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ell 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 with the two young men following behind； Dhugal with his arm linked in Kelson's for stability。 When they had gotten the old man to bed and the gillie had gone； Dhugal sank down in a window seat and sighed； glancing up at Kelson with a tired grin。
〃Well； you certainly left your mark on Transha tonight。 The clan will be talking about you all winter … and speaking well； too。〃
Kelson smiled and leaned against the window embrasure； tossing his bonnet to the seat beside Dhugal。 The climb to the laird's chamber had finished clearing his head； and now the considerations of earlier in the evening came flooding back。 To have won the confidence of the clan was a fine thing； and part of what he had set out to acplish； but he still had not learned all he needed to know about Caulay's Mearan kin。 And if Ithel of Meara was plotting。。。
〃I wonder； will they speak well of me when they remember that I'm part Deryni？〃 he mused； trying to decide how best to approach what he wanted to ask。 However he phrased it； Dhugal was going to be either frightened or insulted。
Dhugal frowned。 〃What difference does it make？ And what makes you think of it now？〃
〃It isn't all a bad thing； you know … being Deryni；〃 Kelson continued； testing。 〃You saw that when I put that trooper to sleep so you could sew up his arm。 It does have its positive uses。〃
Dhugal swallowed with an audible sound； suddenly far more sober than he had been； not seconds before； all the gaiety gone。
〃Why do I have the sudden feeling that something very scary is about to happen。 You're warning me； aren't you？〃
〃Not … exactly。〃 Kelson glanced down at Dhugal's upturned face； then over at the sleeping Caulay。
〃Dhugal； I've never even been tempted to take unfair advantage of a friendship before；〃 he said softly； 〃but damn it … he hasn't told me everything he knows。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
Kelson shook his head。 〃Oh； I don't mean to imply a deliberate deception。 I think he just doesn't want to get involved … and one can hardly blame him。 Sicard is still his brother； after all。 Unfortunately； Sicard is also the father of a boy who may just try to take away my throne … and Caulay hinted of conspiracies at dinner； just before he clammed up。〃
〃Surely； you're not suggesting he'd keep such knowledge from you； if there really were a danger？〃 Dhugal asked。
〃I don't know；〃 Kelson replied。 〃I do know that your father has information I may need … and that I have the means to take it； if I must； without his knowledge and without hurting him。〃
〃With magic；〃 Dhugal supplied。 His face had stiffened to a taut mask as Kelson spoke； and now the honey…amber eyes reflected cold resentment； as well as a little fear。
〃Kelson； I can't stop you；〃 he continued； after a long； slow breath。 〃If that's what you're determined to do； there isn't a thing I can do to prevent it。〃
〃I know that。 That's why I'm asking if I may。 He wouldn't remember it；〃 Kelson added。 〃He need never even know I talked with him tonight。〃
〃And if you had to use what you learned against him？〃 Dhugal asked。
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