kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第62部分

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er　royal　charge　…　who　turned　and　froze　in　the　mouth　of　a　deep　window　embrasure　on　the　other　side　of　the　room。
〃Good　afternoon；　my　lady；〃　Kelson　said　neutrally。
Sidana　blanched　at　the　sound　of　his　voice；　immediately　turning　away　from　him　to　stare　out　at　the　falling　snow；　her　apprehension　apparent　even　from　where　Kelson　stood。　The　dying　sun　shining　through　the　window　beyond　cast　reddish　highlights　on　her　long　chestnut　hair　and　purpled　the　pale　blue　of　her　gown。
〃The　lord　Llewell　is　visiting　his　sister。　Sire；〃　Meraude　warned；　restraining　Kelson　with　a　hand　on　one　forearm　as　he　started　toward　the　girl。　〃Well；　it　is　Christmas；〃　she　added；　at　his　expression　of　annoyance　as　he　stopped　to　stare　down　at　her。　〃No　one　said　they　couldn't　see　one　another　…　and　it　was　only　for　an　hour。　Should　I　not　have　let　him　e？〃
Sighing；　Kelson　shook　his　head　and　continued　toward　the　embrasure　until　he　could　see　Llewell　sitting　stiff　and　indignant　at　the　far　end。　He　had　hoped　not　to　have　the　Mearan　prince　present　for　this　conversation；　but　perhaps　it　was　for　the　best。　If　he　could　win　Llewell's　cooperation；　it　would　be　easier　for　Sidana。
But　Llewell　stood　as　their　eyes　met；　defiance　like　a　wall　between　them；　hand　going　automatically　to　his　belt　for　the　weapon　which　was　not　there。　For　just　an　instant；　Sidana　looked　like　a　trapped；　frightened　bird。
〃No；　there's　no　harm　done。　Aunt；〃　Kelson　replied　easily。　〃What　I　have　to　say　concerns　Lord　Llewell　as　well　as　the　Lady　Sidana。　I　must　warn　you；　though；　Llewell：　I　intend　this　to　be　a　civilized；　reasoned　discussion。　Any　disruption　on　your　part　will　be　dealt　with。　Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃
For　an　instant　Llewell　only　stood　there　glowering；　right　hand　flexing　and　unflexing　where　the　hilt　of　his　dagger　would　have　been；　and　Kelson　wondered　whether　he　and　Duncan　were　going　to　have　to　deal　with　a　physical　confrontation。　He　sensed　Duncan　tensing　beside　him　in　readiness；　and　knew　Duncan　wondered；　too。　But　Llewell　was　stayed　from　any　further　indiscretion　by　Sidana's　urgent　touch　on　his　arm；　the　slight　shake　of　her　head。
〃Let　be；　brother；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　would　not　be　the　cause　of　your　hurt。　If　he　wills；　he　will　speak　with　me。　There　is　nothing　you　can　do　to　stop　it。〃
〃Your　sister　is　very　wise；　Llewell；〃　Meraude　agreed。　〃You　must　accept　what　is。　Do　not　make　me　regret　I　allowed　you　to　e。〃
Sullenly　Llewell　turned　a　long；　bitter　gaze　on　Kelson　and　dropped　his　hands　to　his　sides；　forcing　the　wound…up　tension　from　his　body　with　visible　effort。　In　answer；　Kelson　inclined　his　head　in　cool　acknowledgment。　Llewell　continued　to　stare　at　him　for　several　seconds　before　dropping　his　head　to　murmur　something　to　Sidana　that　no　one　else　could　hear。　Then　the　prince　turned　his　back　on　his　sister's　royal　caller；　to　stare　out　the　window。　Even　Sidana　looked　embarrassed　at　his　rudeness　and　wrung　her　hands　worriedly　as　she　stole　a　glance　at　the　king。
〃Please　go　and　make　the　Duchess　Richenda　wele；　Aunt；〃　Kelson　said　to　Meraude；　not　taking　his　eyes　from　Sidana。　〃Father　Duncan　and　I　have　matters　well　in　hand。〃
As　Meraude　curtseyed　and　departed；　closing　the　door　behind　her。　Kelson　tried　not　to　give　any　outward　sign　that　he　even　noticed　the　scared；　drained　look　on　Sidana's　face；　only　gesturing　mildly　for　Duncan　to　precede　him　up　the　steep　steps　to　the　embrasure。　Llewell　turned　warily　at　their　approach；　and　Sidana　backed　off；　both　of　them　standing　finally　in　the　right…hand　er　of　the　partment；　she　with　her　back　pressed　close　against　her　brother's　side；　he　with　a　protective　arm　around　his　sister's　shoulders。
〃Please　sit　down　…　both　of　you；〃　Kelson　said　quietly；　gesturing　toward　the　cushions　behind　them；　then　taking　a　seat　himself；　Duncan　to　his　left。　〃There's　no　need　to　make　this　more　difficult　than　it　already　is。　I　don't　intend　to　threaten　either　of　you；　but　there　are　things　which　must　be　said。　Sit　down！〃　he　repeated；　when　neither　of　them　moved。　〃I'd　rather　not　crane　my　neck　looking　up　at　you。〃
Blanching　even　whiter；　Sidana　eased　herself　onto　a　cushion；　back　ramrod　straight；　hands　balled　into　fists　at　her　sides；　though　she　tried　to　hide　them　under　the　folds　of　her　skirt。　Llewell；　sinking　down　beyond　her；　looked　just　as　scared；　but　he　did　a　fair　job　of　hiding　it　behind　a　facade　of　bravado。　Suddenly　Kelson　was　aware　how　he　must　look　to　them；　crowned　and　wearing　his　state　robes　of　crimson　and　ermine；　with　a　Deryni　bishop　at　his　side。　He　tried　to　soften　his　expression　a　little　as　he　glanced　from　one　to　the　other　of　them；　but　knew　he　must　be　firm。　He　was　glad　of　Duncan's　tempering　presence。
〃I've　had　word　from　your　mother；〃　he　said　to　both　of　them；　resting　his　hands　awkwardly　on　his　thighs。　〃Her　emissary　arrived　this　morning。〃
Sidana　gave　a　little　gasp；　closing　her　eyes　for　just　an　instant。　Her　brother　flushed　scarlet。
〃She　still　defies　you；　doesn't　she？〃　Llewell　crowed。　〃She's　going　to　stand　against　you！〃
〃She　executed　my　bishop；　who　was　her　hostage；〃　Kelson　said　evenly；　refusing　to　be　baited。　〃Do　you　know　what　that　means？〃
As　Sidana　glanced　fearfully　at　her　brother；　Llewell　drew　himself　up　even　more　haughtily。
〃Do　you　intend　to　execute　us　as　well；　then？　We　are　not　afraid　to　die！〃
〃No　one　has　accused　you　of　being　afraid；〃　Kelson　said　sharply。　〃And　I　am　trying　to　insure　that　no　one　else　need　die　…　though　I　think　even　you　will　agree　that　I　would　be　within　my　rights　to　kill　you。〃
〃Deryni　bastard！〃　Llewell　muttered。
〃I　will　admit　to　being　Deryni；〃　Kelson　replied　softly。　〃And　I　shall　attribute　your　use　of　the　other　term　to　your　anger　and　the　brashness　of　youth。　But　do　not　interrupt　me　again；　or　I　shall　ask　Bishop　McLain　to　deal　with　you。〃
He　sensed　they　knew　the　threat　was　not　an　empty　one。　As　Sidana　stifled　another　little　gasp　and　both　of　them　glanced　automatically　at　Duncan；　Llewell　closed　his　mouth　and　sat　back　sullenly　in　his　place。　Duncan　wore　no　weapons　and　presented　no　particular　physical　threat　in　size　or　even　expression；　but　they　must　suspect　he　was　also　a　〃Deryni　bastard。〃　Neither　had　had　a　taste　of　his　particular　talents；　but　they　had　both　felt　Morgan's　magic。　The　threat　was　sufficient　for　the　moment。
〃Very　well；　then。　I　trust　we　understand　each　other　on　that　point；〃　Kelson　breathed。　〃Please　believe　that　it　is　not　my　wish　to　execute　anyone；　especially　my　own　kinsmen　and　women；　but　I　would　be　less　than　true　to　my　coronation　vows　if　I　allowed　treachery　to　go　unpunished。　I　am　Meara's　lawful；　anointed　king；　as　well　as　Gwynedd's。　Your　mother　has　risen　in　rebellion　against　me　and　taken　an　innocent　life。〃
Sidana　continued　to　stare　at　him　numbly；　and　Llewell　appeared　to　be　on　the　verge　of　another　outburst；　but；　at　least　for　the　moment；　the　threat　of　Duncan　sitting　across　from　him　kept　him　silent　as　Kelson　went　on。
〃But　I　wish　to　spend　no　further　lives　in　this　matter；〃　Kelson　said　in　a　more　conciliatory　tone。　〃It　is　my　earnest　desire　that　Meara　and　Gwynedd　may　be　one；　as　our　greatgrandfathers　intended。　And　if　that　can　be　acplished　peaceably；　then　that　is　what　I　choose。　You　can　help　me　do　that。〃
〃Us？　Help　a　Haldane？〃　Llewell　sneered。
Even　as　Llewell　said　it。　Kelson　was　glaring　at　him　angrily　and　signing　to　Duncan。
〃One　more　word　out　of　him。。。〃　he　said　with　deliberate　menace。
Casually　but　purposefully；　Duncan　moved　closer　to　the　end　of　the　embrasure；　within　easy　reach　of　Llewell。　The　boy　subsided　immediately；　and　Kelson　turned　his　full　attention　on　Sidana。　He　almost　hoped　Llewell　did　say　something　else；　his　constant　interference　was　not　making　this　any　easier。
〃What　I　say　next　must　be　directed　to　you；　my　lady；〃　he　said　patiently。　〃I　do　not　expect　you　to　do　anything　for　me　but　I　do　hope　you　will　do　what　you　must　for　the　sake　of　Meara。　I　offer　you　a　way　to　resolve　the　conflict　between　our　two　lands　without　further　shedding　of　blood。　I　ask　that　you　join　your　royal　line　with　mine　…　that　our　children　may　reign　as　undisputable　rulers　of　a　united　Gwynedd　and　Meara。〃
He　hardly　flickered　an　eyelid　at　Llewell's　strangled　cry；　only　shooting　out　a　hand　to　seize　Sidana's　right　wrist　when　she　would　have　tried　to　stop　Duncan。　The　bishop　was　across　the　intervening　space　before　Llewell　could　even　leave　his　seat；　imposing　control　so　swiftly　that　Llewell　had　time　for　only　a　futile　gesture　in　Kelson's　direction。　The　prince's　eyelids　fluttered　once　and　then　closed　as　he　crumpled　into　Duncan's　arms；　his　head　lolling　against　the　episcopal　purple　without　resistance。　In　repose；　with　the　defiant　lines　erased　from　the　face；　he　looked　even　younger　than　his　fifteen　years。
〃He　was　warned；〃　Duncan　murmured；　shifting　Llewell's　head　and　shoulders　to　a　more　fortable　position　across　his　lap　and　glancing　up　at　Sidana。　〃I　haven't　harmed　him。　He　can　hear　what's　going　on　around　him；　he　simply　can't　react。　I　promise　you；　he　felt　no　pain。　Nor　is　he　feeling　any　now。　His　Majesty　has　asked　a　question　of　you；　my　lady。　I　suggest　you　answer　him。〃
With　a　startled　gasp；　Sidana　jerked　her　wrist　away　from　Kelson　and　stood；　apparently　only　then　remembering　that　he　still　had　held　it。　She　was　too　proud　to　cry；　but　Kelson　could　sense　the　effort　it　took　her　to　bite　back　her　tears　as　she　retreated　to　the　left…hand　er　of　the　embrasure；　as　far　from　all　of　them　as　she　could　get。　Hugging　her　arms　across　her　breast；　she　stared　blindly　out　the　window　for　several　seco