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〃Why should he need us？〃 Morgan replied。 〃He's never needed us before。 And if he does need a Deryni； Arilan will be here。 We can check in at regular intervals； if that will Make you feel any better。 Besides； Conall's The Haldane now and king in everything but name。〃 He glanced sadly at Nigel。 〃And I don't know that I necessarily want to be here to see this wind to its end。 I said all my good…byes while we Were waiting for Conall to arrive。〃
Duncan nodded slowly。 〃I think I told you that Ciard and Jass and a few of Dhugal's other men stayed at the campsite to continue looking。 If we take the Portal as far as Valoret； I'm told one can get from there to the Saint Bearand campsite in just under two days； given reasonable weather and adequate changes of horses。〃
〃Shall we do it； then？〃 Morgan asked。
〃I think so。〃
〃Tonight？〃
〃No； in the morning。 We can hardly just go； without even a by…your…leave。〃
〃And suppose Conall won't give us leave？〃
Duncan snorted。 〃Do you really think he wants us hanging around here； any more than we want to be here？ He's got his power now； Alaric。 He's going to be king。 The old order changeth…and you and I； unfortunately； are no longer a part of it。〃
While they were gathering up the accoutrements of the ceremony and setting things right in the room； Arilan returned and they told him of their decision。 The bishop was sorry to hear it； but understood their reasons for wanting to go； and readily consented to setting up prearranged times for contact； so that the two might stay abreast of events in the capital。
〃You're wrong about Conall not needing you； though； you know；〃 Arilan said。 〃Oh； right now； in the first flush of being The Haldane； and preoccupied by his father's declining condition； he's even less gracious than his usual wont。 But I'm extremely hopeful that he'll be making some changes for the better。 He's getting married； you know； and a good woman can do a great deal to smooth out the rough edges； I'm told。〃
〃He's what？〃 Morgan said。
〃Well； don't act so surprised；〃 Arilan replied。 〃Look what marriage did for you。〃
〃But…〃
〃Be glad that he's making such dynastic considerations already；〃 Arilan went on； drawing himself up in episcopal indignation。 〃I understand that Cardiel will be publishing the banns on Monday； after Conall has made the announcement to the privy council。 I would have made you wait until then to find out； but since you're leaving…〃
Duncan only shook his head in disbelief。
〃Who's he marrying？ Not the little village maid he got pregnant？〃
〃Good heavens； no；〃 Arilan said。 〃She's a proper princess； and Deryni； to boot。 I'm sure you'll both approve。 He's marrying Rothana of Nur Hallaj。〃
〃Rothana！〃 Morgan gasped。
〃But； she's under vows！〃 Duncan added。
Arilan shrugged。 〃According to Thomas Cardiel； not any more。 Apparently she made formal application to be dispensed from her vows…which were only temporary； in any case…some time ago； after discussing the possibility with him under the seal of the confessional。 Conall's very keen to get a legitimate heir； so the wedding's being held even before Lent is over…a small； quiet affair； due to the tragedies of the past month or so…a week from today； I believe。〃
Shaking his head； Morgan could only be amazed。
〃I had no idea。 I always thought it was Kelson who had his cap set for her…though it certainly wouldn't have been easy sailing。 I'll never forget how shaken he was； the first day he met her。〃 He smiled sadly； remembering。 〃He asked me if I'd ever raped a woman。〃
〃He what？〃 Arilan said。 〃Good God； you don't mean that he…〃
〃Oh； good heavens； no；〃 Morgan replied。 〃So far as I now； Kelson's still a virgin…or was；〃 he added lamely。 〃I don't think he ever laid a hand on a woman with other than respect〃
〃Well； what happened between him and Rothana； then？〃 Arilan asked。
Morgan sighed wistfully； forcing himself to concentrate only on answering the question。
〃He was after the man who'd raped the Princess Janniver。 He wanted to read Janniver's memory of the attack； tp see whether he could identify her assailant； but Rothana couldn't hear of it。 Then she read Janniver and gave the information to Kelson…only； she also gave him a taste of what it feels like to be a woman under those circumstances。 I daresay it was a useful thing for him to learn； but maybe it made more of a negative impression than I'd thought。 I wonder if Richenda knows about this。〃
Arilan shrugged。 〃I can't answer that； of course。 I'm glad； however； to hear that there was nothing between her and Kelson。 I should hate to have to get involved with questions of consanguinity and such。 She'll make the perfect queen for Gwynedd。 And Conall does need a legitimate heir； no less than Kelson did。〃
〃Well； if that's what Rothana wants；〃 Duncan murmured。 〃And at least Gwynedd will still have a Deryni queen； which is certainly to the good。 You don't think Conall will be offended if we aren't here for the wedding； do you？〃
〃Qh； I shouldn't think so；〃 Arilan said。 〃It will be a very small ceremony； under the circumstances。 And it will probably do Conall good to be out from under the scrutiny of both of you for a few weeks； while he finds his stride…no offense intended。〃
〃None taken；〃 Morgan said dryly； mentally signaling Duncan that it was time to go。 〃It will certainly do us good to get away and work out our grief； once and for all…and I doubt anything will crop up militarily that Ewan and Saer can't handle for Conall。 Please present our apologies to him and his mother for leaving so precipitously； but I understand it's safest to use the Valoret Portal in the early morning hours； and we'd rather not delay until tomorrow night。〃
〃A wise precaution；〃 Arilan agreed。
〃Just one other question；〃 Morgan said； before turning to go。
〃Yes？〃
〃What will the Camberian Council think of all this？〃
〃Of Conall marrying Rothana？〃 Arilan smiled。 〃I should imagine they'll be delighted。 Her parents are well known to us and have always been in sympathy with our aims。 She'll make a fine and biddable queen。〃
〃Biddable； indeed！〃 Duncan muttered under his breath； when they were safely outside and heading toward Dhugal's rooms to change。 〃Biddable； indeed！〃
Meanwhile； he who should have had Rothana for his queen continued to trudge along an apparently endless corridor deep underground； going steadily deeper； watched and assisted with growing concern by an ever more exhausted Dhugal。
His royal patient had made some progress。 Kelson's memory was returning with each passing day； so that he now could recall most of what had happened up to the time of the accident； but he still tired easily and was plagued by headaches if he pushed himself too hard； and his ability to tap into his powers was still very weak and chancy。 Periodically； he made game attempts to link with Dhugal； in hopes of enhancing the latter's strength enough to cast beyond their rocky prison and make contact with the outside world； but even the mildest exertion along these lines set the king's head to throbbing again。 The only Deryni ability working with any real reliability was that of lowering his shields so that Dhugal could block his pain for a time and help him sleep。
And so he did sleep