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！
ss。 No matter what the king did； some would not agree。
Hurting with Kelson； Morgan turned pleading eyes on the two archbishops； letting his glance include everyone around the table。
〃Let be； my lords！〃 he said； cutting off another heated exchange。 〃Do you think your railing makes his decision any easier？ What are you trying to do to him？ Do you think he does not know？ How heavy must the crown be？〃
〃How heavy was Istelyn's burden？〃 Bradene muttered。
But any further outburst was forestalled by Arilan's withering glance and the pained； passionate shake of Cardiel's grey head。
〃Please； Bradene；〃 Cardiel murmured。 〃Duke Alaric is right。 However terrible and unjust may have been our brother Istelyn's fate； that is past。 He is beyond our ability to help or hinder him。 We must not let the wisdom of our future decision be clouded by our grief and outrage。〃
〃Archbishop Cardiel is correct；〃 Nigel agreed。 〃If we kill our hostages； we lose all hope of any peaceful resolution to the Mearan question。 Spite will only breed yet more spite； and … 〃
〃Aye； now there's a key word；〃 Ewan butted in。 〃Breeding。 Let the lad get on with his wooing。 Archbishop。 He needs to breed an heir。〃
A rumble of agreement from the other laymen around the table gave Ewan encouragement to go on。
〃Go ahead and marry the lass。 Sire。 Wed her and bed her as quickly as ye may … and get her with child before the spring campaign！ There are many in Meara who'll e flocking to yer standard if there's an heir to two crowns in the offing。 But ye haven't time to waste。〃
As Bradene sighed and bowed his head； lifting a ringed hand in grudging acquiescence； a little of the tension seemed to leave the room。 After a moment； Nigel gazed down the table at his royal nephew； attempting a strained smile。
〃Wise counsel。 Kelson；〃 he said quietly； 〃though I should have phrased it a trifle more delicately。 You need an heir of your own body and you need a Mearan alliance。 And the heir born of a Mearan union would be the strongest asset of all。 I know this marriage is not what you would have chosen； had things been different； but … 〃 He shrugged。 〃What can I say； except to wish you the best of fortune and offer you every power at my disposal to facilitate this match？〃
Kelson glanced up at Nigel listlessly； hands folded still and quiet。 〃Thank you。 Uncle。 Please do not mistake my lack of enthusiasm for lack of gratitude。 All that you and Duke Ewan have said is perfectly correct。〃 He sighed。 〃We must now pray that the Lady Sidana sees matters in a similar light。〃
〃And if she does not … 〃 Arilan said archly； his glance again conveying the implication of extraordinary methods of persuasion。 〃Will you marry her anyway； against her will？〃
〃I have already said that I would；〃 Kelson answered a little sharply。 〃Will you perform the ceremony。 Bishop； if I bring an unwilling bride before the altar？〃
Arilan pursed his lips； nodding resolutely。 Bradene and Cardiel looked shocked。 Ewan snorted。
〃Take him at his word。 Sire。 This is no time for too many niceties。 If she will n？？ have ye at first； bed her and then wed her … or at least threaten to do it。 She'll e around。〃
That remark elicited its own flurry of ment and indignation； principally among the clergy but also from Richenda and Dhugal； until Kelson finally cleared his throat and swept them all with his grey Haldane eyes； some of the old； hard fire of his father's day touching each one。
〃I'll manage my own wooing； thank you； gentlemen；〃 he said when they had quieted。 〃It will be conducted with as much honor as possible on both our parts； but there shall be a royal wedding at Twelfth Night； I promise you； one way or another。〃
〃Why the delay？〃 asked Saer de Traherne。 〃If pan of the purpose of this exercise is to get an heir before the spring campaign。 Sire； you should be sowing the seeds as quickly as possible。 The Mearan lass is young。 It may take her a while to begin breeding。〃
As Kelson blushed furiously； at a loss how to answer Duncan came to his rescue。
〃If I read his Majesty's intentions correctly； my lord I suspect he plans to crown the queen on the same day he marries her； which presents a somewhat different logistical problem than merely publishing the banns and bringing the intended couple before a priest。〃
As Kelson nodded and murmured； 〃Aye；〃 obviously grateful for the rescue； Duncan went on； 〃Indeed； if the lady is to be enthroned in state fitting the consort of the King of Gwynedd； we shall all find ourselves hard…pressed to plete the preparations in so short a time。 And as I'm sure the Lady Richenda will confirm； twelve days will be only barely adequate to prepare the gowns and jewels that our queen…to…be will require for this momentous event。〃
〃'Tis true； my lords；〃 Richenda said quietly。 〃Not only that； I beg you have some care for poor Sidana herself。 Is it asking too much that she should have at least a little time to prepare for the role being thrust upon her？〃
〃She will hae guessed what's in store；〃 Ewan muttered。 〃She has been bred to her duty。 Dinnae coddle the lass too much； Sire。〃
〃Indeed； do not coddle her at all；〃 Richenda retorted； before Kelson could reply。 〃But I speak as one who was herself a bride of expediency； wed to the benefit of lands rather than any desire of my own。 Give the girl a few days to realize her duty； to decide that this is what she herself wants； for the sake other own land。 She may thank you in years to e； when she is your queen。〃
〃And I thank you； my lady；〃 Kelson murmured。 〃You do right to remind us of Sidana's part in all of this。〃
She inclined her head gracefully。
〃May I also ask you to serve her while you are at court？〃 he went on； with a strained； hopeful grin。 〃And perhaps to supervise the feminine aspects of our preparations？ I have no illusions that she will be any more enthusiastic about this match than I am； but perhaps your experience and sympathy can help her accept what must be。〃
〃I would be most honored to serve your intended queen； Sire both now and in the future；〃 Richenda murmured。 〃My lord and I discussed the very matter only this morning。〃
〃Ah；〃 Kelson said。 〃Well； that's a relief。〃
He glanced at the rest of them； drawing a deep breath a。id letting it out audibly； then stood。 Immediately the rest stood as well。
〃Very well； then； gentlemen … and my lady；〃 he said。 〃I go now to speak with your future queen。 Lady Richenda； I would be pleased if you would acpany me … and Bishop Duncan as well。 I leave the rest of you to continue setting plans for the ing nuptials。 Uncle； I shall ask you to preside in my absence。〃
Kelson was glad； a little while later； that he had asked Richenda and Duncan to go with him； for he found himself more anxious than he wanted to admit； as he led them along the dimly lit corridor。 He had installed Sidana in his mother's former apartments on her arrival in Rhemuth； judging them the only suitable quarters for a princess of however dubious seniority； now he wondered whether he had been contemplating this visit all along。
His mouth was dry as dust as he approached the outer door； and he cleared his throat nervously as he motioned Duncan on ahead to announce him。 The guards came to smart attention and ren