charge's side。 The man's almost uncanny ability in the field had mystified Kelson even in the old days； and Deryni perceptions gained since their last contact had added no further explanation。
〃Ciard。 I might have known；〃 Kelson muttered aside to Dhugal； as he returned his attention to the narrowing trail ahead。 〃I suppose next you'll be telling me he does it with that borderer Second Sight you mentioned yesterday。〃
〃Why； I thought your kind knew all about such things；〃 Dhugal replied with another chuckle。 〃You really needn't worry； though。 I personally guarantee my people's loyalty … though I should warn you not to be surprised if your wele seems a little cool at first。 Even if you weren't the king； you are a lowlander。 Both make you an oddity this far west。〃
And being Deryni makes me odder still； Kelson added in his own mind； pleting what Dhugal had not said。 Despite Dhugal's assurance； he could not suppress a faint itch between his shoulderblades。
The air tasted increasingly of salt as they approached the castle's outer defenses； and the gulls screeching overhead gave odd counterpoint to the dull clop of mud…clogged hooves and the muted jingle of harness。 Ewan and Conall followed directly behind； the rain…soaked Haldane standard flapping wetly against Conal's gloved hand and occasionally lifting enough on the rising wind to actually be read。 Dhugal had advised them not to furl it； so that there could be no mistaking their identity。 The rest of the warband also followed by twos； Ciard with one of Ewan's gillies and then Jodrell； Traheme； and the rest of the column … knights； squires； and servants。
They came within easy bowshot of the outer curtain before Kelson at last spotted lockouts manning the battlements high above； barely silhouetted against the grey sky。 Torchlight flickered at some of the arrow slits piercing the stone of the barbican gate； betokening human habitation there as well … a suspicion confirmed by Kelson's Deryni senses … but no one appeared at closer hand。 The column slowed almost to a stop as they neared the gatehouse。
〃They know who you are； but not why you're here；〃 Dhugal murmured； as the heavy doors swung outward and chains clattered on windlass drums； raising the heavy portcullis。 〃One can hardly blame them for being wary。〃
〃I suppose not。〃
As soon as there was headroom beneath the portcullis； Ciard kneed his pony past them with a scrambling of unshod hooves and jogged into the gatehouse passage； seizing a torch from a wall bracket before leading on across the drawbridge beyond。 He reined in and looked back as he reached the other side； gesturing for them to follow； and Dhugal set heels to his own pony at once。 Kelson glanced upward as he and the rest of the column followed Dhugal through the gatehouse； and was rewarded with a glimpse of a red…cheeked border face watching from a murder…hole high above。 The man gave a nod and touched two fingers to the front of his highland bonnet before disappearing； but Kelson sensed that the salute was as much for Dhugal as for him。
The hollow clatter of the horses' hooves on the drawbridge gave way to the more solid ring of steel on flint paving as they reached the other side of the ditch protecting the outer ward； and as they resumed climbing； Kelson reflected that if ever a castle had been designed to take all advantage of its natural defenses； Transha was it。 The road spiraling upward to the left rapidly became a steep； narrow killing zone； the seaward side sheering off in a heart…stopping plunge to the surf crashing far below。 On their unshielded right； the keep itself rose forty feet above their heads； the gaps along the crenellated wall providing easy vantage points from which to bombard an approaching enemy。 The way was wide enough for two border ponies side by side； but the Haldane greathorses were obliged to go single file。 Sea gulls swooped in for a closer look at the intruders； veering off with angry cries when a horse would snort or a cloak would flap。 The smell of the sea was strong； even when they had passed beneath a second gatehouse。
〃Bring light for the young master and his guests！〃 Ciard cried； turning his pony in a tight circle and waving his torch as the Haldane column clattered into the inner ward。 〃'Tis I； Ciard O Ruane。 Th' young master is home。 Where is Caball MacArdry？ Bring light； I tell ye！〃
His voice brought immediate response。 As torches flared all around the perimeter of the yard and voices began to buzz； a breathless stableboy came scurrying to take his pony。 Kelson sat his greathorse beside Dhugal and the spotted pony and watched Ciard stride toward them。 Behind them； the yard was filling with the rest of the Haldane warband； but Kelson signalled them to remain mounted before himself swinging to the ground。 Dhugal was already there to take his reins； giving both their animals over to Ciard before setting his hand under Kelson's elbow to guide him toward the stair leading up to the great hall。
〃Ho； Caball！〃 Dhugal called； as the door to the hall opened and a knot of tartan…clad men began to descend the stair。 Some of them had pulled an edge of plaid over their heads against the rain； and a few bore torches。 The leader wore the two feathers of a clan chieftain in his cap； and his bearded face split in a pleased grin as he came hurrying down to meet the unexpected visitors。
〃Master Dhugal！〃
〃My father's castellan；〃 Dhugal murmured aside to Kelson； as the men reached the bottom of the stair。 〃Caball； is all prepared to give fair guesting to the King's Majesty？ Sire； I present my kinsman Caball MacArdry； who speaks for the clan and The MacArdry。 How is my father； Caball？〃
〃The MacArdry's leal greeting。 Lord King；〃 Caball replied； touching his cap in salute and making his nod include his young master as well as his sovereign。 〃Dhugal； Himself will be heartened to see ye hame sae unexpectedly。〃 He returned his attention to Kelson。 〃We cannae offer more than simple border fare on sae short a notice； but The MacArdry looks forward tae greetin' ye himself； when ye hae refreshed yerself； an' extends his hospitality tae yerself an' yer men tae sup with him in his hall。〃
〃Please tell the MacArdry that I look forward to seeing him as well；〃 Kelson replied； inclining his head graciously。 〃I've not had that pleasure since he came to see me crowned； and Dhugal tells me he's not been well of late。 I'm sorry to hear that。〃
The castellan dipped his chin in clipped acknowledgment； rain dripping from his beard。
〃As for the fare；〃 Kelson went on with a disarming smile； 〃we've been in the field for several days。 Any hot meal and a roof over our heads will be most wele。〃
Caball seemed to unbend a little as he glanced back at Dhugal。 〃I think we can do that much for ye； sir … an' perhaps a mite better。 Dhugal； we'll bed th' King's Grace an' such others as he wishes in yer quarters。 The men can sleep in the hall with our own garrison； when supper's done。〃
〃Prince Conall will be with us； then；〃 Dhugal replied； looking to Kelson for confirmation； 〃and perhaps Jodrell and Traherne … or Duke Ewan； of course； unless they'd prefer to sleep with the men。 Will that be satisfactory； Sire？〃
〃Ewan of Claibourne？〃 Caball murmured； head jerking up to search the riders behind the king。 〃By yer leave； sir； I'll make th' rest of the arrangements with him。 Dhugal； take His Grace in out of the rain。〃
He and his henchmen were already moving past them before Kelson could do more than nod； border affinity for another highland man drawing the castellan instinctively toward Ewan's distinctive tartan mantle； his casual salute in Kelson's direction almost an afterthought。 Kelson was only bemused； used to the brusque manners of bordermen from his dealings with Dhugal and his attendants as a boy； but an affronted Prince Conall kneed his greathorse nearer the king in shocked outrage。
〃Do you intend to let him treat you that way？〃 he demanded in a loud stage whisper； bending beneath the dripping Haldane standard to peer at Kelson。 〃He dismissed you like a servant！〃
〃He asked my leave。 Don't make a scene；〃 Kelson warned； as he laid a hand on his cousin's reins。 〃The man has a job to do。〃
〃Yes！ To show proper respect for his overlord！〃
〃No disre