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gth of grey； black； and yellow。 MacArdry plaid was caught across his chest baldric style and secured at the left shoulder with a deeply chased silver ring brooch； and soft indoor boots of buckskin encased his feet in fort。 Instead of the golden circlet which would have adorned his head at any normal court function； he wore a border bonnet like Dhugal's。 His black hair made a borderman's braid shorter by a handspan than Dhugal's copper one； but that； plus the clothing； transformed the king from a polished young lowland noble into a darker echo of the chief's son。 Now； if only old Caulay would play along。
He began to hear the skirl of pipers tuning as he followed Dhugal down the newel stair and along the passage toward the castle's great hall … dissonant and whining at first； but then catching and carrying a traditional border air； one of the few he knew。 The music put a new spring in his step as he and Dhugal emerged near the entrance to the hall； and he could hear Dhugal whistling softly under his breath。
Border henchmen； servants； and a few Haldane men alike milled in the anteroom outside the open doors to the hall； but in Dhugal's pany； dressed as he was； no one paid Kelson any particular notice。 Seizing a torch from a fire…blackened cresset； Dhugal led him through the press and quickly through a nondescript wooden door just beyond the entryway； signing for silence as he continued up a steep； narrow intramural passageway which paralleled the great hall。 When Kelson judged them to be about halfway along its length； Dhugal stopped and uncovered two narrow squints cut at different angles in the stone； carefully holding his torch below and close to the wall to shield its light。 Using each squint in turn。 Kelson could see nearly all the length of the hall below； though the entrance and the dais at the other end were out of range。
〃It looks like most of your men who aren't on duty are already seated；〃 Dhugal murmured； gazing downward with Kelson。 〃You can see how they've all kept to themselves； though。 A lot is going to depend on how you're received。〃
Kelson nodded as he studied the hall。 Since； by border custom； all clansmen were more or less of equal rank； there were no separate arrangements for nobles and men…at…arms。 He saw Duke Ewan moving down the hall with a surly…looking Conall … to be seated at the high table； Dhugal assured him … but other than them； almost all the rest of the royal entourage seemed to be crowded on either side of a long table parallelling one side wall … carefully isolated。 Kelson noted； from the rest of the clansmen and their women。 Hospitality； it seemed； had its limits。
He was thoughtful as he followed Dhugal farther along the passageway and around a bend； the pipers' jig hardly intruding at all now on his thinking as he gazed through another squint looking toward the high table。 From there； he was able to survey everyone on the dias； including the Earl of Transha。
Caulay MacArdry had aged in the three years since Kelson last had seen him； but though time had robbed the old border chief of much of his mobility； it clearly had not touched his other faculties。 A gillie had to help him into his chair at the high table； for he could no longer walk without assistance； but the arms emerging from his fine saffron shirt were still corded with muscle； tanned nut…brown from the high summer sun and wind of the Transha highlands。 Kelson could see the muscles ripple as the old man hefted a full wineskin and drank unerringly from a stream of red without spilling a drop。
His wiry grey hair was drawn back in a borderer's clout and bound with a ribbon woven in the colors of his clan； but the full beard flowing onto his chest still showed a little of the chestnut gleam of his youth。 The brown eyes were clear and alert as he conversed with Duke Ewan； seated on the other side of Conall； at his left hand； but he kept glancing at the far end of the hall as if in expectation。
〃Is he looking for us？〃 Kelson asked softly； glancing aside at Dhugal。 〃Hadn't we better go on in？〃
〃Yes； but not in the way you're thinking；〃 Dhugal replied。 He grinned slyly as he seized a fold of Kelson's sleeve and drew him back into the passage。 〃Let's go。 Just follow my lead； and do what I do。〃
Soon they were emerging behind the screens which separated the kitchen from the dais in the great hall； Dhugal nudging the king through one of the bays to move with him among the gillies serving the high table。 The men deferred to their chief's son； but they hardly gave Kelson a second look other than to avoid running into him as he stuck to Dhugal's side。 They were too busy watching Conall； seated on the chief's left； and Jodrell； who had pulled up a stool at the end of the table to sit and speak to Ewan between them。 The old Duke of Claibourne had been readily accepted among them； for he came of the same clan system as themselves and understood their customs； but the others were lowlanders； like the knights and men…at…arms seated in the hall below。 Conall； defiantly aloof in court dress and the silver circlet of his rank； looked particularly out of place。
But Kelson sensed Dhugal's intentions now。 As the younger boy worked his way closer to the high table； gesturing toward the place of honor at old Caulay's right and easing onto the bench to the right of that。 Kelson controlled a smile and followed。 With casual nonchalance； he slipped into the place between Dhugal and the old man and leaned an elbow on the table； merely raising an eyebrow at a gillie who ducked between him and Dhugal to pour wine for both of them and started to question。
Some of his own men began to recognize him at that； however； and as more and more of them got to their feet with much clatter and scraping of wooden benches against stone floor； the motion caught old Caulay's attention。 As he turned to ascertain the reason for it； he was astonished to see a strange young borderman sitting at his right hand。 The pipers' skirling wheezed to a halt as all eyes turned toward the MacArdry chief。
〃The Haldane gives fair greeting to The MacArdry of Transha；〃 Kelson said gravely； inclining his head in respect as Caulay's jaw dropped。 〃My brother Dhugal bade me sit at your right hand； sir； and I am right honored to do so； for his father must be my father； since I have none anymore。〃
Stunned speechless； Caulay stared into the grey Haldane eyes as the buzz of questions grew among his people； seeing the strange mixed with the familiar。 The last Haldane old Caulay had seen had been a boy of just fourteen； on the occasion of his coronation。 The lad before him was young； but he was a man； with the frank； direct gaze of his other border chieftains。 As he glanced beyond the stranger at his son； Dhugal rose and came to kiss his father's cheek with a grin。
〃I've brought m'brother home tae sup with us。 Da；〃 he said in his broad border accent。 〃He would count it a great favor if ye could put his other rank aside for a night； for he would do honor to our house an' blood for sake o' the bond he shares wi' me。 Will ye n？？ greet him as a kinsman an' a son？〃
For an interminable instant。 Kelson feared that Caulay would not go along； that the close…knit bonds of border kinship would force him back into the royal role he was so often obliged to play。 But then the old man's face split in a pleased grin and he held out a huge hand to Kelson； the brown eyes warming。
〃Aye； and it's pleased that I am to see ye； son；〃 he said softly。 〃I left ye a boy； and ye've e back a man。 Will ye n？？ give yer old Da the kiss of peace？〃
Solemnly Kelson placed his hand in Caulay's and rose； inclining his head in proper salute； borderer to hosting chief； acutely aware of the eyes upon him。 When he bent to kiss the old man's cheek； however； a ragged murmur of approval rippled among the bordermen and the pipes struck up a dutiful salute； this time punctuated by drums。
It was not the most spontaneous of weles； but it was a start。 Pretending not to notice Conall's sour looks farther down the table； and the confused expressions on most of the rest of his retinue。 Kelson took his seat； smiling。 Brion would never have 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 wit