　always　dreamed　of。　God　knows　…　a　marriage　of　state；　with　a　girl　I　hardly　know；　much　less　love。〃
〃Are　you　asking　for　a　reiteration　of　all　the　objective　reasons　why　the　marriage　should　take　place？〃　Morgan　countered。
〃God；　no！　We've　gone　over　them　so　many　times；　I　could　recite　them　by　rote；　in　voices　appropriate　to　the　councillors　who　made　each　particular　point。〃　Kelson　sighed。　〃I　suppose　I'm　really　asking　whether　you　think　there's　any　chance　of　real　love　creeping　in　amid　all　those　reasons　of　state。　I　know　objections　of　the　heart　have　to　e　second　to　duty　when　one　is　king；　but　I　can't　help　envying　what　you　and　Richenda　have。〃
Morgan　smiled；　remembering　his　own　fears　on　his　wedding　day；　even　though　he　and　Richenda　had　loved　one　another　as　only　Deryni；　who　had　shared　minds　and　dreams　and　fears；　could。　He　doubted　Kelson　would　ever　find　that　perfect　meshing　of　souls　with　the　human　Sidana；　but　who　could　say？　Couples　often　fell　in　love　after　marriage；　and　grew　to　cherish　one　another。　If　both　Kelson　and　Sidana　made　an　honest　effort；　their　union　should　not　be　too　oppressive。　And　with　peace　as　the　potential　prize　…　
〃I　won't　try　to　tell　you　that　I　know　you'll　live　happily　ever　after；　as　the　bards　would　have　us　believe；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　〃It　won't　be　easy。　On　the　other　hand；　Richenda　tells　me　that　your　princess　does　grow　wistful　about　you　on　occasion。　Of　course　Sidana　would　never　admit　that　she's　at　least　a　little　excited　about　your　ing　marriage　…　she's　far　too　proud　for　that。　But　she　is　a　beautiful；　healthy　young　girl　…　and　you　are　the　most　eligible；　puissant；　and　attractive　prince　in　all　Christendom。　How　could　she　not　find　you　desirable？〃
Kelson　blushed　furiously。　〃Alaric；　stop　that！　You're　putting　it　on　such　a　…　a　carnal　level！　If　she　can　e　to　love　me；　I　want　our　love　to　be　…　well；　spiritual；　like　yours　and　Richenda's。〃
〃Spiritual？〃　Morgan　snorted。　〃Kelson；　do　you　think　that　Richenda　and　I　spend　all　our　time　alone　discussing　the　spiritual　aspects　of　our　relationship。〃
〃Well；　I　…　〃
〃That's　a　part　of　it；　of　course；〃　Morgan　went　on；　〃but　I　assure　you　that　the　'carnal　level；'　as　you　put　it；　is　very；　very　nice；　as　well。　Don't　sell　your　body　short。　It's　a　part　of　who　and　what　you　are。　Lofty　love　is　well　and　good　for　monks；　and　a　healthy　measure　of　it　gives　marriage　deeper　dimension；　but　especially　with　a　human　wife；　where　you　won't　have　the　potential　for　such　sharing　of　minds；　you're　going　to　find　that　the　physical　act　of　love　is　a　very　special　means　of　munication　and　munion　in　itself。　And　of　course；　on　a　very　practical　level