按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
re that Conall's bastard is never born。〃
The threat brought Morgan up short； for he knew Arilan could and would do it； if pressed。 Nor； glancing at the astonished…looking Duncan； was there any doubt that Duncan believed Arilan would do it。
Further resistance was futile。 Morgan knew that neither he nor Duncan was in any shape to resist both Arilan and the rest of the Council。 Sighing； he spread both hands in a gesture of acquiescence。
〃Very well； Bishop。 You win。〃
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Stolen waters are sweet； and bread eaten in secret is pleasant。
Proverbs 9：17
Four days later； Conall learned what his fate would be。 Arilan briefed him in a private interview in Archbishop Cardiel's study； setting the time of Conall's power ritual for two nights hence。
〃Morgan and Duncan will preside； as originally intended for Nigel；〃 Arilan told him； 〃but I shall be in attendance as well。 The procedure will be a little more plicated than usual； since your father is still alive； but you should weather it without undue difficulty。〃
Arilan's assurances did little to allay Conall's uneasiness； however； for he was fully aware how vulnerable he must make himself； in order to let the full potential of the Haldanes be realized within him。 A careful perusal of the knowledge he had gained from Tiercel indicated that participating in the power ritual mainly would augment and expand what he had already developed on his own and from Tiercel's tutoring； but he must be able to make the expected responses。 The overwhelming question； which he dared ask no one； was whether or not he could keep his present achievements under wraps long enough to let them be assimilated in the new powers。 Once the power ritual was plete…even if nothing further happened…he would be able to explain everything he now had as a part of the Haldane legacy； and Haldanes rarely had to explain； in any case。
In the meantime； however； he had nearly two days to get through。 And aside from the preparations of the actual day… meditation and fasting； for the most part…no further demands would be made upon him。
Aside from dynastic ones。 Apparently Vanissa's pregnancy had precipitated that。 Arilan had made no bones about the fact that Conall； now the active Haldane heir； would be expected to contract a suitable marriage as quickly as possible； to provide a legitimate heir of his own。 The bishop had not actually threatened； but it was clear to Conall that any delay on his part might result in danger to Vanissa and her unborn child。
Not that Conall was particularly concerned about that； though he did care for the girl； in his way。 The reason he was not concerned was that his chosen bride was all but locked in promise already； whether or not she was consciously aware of it。 His agent finally had intercepted Rothana's letter to Archbishop Cardiel only the day before and had inserted it in a stack of documents awaiting the archbishop's attention。
Thus； when Conall had concluded his interview with Arilan； he asked to see the archbishop privately。 Arilan went Out； and very shortly Cardiel came in； a little curious as to why the prince wanted to see him。 Conall kissed the prelate's ring dutifully； taking the opportunity of physical contact to establish an undetected control link between himself and the archbishop that persisted even when Conall released Cardiel's hand。
〃You wished a word with me； Your Highness？〃 Cardiel asked； sitting behind his desk and gesturing for Conall to take a seat opposite。
〃I did； Excellency。〃 Conall sat gingerly； on only the front edge of the chair。 〃I…ah…believe you should have received a letter from the Lady Rothana by now。 Have you？〃
〃From Rothana？〃 Cardiel's brow furrowed in surprise。 〃Not that I'm aware of。 Does it concern you？〃
Feigning nervousness； Conall twined his fingers together； twisting at the golden signet on his left hand。
〃I…ah…yes； it does； Archbishop。 She…〃 He broke off； as if embarrassed； then looked up at Cardiel hopefully。
〃She said she was going to ask for a dispensation from her vows。 Excellency；〃 he whispered。 〃I thought surely you would have received it by now。〃
〃A dispensation？〃
Cardiel riffled through the pile of letters on his desk； then froze briefly before pulling out a single sheet。
〃Good heavens； she has。〃 His blue eyes widened as he scanned over the text。 〃Uncertain in my vocation 。。。 release from my vows； which are but temporary； in any case。。。 dispensation from the religious state。。。〃
He looked up at Conall in pleased surprise； unaware that his pleasure at the notion； with all its implications； was being encouraged and reinforced by Conall himself。
〃Good heavens； this is a surprise。 She makes no mention of her reasons for such a request； but am I to assume； since you have interested yourself in this matter； that you and she…〃
Conall ducked his head in sheepish acknowledgement。 〃I know it will e as a surprise to many。 Excellency； but the foundations for this match were laid nearly a year ago； when I escorted her back from Saint Brigid's。 She has been loath to talk about it since my return； feeling it unseemly to be discussing such things when we are in mourning for Kelson； but I believe I have persuaded her that no time ought to be lost。 As regent now…and； alas； likely to be king before the year is out…it is my duty to provide Gwynedd with an heir as soon as possible。〃
〃Ah； yes；〃 Cardiel said； raising an eyebrow in mild reproach。 〃A legitimate heir。〃
Conall had the grace to at least feign a blush。 〃Oh。 You've heard about Vanissa。〃
At Cardiel's rather curt nod； Conall decided he had best put this to rest once and for all。
〃I made her no promises。 Archbishop；〃 he said quietly。 〃if that's what you're worried about。 I'll provide for her and the child； of course； but I'm totally free to marry Rothana。〃
Fortunately； Cardiel's reaction mellowed enough at this reassurance of responsibility that Conall did not have to intervene further。
〃I see；〃 Cardiel said。 〃Well； I suppose most princes sow a few wild oats before they settle down。 Kelson was an exception。 But I'll expect no repeats of this sort of behavior after you're married； my son。 I cannot stress enough the importance of an undisputed succession。〃
〃I know my duty； Excellency；〃 Conall murmured； eyes downcast。 〃There will be no more Vanissas。 In the meantime； however； I should like the marriage to take place as soon as possible。 I…believe my father would wish it。〃
〃Of course；〃 Cardiel agreed。 〃Lent will be over in little more than a fortnight； so…〃
〃I'd prefer not to wait that long。 Archbishop；〃 Conall interrupted； again insinuating subtle controls。 〃My enemies will be upon me before we realize。 My right to the crown must be established beyond doubt。 It needn't be a lavish ceremony。 In fact； under the circumstances； a small； quiet ceremony is wholly appropriate…immediate family only。 You can grant the necessary dispensations。〃
〃Yes； of course。〃
〃In the meantime； I'd appreciate it if you would approve Rothana's request for release from her vows；〃 Conall said； pushing the letter back in front of Cardiel and putting a quill in his hand。 〃A simple Placet at the bottom will suffice for ppw； with your seal and a note that official approval wi