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imple Placet at the bottom will suffice for ppw； with your seal and a note that official approval will be forthing。 I'll take that back to her today； and you can have a formal writ drawn up after I've gone。〃
Without even a blink of resistance； Cardiel set pen to parchment； scrawling the words； Placet； 〃It pleases；〃 and then Mandatum diliget…〃An order will follow。〃 After that； he signed the note and set his seal beneath his signature； sitting back placidly while Conall blew on the wax to cool ft before folding it to stash inside his tunic。
〃I'll also ask your discretion in this matter；〃 Conall went on； as he prepared to take his leave。 〃Other than any necessary munications with Rothana's abbess； I'd prefer that you discuss this matter with no one until after I've had a chance to make my own announcement to the privy council。 That will be sometime after the weekend； when my full assumption of power has been acplished。〃
Reinforced by magical insistence； Conall's request had the force of a mand； but it was not at all an unusual requirement； given the delicacy of the situation。 Nor was Cardiel's reaction entirely out of character； even though guided by Conall's will in the matter。 The subject of the next heir's speedy marriage already was or would be a topic of concern to nearly every high…ranking official at court； especially now that he had been confirmed as regent。
The only point that might have raised questions was the apparent suddenness of Rothana's request； and Conall； with a brief touch to Cardiel's brow and the merest flick of thought； inserted vivid memories of a confession given him by Conall before his knighting…wholly in keeping with what was expected of a royal candidate for knighthood…in which Conall had stated his most tender and devoted love for Rothana and asked Cardiel's guidance in winning her hand。
And Cardiel…as he would have done； had he been asked in fact…would remember only that he had advised circumspection for the present； because of the lady's temporary vows to the Church； and assured Conall of his wholehearted support； should the lady request dispensation of him。
As Conall left Cardiel's study； after receiving the archbishop's blessing on his enterprise； he fancied that even Arilan would not be able to penetrate the truth of what had just transpired。 Nor should the Deryni bishop have cause to question； in the first place。 Conall was whistling under his breath as he rode back to the castle with Squire Ivo； whose services he had appropriated upon his return； along with the crown he hoped soon to wear and the bride he hoped soon to wed； the archbishop's imprimatur secure at his breast。
Once safely ensconced at the castle again； however； the prince decided to waste no time confirming Rothana's part of what he had just set in motion。 He must see her at once… and determined to have her summoned to see him this time； to ensure that they would not be interrupted or disturbed。 After checking on his father and taking a leisurely lunch with his mother； Conall retired to the withdrawing room behind the dais in the main hall and sent Ivo to ask Rothana to attend him。 She came half an hour later； clad still in the black habit of mourning； thinner than Conall remembered her； leaving one of the sisters to wait outside the door； for appearances' sake。
〃You wished to see me； my lord？〃 Rothana said； cocking her blue…coiffed head at him in mild curiosity as she made him a curtsey。
〃I did；〃 he replied； gesturing for her to be seated beside him on a bench before the fire。 〃Please； sit down。〃
She folded her hands inside her sleeve openings as she obeyed； keeping her eyes modestly downcast as he stretched his booted feet out on the hearth； closer to the fire； and sighed wearily。
〃A great deal has changed since we last spoke； my lady；〃 Conall said after a moment。 〃No doubt you've heard about my father's seizure。〃
〃Yes； I have； my lord；〃 she replied； 〃We pray for him daily； but I have heard…〃
〃What you have heard is undoubtedly true；〃 Conall said quietly。 〃The prognosis is not good。 I thank you for your wavers； but…〃
He shrugged； letting a tremor of grief pass through his body as he lowered his head into one hand。
〃Forgive me； my lady。 It's just that I feel so helpless。 First Kelson； and now Father； slipping away。。。〃
She turned her face in profile to him； gazing unseeing at the fire beyond his boots。
〃They say he will not last the summer；〃 she said softly。 〃You will be king； when he is gone。 And they say you are regent already。〃
He nodded carefully； hardly daring to believe that she had led into precisely the topic he wanted to discuss。
〃I am； my lady； and I will be。 Nor do I feel myself ready to shoulder such an enormous burden。 Have you…considered what we discussed before？〃
As she turned her head to look at him； all wide； frightened eyes； he uncoiled from the bench to kneel at her feet； seizing edge of her hem to press it fervently to his lips； shaking； all that he had believed he was in control。
〃I love you； Rothana；〃 he murmured。 〃And what's at least as important； for a king； I need you。 I need you by my Side to help me rule Gwynedd。 Without your support and guidance； I don't know that I can bear the weight。〃
〃You could learn to love another；〃 Rothana whispered； extracting her hem from his grasp only to have him take her hand and press a kiss to her knuckles。 〃There are…many princesses who would be honored to give you their hand in marriage。〃
〃But none to pare with you； my lady；〃 Conall refilled。 He turned her hand to kiss the palm。 〃I am a Haldane； but I was never trained to be a king。 I am king now； in everything except name。 In the space of a few days； I will be raster of all the power that being a Haldane king implies… and I don't know the first thing about using it properly。 But you're Deryni。 You could teach me。 And our children…〃
〃My children…〃
A sob caught in Rothana's throat； and she bowed her head in her free hand。
She was weeping for Kelson。 Conall felt a sharp stab of envy； but he made himself put it aside as useless。 Kelson was dead； and he； Conall； was alive； to reap the Haldane benefits。 He could afford to be indulgent。
〃You loved Kelson； didn't you； Rothana？〃 Conall said quietly； 〃and you thought your children would be his children； too。〃 He paused a beat。 〃I think I know how much you wanted that； but it can never be； now。 What can be is similar； however…a chance for most things to be almost exactly the way they would have been； if he had lived。〃
〃It can never be the same；〃 she managed to whisper。
〃Of course it can；〃 he crooned。 〃You had plans； Ro…thana…and there's no reason most of those plans can't go forward； with me as your husband instead of Kelson。 You'd be the Deryni Queen of Gwynedd； with all that implies； with an unassailable position from which to improve the lot of your people…our people。 You could found religious institutions； explore the extra spiritual dimensions the Deryni seem to have； maybe even restore the cult of Saint Camber； as Kelson wanted。 And you'd be the mother of Haldane princes and princesses…and I do want lots of children； my darling。 Even if you don't love me now； do you not think you might learn to love me？〃
As he pressed a