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Dhugal grinned and nodded； turning his gaze idly back to the door。 〃I think so。〃 He paused a moment； then went on。 〃When do you think they'll e for us？〃
〃I have no idea。〃
〃Will they still want to burn us； do you think？〃
Kelson sighed。 〃I don't know that； either。 We can't allow that； though； even if we have to kill every one of them to prevent it。〃
〃Aye； you're right。〃 Dhugal stretched his legs out in front of him and sighed again。 〃I wonder if learning who you are will make any difference。〃
〃Do you really think they've even heard of me？〃 Kelson returned。
〃Don't be ridiculous。 Everyone's heard of Kelson of Gwynedd。〃
〃Not if they've been cut off from the rest of civilization；〃 Kelson replied； 〃and that's certainly possible； judging by what the countryside looked like； where you and I went into the river。 I have no idea where we are； but I can't imagine such a devotion to Saint Camber surviving； after all these years； in any place you or I have been。〃
〃Hmmm； that's probably true。〃
〃And remember the armor in the tombs？ Some of that looked old enough to be from Camber's time。 I don't know what we're dealing with； Dhugal； but it's different from anything we've ever encountered before。〃
Just how different was about to be made abundantly clear； as the bar lifted on the other side of the door and both young men scrambled to their feet。
〃Th' Quorial will see ye now；〃 said Bened…Cyann。 〃Ye'd best e quietly。〃
Sunlight flooded the room beyond； also revealing the bowmen； poised as before； and men waiting with ropes to bind their hands。
And in a royally appointed tower room at Rhemuth Castle； Rothana of Nur Hallaj waited for another binding…a band of polished gold to bind her finger； rather than ropes。 It was her wedding day； and at noon； she would marry Conall Haldane and bee Crown Princess of Gwynedd。
It would be soon。 She tipped her head backward as a tiring woman finished lacing the back of her pale damask gown； letting another put the final touches to her hair； unbound and shimmering nearly to her hips in a rich； blue…black ripple。 Tears started to well in her eyes； threatening to smudge the careful lines her little Jacan maid had painted at the base of her lashes to emphasize the long almond shape of her eyes； but Rothana sternly bade the tears recede。
She had cried enough in the past three weeks。 She had no tears left。 She had nearly made herself ill in the beginning； though she had dared tell no one the cause of her misery。 Father Ambros knew by now； of course； but he would tell no one。 Even he had agreed that her decision； while not the one that would have eased her heart； gave noble tribute to a lost love as well as to royal duty。
She reminded herself again that what she was doing she did by her own choice； for the sake both of Kelson's memory and of the kingdom whose queen he had asked her to be。 It helped； but only a little。 The day before； witnessed by Mother Heloise； she had signed the documents necessary for Archbishop Cardiel to release her from her vows…the last such formality。 Neither abbess nor archbishop had pressed her for her reasons； and she had volunteered none。 It would only have served to reopen wounds she was trying very hard to close。 Afterwards； with only Cardiel and Conall's mother and brothers present； she and Conall had exchanged betrothal vows； and he had given her a ruby ring。
〃It's time； my lady；〃 said Sylvie； her maid； bringing her coronet and veil。
The fragile silk was as pale as sunlight and nearly transparent； shot with fine gold； its circular hem picked out in tiny seed…pearls。 Queen Meraude had worn the veil to marry Nigel； nearly twenty years ago； and had given it to Rothana the night before； tears in her eyes； with the whispered hope that Rothana's marriage with Conall might bring even half the joy that Meraude had known in her marriage with Nigel。 Rothana would have preferred a less revealing veil done in the Eastern manner； such as that to which she was accustomed； but she would not have dreamed of adding to Meraude's grief by declining the gift。 The veil floated almost like spider silk as Sylvie let it settle over Rothana's head； just brushing her shoulders all around。 The coronet Sylvie set on her brow to hold the veil in place was the same she had worn for Kelson's knighting； but Rothana tried not to think about that。 She was about to bee a princess of Gwynedd and would one day be its queen。 She was wedding the land as well as its future king。
〃You look beautiful； my lady；〃 Sylvie whispered； holding up a mirror。 〃The prince will be so proud！〃
Rothana made herself smile and nod。
〃Thank you； Sylvie。〃
She glanced down at the ruby on her finger； the only jewel she owned save her coronet； and twisted at it nervously as she raised her eyes toward the room's single window。 A shaft of sunlight illumined the prie…dieu where she had spent so many hours in the past few weeks； and she stood up slowly； folding the front of her veil back from her face。
〃I'll be with you very shortly； ladies；〃 she said； moving toward it in a rustle of damask。 〃Please wait for me outside。〃
She sank down on the kneeler and crossed herself； bowing her head over clasped hands until she was sure they were gone and she was alone。 Only then did she pull the folded lump of a lace…edged handkerchief from her bosom and close it between her hands； fingertips pressed against her lips as she bowed her head again。
Dear； dear Kelson； she mused； closing her eyes to picture his face as she had seen it last； 'tis time to say good…bye。 You taught me that there is a duty beyond faith and brought me to love this kingdom you had loved so well。 You taught me the honor I might do it and you； 'by agreeing to bee its queen。 I set aside my own desires； and gladly； for the chance to rule at your side。
She opened her eyes and cocked her head with a sad wistfulness as she unfolded the linen square； uncovering Sidana's ring； and laid a forefinger across its circle。
And now you are gone； as she who first wore this ring is gone； and I can never be your queen； just as she can never be your queen。
But I can still be Gwynedd's queen； Kelson； as I told you I would be； and I can be a queen for our Deryni。 I think you would want that for this land。 Will you mind terribly if I am also Conall's queen； as well as Gwynedd's？ He needs me； Kelson。 And I think he is not made of the same stuff that you were made of； though I shall try to see that he does his best。
And so； farewell； my lord and my love。 I go now to wed a different Haldane than either of us had planned。 And if I am to be true to him； as I know you would wish； then I must say good…bye to what might have been。
She swallowed back the last tears； then rose； dry…eyed now； to move around the prie…dieu and into the window embrasure。 One of the hinged panes of the mullioned window was ajar； and she pushed it farther out。 The moat sparkled far below； sunlit and still； and she paused only to press the ring to her lips a final time before tossing it out in a long； curving arc； to disappear with hardly a splash。
When it was done； she closed the shields on her mind as she closed the window of the room； for she was not ready to share that intimacy with her husb