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er so long…can they？〃
〃I doubt it。〃
Morgan closed his eyes briefly； his gryphon signet pressed against his lips； then pulled Kelson's champion ring out of the front of his tunic and looked at it thoughtfully； dangling it on its leather thong。 Duncan； watching this； raised one eyebrow。
〃What is it？〃
Ruefully； Morgan shrugged。 〃Probably nothing。 I was just thinking how a person's essence permeates something closely associated with him； like this ring。 It won't do； of course； because it's here and Kelson is…somewhere else。 But maybe we could link into something one of them was wearing。 At least it would be a focal point to cast for…to find their bodies。〃
〃But if it worked； then we'd know；〃 Duncan replied。
〃Yes。〃
After a few seconds； Duncan scooted a little closer。
〃All right。 What did you have in mind？〃
〃I was afraid you'd ask that；〃 Morgan replied。 〃It has to be something they wouldn't have lost in the accident。 Maybe their Saint Camber medals。〃
Duncan shook his head。 〃I don't know if the medals would have a strong enough connection。 They hadn't worn them long enough。〃
〃Sidana's ring； then；〃 Morgan said。 〃Kelson hasn't been without that for the past year。 The emotional attachment ought to be strong enough。〃
〃That's true；〃 Duncan agreed。 〃Shall we cast for that； then？〃
Morgan sighed。 〃Might as well。 Do you want to call the men； or shall I？〃
For answer； Duncan tossed the rest of his ale on the fire and got to his feet。
〃Ciard； when you and Jass are finished； would you please join us？ We have some work to do tonight。〃
And in Rhemuth； she who most recently had worn Sidana's ring sat at her wedding supper and listened to her new uncle toast her and her bridegroom。
〃I drink to the bride； the fair Rothana；〃 Saer de Traherne said with a grin； lifting his cup in salute。 〃I wele her to our family； and I wish her and Conall many happy years； abundant good health； and a bonny son before a year has passed！ Slainte！〃
Rothana blushed and stared into her goblet as the toast was repeated and drunk； very aware of Conall's eyes upon her as he； too； drank。 Archbishop Cardiel； Bishop Arilan； Mother Heloise and a few of the other Sisters of Saint Brigid's； and half a dozen of Conall's friends and some of their wives had been invited to the modest wedding supper； so that perhaps two dozen were assembled to wish the couple well。 The feast was restrained； because of Nigel's mortal illness； but even Meraude had taken leave of his bedside for the afternoon and sat on Conall's other side in the queen's chair； making polite conversation with those around her。
More toasts followed Saer's； some of them increasingly ribald； but not long after that； as the sunlight turned long and slanted ing through the narrow windows； drawing toward dusk； Meraude sat forward in her chair and caught Rothana's eye； her near hand resting on Conall's forearm。
〃Well； it's been a long day for your bride； my son；〃 she said softly； smiling at Rothana； 〃and it promises to be a long night for both of you。 Daughter； shall we bid Nigel goodnight before I see you to your bed？〃
〃Of course； Maman；〃 Rothana whispered； keeping her hands steady as she set her goblet aside and rose with Meraude。 Fortified with wine； she was even able to set maidenly modesty aside enough to give Conall a nervous； self…conscious smile as she added； 〃I shall await your ing； my lord。〃
〃The wait will seem like eternity； my lady；〃 he murmured。 〃Until then。〃
But as he caught her hand and pressed his lips to her palm； lingering long enough to caress it with his tongue； she suddenly could feel the eyes of nearly everyone in the room upon them。
〃Not here； my lord； I beg you；〃 she whispered； the hot blood rising in her cheeks。 〃It…is not seemly。〃
〃Not seemly； to kiss my wife's hand in farewell？〃 he replied softly。
〃Really； Conall；〃 Meraude chided him gently。 〃Have a care for your bride's feelings。〃
Smiling； Conall released Rothana's hand and sat back； taking up his goblet again。 She could feel the power in him as his hand and then his eyes finally released her； and she was still blushing…and berating herself for it…as she let Meraude lead her gently from the room； the wedding guests all rising to drink her health again as she passed。
She thought about Conall as she followed Meraude up the stairs。 She had needed no Deryni abilities to sense his ardor。 That had been apparent from their first private conversation。 He had not yet been fully endowed with the Haldane powers then； so he had invited no true melding of their minds。 Nor； once he was so empowered； would she have suggested it； for such an intimacy would have been considered only marginally appropriate before they were married； despite what she and Kelson had shared。
But she had no reason not to trust Conall。 Repeatedly； the reasons he had given for his suit had stood the tests of her Truth…Reading； brief and seldom though those forays had been。 Conall desired her with mind and heart as well as body； and truly was determined to make her a loving； kind； and faithful husband。 And she； for her part； though her heart still mourned the loss of Kelson； found that her body was ing to answer the urgings that her mind found proper； for her own sake as well as the sake of the land and the young man； so like Kelson in many ways； who soon would be its king。
〃I think my son is very much in love with you；〃 Meraude said softly； linking her arm in Rothana's as the two of them reached the top of the stair and turned along the corridor that led toward her and Nigel's apartments。 〃You aren't too nervous about your wedding night； are you？ I know you had never intended to marry。〃
Rothana kept her gaze averted as Meraude opened the door to the royal suite and stood aside to let her enter。
〃Marriage has no aversion for me； Mamari；〃 she answered quietly。 〃It was not to escape marriage that I took vows with the sisters。〃
〃And yet；〃 Meraude said； cocking her head quizzically as she leaned against the closed door； 〃you chose ultimately to be Conall's bride rather than God's。 Understand that the oute pleases me more than I can say； my dear； especially with Nigel…〃
She broke off； a dolorous expression shadowing her face for an instant as she glanced farther into the darkened chamber where her husband lay； and Rothana gently laid a hand on her arm in passion。
〃I am so sorry； Maman；〃 she whispered。 〃I will try to be a good daughter to you。〃
Smiling bravely； Meraude lowered her eyes。 〃You could never be anything but a joy to me； Rothana；〃 she said； 〃though I must confess； I always thought it far more likely that you would one day be my niece rather than my daughter。〃
Folding her hands quietly before her； Rothana ducked her head； wishing the older woman were not so perceptive。
〃Had Kelson lived； Maman； that might well have been；〃 she said softly。 〃God did not will it so。〃
〃Then you were going to marry Kelson；〃 Meraude replied； sounding a little surprised。 〃Why； then； once he was gone； did you decide to marry Conall？ He's my son； and I love him； but it's a poor mother indeed who does not recognize her child's faults。 He may well turn out to be a fine man； but he is not Kelson。〃
〃Does it matter？〃 Rothana said bleakly； hugging