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her identity from her pany。 Even had the man at her side not worn a shoulder plaid of MacArdry tartan； Dhugal would have recognized the unmistakable stamp of kindred blood。 It could only be his black…sheep uncle； Sicard MacArdry； and the woman； the Pretender Caitrin。
〃Kinsman；〃 Dhugal murmured neutrally； in case he was mistaken； inclining his head in a polite bow。
White teeth flashed in the man's heavy beard and mustaches as he chuckled delightedly。
〃So； my brother's son has grown to manhood； eh？ We hear you gave His Excellency's escort a hard time； lad。〃
Dhugal merely inclined his head again。 〃I but did my duty to my father； sir。 As his heir； I could do no other。〃
The woman raised an eyebrow and glanced over at her husband； apparently pleased with his answer。
〃The boy speaks well； Sicard； and seems to know how to guard his tongue。 Perhaps blood will show him his new duty as well。 Will you introduce my nephew？〃
Sicard gave her a little bow and called Dhugal closer with a gesture。 Dhugal approached slowly； all too aware why they had sought him out。
〃An' it please my Liege Lady；〃 Sicard murmured； 〃I beg leave to present my brother's son。 Lord Dhugal MacArdry： heir to the Earldom of Transha and tanist of Clan MacArdry。 Dhugal； Her Royal Highness The Princess Caitrin of Meara。 If you are wiser than your father； I hope you will acknowledge her as your future liege。 Transha was once part of Old Meara； and shall be again； if the fates are kind。〃
Dhugal's heart was chilled by the implication； but it was only what he had expected。 Putting on what he hoped was one of his most wide…eyed and naive expressions； he took the hand Caitrin extended and brushed the knuckles with his lips in polite salute。 He could feel Istelyn stiffen behind him in disapproval。
〃I am honored to make your acquaintance； Lady；〃 he said； turning earnest eyes shyly upon her。 〃Often while I was growing up； I mourned the fact that my father's quarrel with his brother had robbed me of uncle and aunt and cousins。 I hope you will not hold his quarrel against me。〃
〃A wise lad；〃 she replied； taking him by the shoulders to formally kiss him on either cheek。 〃We shall talk more of this after your cousin Judhael's consecration tomorrow； if you port yourself as the well…bred lad you appear to be。〃 She drew back to glance at Istelyn； who returned her gaze stonily； then nodded to Loris。
〃I wish Lord Dhugal to have an honored place at the ceremony tomorrow； my Lord Archbishop。 He is family。 I wish him treated as such。〃
Loris bowed。 〃If the Lord Dhugal will give his word not to interfere with the proceedings； I am certain that can be arranged。 Highness。〃
〃Well； Dhugal？〃 She glanced at him pointedly。 〃Can we trust you to conduct yourself befitting your blood？〃
Dropping to one knee； Dhugal bowed his head and murmured his wholehearted agreement。 If that were all the oath required； he could give it in clear conscience … for his blood and honor bound him to his king and brother above all。 And by gaining their trust； he might yet escape to warn Kelson。
〃Swear on the Cross； then；〃 Loris said； not unexpectedly； starting to extend his pectoral cross for Dhugal to kiss； 〃Nay； on second thought； you shall swear on Istelyn's cross； lest you harbor some scruple about the one I wear。 Istelyn； attend。〃
As Loris snapped his fingers toward Istelyn and held out his hand； Dhugal thought the bishop might refuse at first … Istelyn was looking thoroughly disapproving at what must surely appear to be a defection。 But Loris' mand left no room for disobedience。 Defiance would only mean the taking of the cross by force。 Unlooping the chain from around his neck； Istelyn averted his eyes and held out the sacred relic。 Loris glanced at the kneeling Dhugal and plicated the matter。
〃I think Bishop Istelyn should administer the oath as well；〃 he said softly； seizing Istelyn's wrist and bringing the hand and cross down to Dhugal's eye…level。 〃Place your hand on this holy symbol and swear the oath to Istelyn； young Dhugal。 And know that if you are forsworn； you will bum in hell for your sin！〃
Dhugal's jaw dropped in very real misgiving； but he knew he had already made his decision as he laid his palm on the cross in Istelyn's hand： his first obedience was to God and the king； and that obedience superseded all other oaths which he might be required to make under duress。
〃Swear that you will take no action to disrupt tomorrow's proceedings；〃 Istelyn said softly； at Loris' impatient buffet of his imprisoned wrist。
The words were precisely what Caitrin had specified； and Dhugal thought he could still give his oath in good conscience。 Perhaps Istelyn had even recognized that the wording left room for interpretation。 But before Dhugal could bend to kiss the cross in confirmation； Loris' free hand clamped around their joined ones； pressing the metal of the cross cruelly into their flesh。
〃Swear also that you will make no attempt to escape；〃 Loris demanded。 〃Give me your parole； and you shall be accorded all the honor due your rank。〃
〃I swear it；〃 Dhugal murmured； dragging the words reluctantly from the depths of his soul as he raised frightened eyes to the rebel archbishop's。
〃Say the actual words of the oath；〃 Loris insisted。
Dhugal squirmed inside； but he had no choice but to obey。
〃I give my parole that I shall not attempt to escape；〃 he said steadily。
〃And that I shall do nothing to disrupt the proceedings 。。。〃 Loris prompted。
〃And that I shall do nothing to disrupt the proceedings；〃 Dhugal repeated。
〃So help me God。。。。〃
〃So help me God。〃
〃And may my soul bum in hell if I keep not this solemn oath … say it！〃 Loris ordered。
Chilled despite his intentions； Dhugal turned genuinely frightened eyes on Caitrin in appeal； but the woman only smiled and nodded。
〃And … and may my soul burn in hell if I keep not this solemn oath；〃 he managed to choke out。
〃Now kiss the cross；〃 Loris said； releasing his cruel grip。
Blindly Dhugal obeyed； adding his own fervent prayer that God would forgive him for taking the oath in vain。 He was shaking with the exertion the act had cost him as he stood； but Caitrin looked pleased and even Loris seemed satisfied。 Istelyn's expression revealed nothing as he put the cross back around his neck； meeting Loris' gaze defiantly as archbishop and then pretender turned their attention on him instead of Dhugal。
〃And what of you。 Bishop？〃 Caitrin said softly。 〃I am not so naive as to think you can be won as easily as my young nephew； but you shall be present at Judhael's consecration tomorrow。 Whether you attend in the honor due your station is up to you。〃
Istelyn bowed his head。 〃I will not be a party to any of this。 Lady。 I do not recognize the authority of this man whose escape you apparently have fostered … and you are foolish to think that the king will do nothing while you usurp his authority in his own lands。〃
〃Meara is mine； not Kelson's；〃 Caitrin answered。
〃It is a part of Gwynedd； and was lawfully joined to it generations ago；〃 Istelyn said stubbornly。 〃If you stand with this renegade priest； you join in treason against your lawful Lord。〃
〃History will decide whether it is treason；〃 Loris retorted； 〃just as history will