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e motion； Morgan was on his feet and seizing Llewell by the throat of his tunic； wrenching him downward； grey eyes as cold and brittle as an ice…filled sea。
〃On your knees before your king； Mearan excrement！〃 he muttered between clenched teeth。 〃What kind of animal would slay his own sister on her wedding day？〃
〃Morgan； don't kill him！〃 Kelson snapped； turning a colorless face toward the two of them and raising a hand to stay Cardiel's alarm。 〃It's clear what he's done。 I want to know why。〃 He turned the full intensity of his Haldane gaze on the captive prince； though he did not move from his crouched position beside his bride。
〃I'm waiting for an answer； Llewell。 Why Sidana？ Why didn't you go for me？ You had the chance。〃
The cords of Llewell's neck were knotted with tension； but he did not flinch from Kelson's stare。
〃Kill a Deryni？〃 He spat contemptuously and glared at Morgan and Duncan。 〃They would have stopped me； somehow。 And even if they hadn't； and I'd killed you； it wouldn't have saved Sidana from a Haldane marriage。 He would have been king after you；〃 he jerked his chin toward the shocked Nigel； standing directly behind Kelson； 〃and he has three greedy little sons。 I didn't want my sister besmirched by Haldane hands。〃
Kelson started to rise at that； anger beginning to smoulder away the grief； but Duncan grapped his sleeve and stopped him。
〃Kelson； no！〃
〃If you don't intend to kill him； then give me the pleasure！〃 Morgan muttered； a stilleto appearing in his hand as he twisted Llewell's collar tighter and glanced beseechingly at the king。
〃No！〃 Cardiel interjected。 More boldly than Kelson had ever seen him； the archbishop grabbed Morgan's wrist and put himself between the prisoner and the king。 〃Let there be no more bloodshed in this house of God！ Couldn't you have let it be； Llewell？〃 he added； shaking his head in pity as Morgan released the Mearan's throat and put away his blade。 〃She would have been Queen of Gwynedd as well as Meara。 It could have ended almost a century of bloodshed。 Do you realize what you've done？〃
〃I've given my brother back the chance to take his crown；〃 Llewell said doggedly。 〃With another Meara…Haldane alliance； his claim always would have been in doubt。 Let the King of Gwynedd find another queen。 My sister was meant for a better mate。 She is with the angels now。〃
〃And you shall see her nevermore；〃 Arilan said quietly； joining Cardiel。 〃There's a special place in hell reserved for murderers； Llewell。〃
Llewell only shook his head。 〃Hell will be wele； if I've saved my sister from what you had planned for her； Bishop。 Better she die than be queen to a curst Deryni king。〃
〃I wish you well of it； then；〃 Kelson said in the stunned silence。 〃But curst or not； I was prepared to love and honor your Sidana … and I think she meant to try； at least； to love and honor me。〃
Llewell spat。 〃She never loved you！〃
Kelson only shook his head sadly as Morgan； with cool efficiency； snatched the bloody stole that had bound the couple's hands and bade one of the knights to gag Llewell with it。
〃You may be right； Llewell；〃 the king whispered。 〃You may； indeed； be right。 But she was my queen； if only for a little while； and she shall be honored as a queen； at least in her final sleep。〃
He glanced at Morgan； blinking back the tears； then lowered his eyes。
〃Take that … person out of here； Alaric。 I don't want to see him again until after my queen has been laid to rest。 I'll sit in judgment then。 There can be no doubt of the oute； but even Llewell shall receive the full benefit of the law。〃
〃It shall be done； my prince；〃 Morgan murmured； signalling the knights to carry out the order。
〃And now； if you don't mind；〃 the king continued in a failing voice； 〃I'd like to be alone with her for a few nynutes。 Uncle； take the rest of the family out as well； please。〃
Soon only Morgan； Duncan； and Dhugal remained in the blood…spattered choir with the grieving king； Nigel and his family lingering in sight but out of earshot near a side door； reluctant to leave pletely。 Meraude and Richenda wept quietly in one another's arms； and even the three royal cousins looked subdued： Conall genuinely regretful and the two younger boys wide…eyed and still a little frightened at the violence they had witnessed。 Sighing； Morgan crouched down beside the silent king； where Duncan also knelt。 Dhugal stood white…faced and mute behind his father； helpless to offer fort。
〃Is there anything else you'd like me to do； my prince？〃 Morgan asked； resting a brief； sympathetic touch on the rigid shoulders。
Kelson only bowed his head and closed his eyes； mind tightly shuttered against intrusion。
〃Go to your wife； Alaric；〃 he whispered。 〃Please。 She needs you now； and I … need to be alone。〃
〃Very well。 Duncan； Dhugal； are you ing？〃
〃In a moment；〃 Duncan answered。 〃We'll meet you in the sacristy。〃
Sighing； Morgan rose and joined the others waiting for him； embracing Richenda for a few seconds； then simply letting his wife hold him before shepherding Nigel and his family out a side door。 Kelson opened his eyes as Dhugal eased down silently beside Duncan； but he did not look up。
〃Kelson； we have a lot to learn about a lot of things；〃 Duncan said softly。 〃We tried； Alaric and I； but there simply wasn't time。 If we were better trained … but who knows how to train healers； these days？〃
〃No one could have saved her；〃 Kelson whispered。 〃She wasn't meant to live。 It was all too easy。 The perfect solution： for the king to marry the fair princess and unite the two lands； bringing peace。。。。〃
Dhugal swallowed audibly； tears springing to his own eyes。 〃It's my fault；〃 he said。 〃I should have been watching Llewell more closely。 If I'd … 〃
〃It wasn't your fault；〃 Kelson dully。 〃No one could have known Llewell would kill his own sister； rather than see her wed his mortal enemy。 But when we'd gotten through the vows； I thought he'd accepted it。〃
〃Kelson is right； son；〃 Duncan said softly。 〃You couldn't have known。 I doubt even Llewell knew； before the actual instant。 One of us would have caught some hint。〃
Kelson shrugged and gave a heavy sigh。 〃It doesn't matter now； anyway。 We did our best； with the best of intentions … and it wasn't enough。 The Fates obviously have something else in store for us。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Duncan said。
A taut silence fell between them； Dhugal unconsciously easing closer to his father for fort； but Kelson was oblivious to them。 After a moment； Duncan slowly rose； gathering his blood…caked surplice in his arms and motioning for Dhugal to join him。
〃We'll leave you alone for a few minutes； then。 Sire；〃 he said softly。 〃I'll be back when I've changed。 Dhugal； will you help me？〃
〃In a moment；〃 Dhugal whispered； not moving。
〃Very well。〃
Without further words； Duncan retreated slowly up the altar steps and through the sacristy door； leaving only Dhugal still kneeling beside the king。
〃Kelson； I'm so sorry；〃 Dhugal managed to whisper。
〃I know。 So am I。〃
〃Did … did you really fall in love with her？〃 Dhugal asked。
〃Fall in love？〃 Kelson shrugged dejectedly。 〃How should I know？ I never had the time to find out。 I think I'd convinced myself that I could love her； and I was prepared to do ev