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〃 Bradene said quietly。
〃The Princess Sidana； by Mearan reckoning。 Excellency；〃 Nigel amended； 〃and heiress to what they regard as the legitimate royal line。〃
〃But it isn't the legitimate royal line；〃 Kelson pointed out。 〃And even if it were； she has a mother and two brothers ahead of her。〃
〃The mother is not a young woman；〃 Nigel countered。 〃Even if she were to escape us； you have time on your side。 You can easily outwait her。 Of the brothers； one is in our hands already and the other eventually will be taken or slain in battle。 Eliminate the two of them and marry Sidana … not necessarily in that order … and the Mearan royal line will bee the legitimate line in your children's generation； as should have been done in your great…grandfather's time。〃
From the animation of the discussion that followed； it soon became apparent that the notion had already occurred to at least a few of them； probably from the moment Sidana rode through the city gates in Morgan's arms。 Kelson mostly listened for the first few minutes； occasionally exchanging uneasy looks with Morgan； Dhugal； or Duncan； but when at last he held up a hand for silence； he had shuttered his true feelings behind a facade which even Morgan could not pierce。
〃There is a certain logic in what my uncle has proposed； my lords；〃 the king said carefully。 〃I will tell you from the outset that this is not the first time the lady in question has been proposed as a potential royal bride。 When I was in Transha a few weeks ago。 Lord Dhugal's late father also extolled the lady's suitability … not as an uncle seeking rich dowry for his niece； but as a loyal liegeman suggesting a possible way to ease the tension which has been increasing along the Mearan border for the last several years。〃
〃Old Caulay offered you her hand and you didn't tell us？〃 Ewan blurted； eyes flashing above his bushy beard。 〃Why； that old fox！〃
〃He didn't offer me her hand； Ewan！〃 Kelson retorted； allowing himself a sigh of exasperation。 〃He wasn't in any position to make me such an offer。 He simply pointed out the obvious advantages of such a match。 Sidana was still in Meara at the time。〃
〃And now that she is in Gwynedd？〃 Nigel asked。
Kelson closed his eyes briefly and drew a deep breath； then let it out with a patient sigh。
〃Frankly； the idea terrifies me。 I don't even know the girl。 But I'm a king first and a man second。 If such an alliance would ease the tension along the border and help secure peace； then I would be less than true to my coronation oath if I did not give it my wholehearted support。〃
〃It might just do that。 Sire；〃 Jodrell said thoughtfully。 〃I know the Mearans。 My patrols go back and forth across the border constantly。 Caitrin's sons or Sidana's sons … it would make no difference to most folk。 They've been sending sons and husbands and brothers off to war with Gwynedd for over a hundred years。〃
〃I doubt a marriage with Sidana would stop that；〃 Saer de Traherne said。 〃Unless Caitrin does submit by Christmas； which I think highly unlikely in light of that；〃 he gestured curtly toward the letter and box； 〃there's still going to be a war in the spring … at least until we take her and Ithel。〃
Bishop Hugh； silent until then； sat forward and raised a hand for recognition。
〃Sire； forgive me if I speak out of turn； but might not a marriage with Sidana be used to negotiate a true peace？ Perhaps Caitrin would be willing to renounce her claim； if she were assured that her daughter would be queen of a united Meara and Gwynedd。〃
Dhugal shook his head emphatically。 〃Not a chance； Excellency。 Even if she would； Ithel wouldn't。 He's full of plans for when he's king。 Llewell's little better； though at least we have him in custody。〃
〃The lad is right。 Sire；〃 Jodrell agreed。 〃Marriage with Sidana might provide an ultimate solution； but we'll still have to take Caitrin and Ithel … and any other Mearan heirs； while we're at it … before it would be meaningful。 Judhael； in particular。 Mearan partisans might pass over Sidana if another male heir could be persuaded to take up the cause。〃
〃We will deal with Judhael； my lord；〃 Arilan said pointedly。 〃You need not worry about a renegade priest。 The marriage does have its merits； though。 Sire； from what has been said； I assume that you would be willing to enter such a union。 Is that a correct assumption？〃
Kelson shrugged； making a game attempt to appear casual。 〃If I must。 However； a great deal depends upon the lady。 She may not want to marry me。〃
Ewan snorted。 〃She'll do as she's told； if she knows what's good for her！〃
〃And suppose she doesn't？〃 Kelson asked。
Jodrell shrugged。 〃She is your hostage。 Sire。 If such is your desire； I hardly think she has much choice in the matter。〃
〃Oh？ And if I drag her to the altar against her will； how then for the sanctity of our marriage vows？〃 Kelson retorted。 〃What say you。 Archbishop？〃
As Bradene squirmed under the royal scrutiny； Arilan shook his head。 〃It is not required that the bride be eager； Sire； only willingly resigned。 And if the wooing is carried out with … the proper delicacy；〃 he arched an eyebrow knowingly at the king； 〃I think she would not be unwilling。〃
His glance at Kelson conveyed all the potential of a Deryni king's ability to persuade； without even resorting to his own Deryni abilities。 Kelson read his meaning instantly； a little sick at heart； and knew by Morgan's quickly damped flare of indignation that he had read it； too。
With a chill smile。 Kelson leaned back in his chair and allowed himself a resigned sigh。
〃I take your meaning。 Bishop；〃 he said quietly； trying to put out of mind the temptation Arilan had just presented him。 〃If wooing's to be done； however； I'll do it in my own fashion。 For the sake of my kingdom； I'll even take her by force if I must。 I'm sure a priest could be found who would turn a blind eye to her protests；〃 he added dryly。 〃But if peace can be secured some other way； without much loss of life； then I would as soon not wed for now。 We still have time。〃
〃And does Istelyn have time？〃 Bradene demanded。 〃How do you intend to answer that？〃
As he gestured angrily toward the box across from him and Kelson； the king slapped his open palm against the table in consternation。
〃Obviously I cannot answer it。 Archbishop！ I have already said that I can do nothing for Istelyn。 I shall reiterate our demand that Caitrin and her son submit to me by Christmas。〃
〃And if she does not？〃
Kelson sighed heavily； his momentary anger deflated。
〃If she does not； then I shall take the Princess Sidana to wife at Twelfth Night and send out summons of array for a spring campaign。〃
〃Alas； I fear that will mean Istelyn's death；〃 Cardiel said； as murmurs of concurrence rippled around the table。
〃We must count Istelyn as dead already； my lords；〃 Morgan said softly。 〃And if he dies； then we must make his death count for something。 I know he would support the king's wish to settle all as bloodlessly as possible； but if necessary； the spring shall see his murderers confounded with the sword。〃
〃Very well；〃 Bradene replied。 〃I see that there is no appeal for that。 Fortunately； the Church has weapons other than the sword with which to confound Loris and his would…be