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〃Nah； on second reflection； Conall would n？？ do；〃 Caulay went on more soberly。 〃She would n？？ be happy with the likes o' him … though methinks yer young cousin has ambitions o' his own。 Power can be a great temptation； son。 But I need n？？ tell ye about that； do I？〃
Surprised； Kelson glanced at Conall and then back at Caulay。
〃Conall？〃
〃Ach； I dinnae mean to cast a shadow on yer cousin； lad。 But Sidana is a fair marriage prize； an' could give her husband a fair claim to Meara。 With the right persuasion； from the right man； her brothers might even be moved to abandon their claims。〃
Kelson chuckled grimly and shook his head； running a finger along the rim of his cup。
〃I'm trying to avoid that kind of persuasion； Caulay；〃 he said softly。 〃I don't want to have to march into Meara the way my father and grandfather did； and solve things with a sword。 But I don't intend to give up what's lawfully mine； either。〃
Caulay's bearded face clouded and he dropped his gaze to stare into the depths of his goblet。 〃That may be the only way； son；〃 he whispered darkly。 〃Young Ithel wants a throne。 He won't be content to rule over an exile court in Laas； once his mother is gone。〃
〃You speak as if that might be imminent；〃 Kelson breathed； gently reaching out to read the truth of Caulay's words。 〃Is Ithel plotting something？〃
〃I dinnae know particulars； I dinnae care to know。〃 Caulay took a long pull at his wine and shook his head。 〃It's only some rumors I've heard。 What young man does not have ambition？ I dinnae care to say more。〃
Chilled； Kelson nudged his cup aside and stared at Caulay。 The old man was telling the truth； as far as he went； but what were the rumors he had heard？ If Ithel of Meara was actively plotting a revolt。。。
〃I need to know； Caulay；〃 he murmured； as he touched his wrist and started trying to Mind…See。 〃If you know something … 〃
〃I know nothing！〃 Caulay whispered； eyes flashing as he yanked away his wrist。 〃An' if ye press me for nothing； then … 〃
The skirl of pipes began outside the hall just then； and Caulay broke off and shook his head apologetically； taking another deep draught from his cup。 While Kelson searched for a tactful way to reapproach the subject； two pipers marched in from the far end of the hall； preceding a white…robed old man brandishing two evergreen boughs like bushy swords。 Conversation died away as they entered； even the rowdier of the clansmen putting aside their cups to brush caps in salute as the old man passed。 The women standing curtseyed； and even the children serving table stopped where they were to render appropriate respect。
〃Kinkellyan； the chief bard；〃 Dhugal murmured in his ear； as the old man came between the two pipers and continued toward them。 〃This could be very important。 Stay seated for now； but pay very close attention。〃
As the man reached the lowest step of the dais and stopped； crossing the boughs over his head in salute as he bowed； the music ended and Dhugal stood； raising a cup in answering salute to the man in white。
〃Bright moon and starshine on thy path； noble bard。 The MacArdry and all his kin wele Kinkellyan to the hall of Transha。〃
The old man inclined his head and murmured a phrase Kelson did not quite catch； sweeping the narrow boughs in his hands to either side as if to open an embrace。 Kelson thought he had heard his name； but he could not be sure。 Dhugal replied with an answering phrase in the border tongue； then bowed and glanced at his father。 Old Caulay seemed to have forgotten his previous agitation； and bowed low over his place at table as he； too； raised his cup in salutation。
〃Kinkellyan offers you his bardic blessing and asks that you be afforded the enduring friendship of the clan；〃 Dhugal murmured to Kelson out of the side of his mouth。 〃The MacArdry has accepted on your behalf。 Stand up and bow； and then do whatever seems appropriate after Kinkellyan and I have finished。〃
As Kelson obeyed； Dhugal bowed to his father and left the table； descending the dais to enthusiastic hammerings of fists on tabletops by all his kinsmen。 Kelson's men looked mystified； except for old Ewan。
In slow； almost ritual mime； Dhugal took the boughs from the old bard and bowed again； then crossed them in saltire above his head and pivoted slowly on the balls of his feet until he faced Kelson； bending to lay them that way on the floor as the pipers skirled a few introductory bars。 The tempo changed as he straightened and set his hands on his hips； rising again on the balls of his feet； and Dhugal began to dance。
Kelson felt his own feet stir as he watched； for the pipes seemed to beckon almost magically。 For just an instant； as Dhugal moved from the first quarter to the second； his eyes locked with Kelson's in a linking so profound that memory surged across the link almost as surely as if Dhugal； too； had been Deryni and deliberately sent his thought winging into Kelson's mind … the two of them； half a lifetime ago； facing one another over crossed swords； not evergreen boughs； treading out the measures of the dance Dhugal now performed as it was meant to be done。 All at once Kelson knew what Dhugal had meant … do whatever seems appropriate … and he found himself edging out from behind the table and down off the dais to where Dhugal spun and leaped。
The pipers never faltered as the king came onto the floor。 Kelson could sense the expectation of the audience all around； some pleased； some thoroughly mystified； but the old bard looked not at all surprised； though he raised a white eyebrow。 Dhugal was just finishing the first set of measuring steps around the ends of the boughs； pivoting and rocking； with first one arm and then the other raised above his head； but when he saw Kelson ease into the quarter which was about to be opposite him； he grinned and gave a nod； setting balled fists on his hips to repeat the first set as he pleted the figure。 Kelson caught the very first step of the repeat by letting his feet carry him as they had so many years before； mirroring Dhugal a little stiffly at first； but then with growing confidence as those in the hall； clansmen and lowland knights alike； looked on in astonishment。
As they shifted into the next set of figures； beating out a more emphatic rhythm as they danced within the quarters instead of all around the edges； feet never touching the branches。 Kelson could sense that throbbing link again； melding his movements with Dhugal's。 With rare abandon； he let his world shrink down to flying feet and evergreens and Dhugal's joyous grin。 He was only dimly aware when the men and women around them started clapping and stamping in time to the music； urging them on； sharing the magic which had nothing to do with being Deryni。
Kelson was panting with exhaustion by the time they began the final set of figures； but he did not falter； springing lightly from quarter to quarter； heel and toe； until finally the rhythm changed； the music ebbed to a single sustained note； and he and Dhugal were bowing to one another on opposite sides of the evergreen cross； hands set on hips。 The hall went wild。
The clansmen and their women continued to cheer as the two grinning young men half…collapsed against one another； both of them gasping for breath。 Other than Ewan； most of Kelson's other retainers looked stunned； though a few had relaxed enough to join in good…naturedly； not the least of whom was Baron Jodrell。 Conall sat sullenly between him and Ewan； his arms folded and lips set in grim disapproval； but at the center of the table the MacArdry chief was beaming； his earlier agitation apparently forgotten。 As Dhugal and Kelson stumbled up the dais； arm in arm； he held out a newly filled cup in both hands。
〃Air do slainte！〃 he cried； the others taking up the shout as Dhugal and then Kelson drank deeply from the cup。 To your very good health！
The cheering subsided as Dhugal held up an arm for silence； and he was still a little breathless as he turned Kelson to face his people； one arm still around the king's shoulders。
〃Kinsmen； this is my foster…brother。 Kelson；〃 he said with a grin。 〃As you can see； he is a brother of our blood； as well as one of my choosing。 That he is also my king is a great joy to me； and I freely give him my allegiance as lord as well as brother and kinsman。 Will you honor him the same； for my sake？〃
The renewed shouting and cheers were all the confirmation Dhugal needed。 As Kelson stood back； pleased； still panting from the exertion of the dance and wondering just how he had managed to bring them around … these dour mountain folk who were usually so slow to admit a lowlander to their midst … Dhugal turned and knelt at his feet； slipping his joined hands between Kelson's and touching them to his forehead in homage。
In ragged succession； Dhugal's borderers joined him in salute； sinking to one knee in their places。 A few even smiled； inasmuch as any borderer did when obliged to follow lowland custom。 A handful remained dour and grim； but all of them knelt。 The rarity of the concession was not lost on Kelson。
〃My brother； I thank you；〃 Kelson said； smoothly raising Dhugal and signalling the rest of them to rise。 〃And to you； my border kinsman； my profound thanks as well。 Please believe that I understand the honor you have done me。 And if there be some of you who yet have your doubts about this upstart lowland lord who es among you； I cannot blame you。 Nor will I try to change your opinion by my words。 My actions； I hope； will speak for me； in that I shall always strive to be your true and gentle lord。〃
His own men pounded on the tables in approval； but Kelson held up his hand again for silence。
〃But though I be lowland born； yet am I a borderer like yourselves； by choice and chosen blood； as my brother Dhugal has said。 I would assure you； therefore； that whenever possible； I shall place the considerations of the clan above my own concerns； an' it be not against the interests of the other folk I have sworn to protect and defend。 In token； therefore； I ask that you host me not as king tonight； but as kinsman； and that you join with me in toast to our noble chief： The MacArdry … long may he guide his children in peace and plenty。 Air do slainte！
It was the one border phrase Kelson could remember； and he blessed old Caulay for having refreshed his memory earlier； but it produced the desired response。 This time there was no restraining the men of Transha。 The hall erupted in echo of the traditional border toast； even the most dour of the old chieftains raising their cups with more thoughtful expressions。 Soon the pipers struck up another dance tune and the floor filled with other dancers eager to tread a few steps with their new young kinsman。 Some of the girls were very pretty。 Kelson answered their first few invitations with laughing good humor and an honest attempt to follow； but the dance with Dhugal had exhausted both his knowledge and his energy。 He soon had to bow himself out and retreat to the safety of his place by the chief。 Dhugal remained on the floor。
Caulay was jovial pany for what remained of the evening； but he downed three cups of wine to every one of Kelson's and quickly began to show the effects。 Any serious return to their discussion was impossible under the circumstances； so they were soon reduced to rambling exchanges about the dancers； Dhugal's escapades and prospects for the future； and an increasingly maudlin tendency on Caulay's part to dwell on his failing health。 By the time people began falling asleep at table and bedding down in the hall for the night。 Kelson had managed to diminish the effect of his own alcoholic consumption to a dull buzz； but Caulay was on the verge of passing out。 Dhugal was less steady on his feet than Kelson； but not really drunk； either。
〃I think he's about had enough； don't you？〃 Kelson murmured； when Dhugal returned to the table to refill his cup during a piper's slowly skirled lament。
Dhugal looked down at his father； steadying himself on the edge of the table as he watched old Caulay bobble and grin； then signalled to a gillie who towered at least a head and a half above either him or Kelson。 The man scooped up his chief with no more effort than Kelson might have picked up a three year old； and carried him tenderly out of the hall and up the newel stair