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Even so； it was one of the most difficult shams Dhugal had ever had to maintain…for he had seen the king go down； and the deadly glitter of a dirk above him。 He had not been able to see what part of the weapon touched Kelson； or where； but the king had ceased struggling immediately。
Heartsick； Dhugal prayed that they had not killed him and concentrated all his energy on trying not to react to the tears scalding behind his closed eyelids。 Though he longed to explode in one last burst of defiance； he knew it would not help Kelson…if anything could…and would only get him roughed up more and possibly killed。 Alive； Dhugal might eventually be able to talk his way out…though the men's shouts of sacrilege and thievery did not bode at all well for their willingness to listen。
Nonetheless； Dhugal managed to maintain the charade of unconsciousness while they continued to search him。 Thinking him oblivious made his captors garrulous； too； though they spoke a quick； oddly inflected dialect of which he could understand hardly one word in ten。 A word that he did catch was； 〃Rightire；〃 as they discovered his golden spurs…surely a close cognate to the border word for knight。 They removed the spurs； as he had known they must…for spurs could be used as a weapon； aside from the value of this particular pair…and then； apparently as an after…thought； they started on the boots themselves。
Removing the boots； with no care for his injured ankle； nearly made Dhugal swoon in earnest； but he knew it was reasonable from their viewpoint to reduce the likelihood of his escape。 Barefoot and unarmed in what must be rugged mountain country； they would know he could not go far。 They also stripped off his leather jerkin； leaving him with only shirt and breeches against the cold。
That enabled them to find his Saint Camber medal and the shiral crystal that had been his mother's； both of which they took。 They had already divested him of his MacArdry signet。 After that； they rolled him onto his stomach and drew his arms high behind him。
In this； too； they knew what they were doing； for they lashed his wrists with the hands back to back and took an extra turn around his thumbs； so that it would be impossible for him to lower them even to waist…level； much less use them to untie his bonds。 The manhandling made his wrist ache； even though he had thought it nearly healed； but he was able to bear that pain。 It was his ankle that made him groan； as they bound his legs at ankles and knees and pulled his feet toward the small of his back； passing an end of the rope from his feet； under his wrist bonds； and around his neck； so that if he tried too hard to move he would choke himself。 And when； at length； two of them rolled him on his side and hoisted under his back to carry him off； the rope tightened across his throat and he did pass out。
The distant； muffled murmur of voices pricked Dhugal back to awareness。 Groggy； still half choking from the rope around his neck； he came to his senses in a small； semi…darkened room； lying on his left side and with his face pressed against a mat of woven rushes； fresh and fragrant。 A gag bit across his cheeks； not making it any easier to breathe； and his left shoulder was so numb from pressure on the unnatural angle caused by his bonds that he whimpered a little in the back of his throat from the movement it cost to ease the rope … though at least his head cleared after a few seconds。
And his next thought； with his own immediate condition stabilizing； was for Kelson。 The room was not totally dark… a little light leaked in from under a door not far away； beyond which the voices continued to converse…but Dhugal could see little else from his present angle。 He nearly choked himself again； trying to rear up on his hip for a look around； and had to arch his back and roll on his stomach in the end； so that he could twist his head to see the rest of his surroundings。
A similarly trussed Kelson was lying on his side not far away； however； eyes closed but breathing shallowly。
Thank God！
Immensely relieved； Dhugal eased his chin back down to rest on the matting and closed his eyes； his feet in the air； giving himself as much slack as possible on the rope around his throat。 He must evaluate their new situation。
First of all； and on the positive side； he seemed no worse injured than he had been since this whole misadventure began…though he did not know whether he could say the same for Kelson。 The king appeared to be unconscious； and being hit on the head again would not have done his original concussion any good。
Also on the positive side was the fact that the two of them had gorged on the bread and ale they found in the last tomb。 That would not make them any more popular with their captors； who already believed them to be tomb robbers and desecrators of sacred ground； but Dhugal could feel new strength coursing in his veins already； as his body greedily took nourishment from what he had eaten。 He would have preferred something with more substance than bread…like a haunch of venison； or a brace of partridges； or at least a pigeon pie or something else to stick to the ribs。 But after days of nothing but water； fish； and wine…and only wine； recently…the bread had been like manna from heaven。 Nor had the ale fuzzied his perceptions； soaked up by all the bread； so he would not have to use precious energy to neutralize the effect of the alcohol。
Another effect of the ale； more annoying than really troublesome…and one for which he had no realistic solution； at least for now…was that his bladder was filling。 Nor was there any way to relieve himself in a genteel manner； trussed as he was like a spring lamb ready for slaughter…an apt imagery for Lent； he supposed； if indeed Lent was not already past； for he had no idea how long he and Kelson had wandered underground。 His condition was not yet urgent； but it would bee more and more of a distraction as the hours wore on。
Very well； then； he must get free…though to tend the injured Kelson and get them both out of here； rather than for any point of false vanity。 Escape just might be possible； if he were given the time to work on the problem…for the sounds outside the room were winding down； their captors apparently getting ready to turn in for the night。 Dhugal judged that it must have been early evening when they were captured and so guessed that no disposition would be made of them until morning…though he did not want to think about what that disposition might be if they could not convince their captors of their benign intentions。
So； which to try first？ To get free of his own bonds or somehow to worm his way to Kelson's side and see whether he could do anything to ease him？
He had decided to run a fatigue…banishing spell first； then see if he could summon enough power to work his bonds loose。 He was working on the former when the door opened； laying a stripe of golden light across him from behind。 quickly blocked by several silhouettes。 He stiffened minutely； immediately realizing he could hardly feign to be unconscious still； with his feet in the air above his back； then rolled awkwardly onto his side with a muffled grunt of pain to see who had e in。 Two of the men looked famil