kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第64部分

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！


elationship　along　in　any　extraordinary　way；　the　knowledge　that　his　own　wooing　had　been　acplished　without　Deryni　advantage　was　sufficient　for　his　own　conscience。
However　Richenda　managed　it；　though；　Sidana's　fits　of　near…hysterical　weeping　gradually　abated　to　stony　endurance；　resigned　tolerance；　and　even　occasional　shy　excitement　as　gowns　were　cut　and　fitted　and　Richenda　began　gently　instructing　her　young　charge　in　some　of　the　privileges　as　well　as　the　duties　of　her　life　to　e。　The　only　major　setback　occurred　at　midweek；　after　a　private　audience　with　her　brother　degenerated　into　a　shouting　and　weeping　bout。　On　hearing　of　it。　Kelson　forbade　all　further　sibling　contact　until　after　the　wedding　day　and　asked　that　Richenda　remain　with　the　princess　day　and　night　for　the　interim。　Morgan　regretted　his　empty　bed；　but　Sidana's　Progress　after　that　was　so　tangible　that　he　counted　the　sacrifice　well　worth　while。　Once；　passing　near　the　queen's　solar；　he　even　heard　Sidana　singing　with　Richenda。　When　told。　Kelson　beamed　for　the　rest　of　the　evening。
On　the　military　and　ecclesiastical　front；　preparations　also　went　forward　as　Twelfth　Night　approached。　The　morning　after　Christmas；　the　archbishops　loosed　the　next　offensive　in　their　attempt　to　bring　Loris　to　his　knees；　extending　their　earlier　exmunication　of　rebel　bishops　and　Mearan　royal　family　to　a　general　interdict　of　all　of　Meara。　Kelson　doubted　the　long…range　usefulness　of　the　measure；　for　it　was　unlikely　that　Loris　would　observe　it；　but　he　allowed　it　to　be　sent　along　with　his　formal　declaration　of　war　in　the　spring。　As　was　only　honorable；　he　also　sent　notice　of　his　intentions　regarding　Sidana：　a　stark；　official　copy　of　the　banns　of　marriage　published　in　Rhemuth　that　same　morning；　witnessed　by　nearly　a　dozen　bishops　and　lords　of　state　as　well　as　by　both　principals。　There　was　no　chance　of　Mearan　interference　with　the　latter；　for　no　messenger　could　reach　Ratharkin　and　return　before　the　wedding　took　place；　and　as　for　the　rest；　spring　would　decide　the　future　from　that　point。
〃Her　parents　would　probably　rather　she　were　dead；〃　Kelson　said　gloomily；　sipping　rich　Fianna　wine　with　his　closest　friends　the　night　before　his　wedding。　〃Maybe　she　would；　too。　I　suspect　Llewell　would。　I'm　sure　he　wishes　I　were。〃
Dhugal；　showing　the　effects　of　the　evening's　indulgence　far　more　than　the　king；　shook　his　head　and　chuckled；　exchanging　an　exaggerated　wink　with　Morgan　and　Duncan。
〃Of　course　Llewell　wishes　you　were　dead。　Sire；〃　he　said　lightly。　〃Llewell　is　her　brother。　What　brother　ever　thinks　any　man　is　good　enough　for　his　sister？〃
〃There　was　once　one　good　enough　for　my　sister；〃　Morgan　replied；　glancing　over　his　cup　at　Duncan　with　a　sad；　wistful　smile。
The　ment　caught　both　younger　men　by　surprise　…　　Dhugal；　who　had　no　idea　what　Morgan　was　talking　about；　and　Kelson；　who　understood　the　reference　all　too　well。　As　Kelson　lowered　his　eyes；　obviously　saddened　by　the　memory；　Dhugal　turned　puzzled　gaze　on　Duncan；　who　sighed　and　raised　his　cup　slightly　in　remembrance。
〃To　Kevin　and　Bronwyn：　together　for　all　eternity。〃
He　grimaced　and　drank　the　toast；　not　looking　up　as　Morgan　and　Kelson　silently　followed　suit。　Dhugal；　even　more　mystified；　turned　to　Kelson　in　question。
〃Did　they　die　or　something？〃　he　whispered；　much　sobered。
Kelson　leaned　his　head　against　the　back　of　his　chair　and　closed　his　eyes。　〃Or　something。〃
〃What　does　that　mean？〃　Dhugal　persisted。　〃Weren't　they　…　Deryni？〃
Sighing；　Morgan　picked　up　the　wine　pitcher　and　began　carefully　refilling　his　and　Duncan's　cups；　not　meeting　any　of　their　eyes。
〃Bronwyn　was。　She　was　my　only　sister。　Kevin　was　Duncan's　half…brother；　and　human。　There　was　also　at　Duke　Jared's　court　a　young　architect　named　Rimmell　who'd　taken　a　fancy　to　Bronwyn；　though　no　one　knew　that　at　the　time　…　least　of　all　Bronwyn。　In　any　event；　Rimmell　formed　an　insane　jealousy　of　Kevin。　Two　days　before　Bronwyn　and　Kevin　were　to　be　married；　Rimmell　apparently　decided　he　must　eliminate　his　rival。〃
〃You　mean　he　killed　Kevin？〃　Dhugal　breathed。
Morgan　paused　with　the　wine　pitcher　in　his　hand　to　gaze　unseeing　at　the　fire。
〃Not　…　directly；〃　he　said　after　a　slight　pause。　〃He　obtained　a　love　charm　from　an　old　witch　woman　up　in　the　hills。　She　told　him　it　would　turn　Bronwyn's　love　away　from　Kevin　and　toward　himself。　The　charm　was　ill…set。　It　backfired。　Bronwyn　…　tried　to　protect　Kevin。　Both　of　them　died。〃
〃How　awful！〃
With　another　sigh；　Morgan　shook　his　head　and　resumed　pouring　wine　for　the　king；　obviously　trying　to　shake　the　mood　as　well。
〃I'm　sorry。　I　thought　everyone　knew。　And　I　apologize　to　you　as　well；　my　prince。〃　He　set　the　pitcher　on　the　hearth　and　glanced　at　Kelson。　〃This　is　hardly　fit　conversation　for　the　night　before　your　wedding。　We　should　speak　of　less　ill…fated　unions：　your　aunt　and　uncle；　your　parents　…　〃
〃Your　own　marriage；　perhaps？〃　Kelson　asked　with　a　faint　smile；　his　lips　red　with　the　wine　of　which　he　had　just　drunk　deeply。
As　Morgan　demurred；　unreadable　emotions　flickering　across　his　face；　and　Duncan　chuckled　politely；　Dhugal　gave　a　tipsy　giggle　and　raised　his　cup　in　unsteady　salute。
〃Here；　here。　Your　Grace！　You're　the　only　married　man　among　us。　Tell　my　virgin　brother　what　he　can　expect　on　his　wedding　night！〃
〃I　…　doubt　our　lord　the　king　needs　any　serious　instruction　in　that　regard；〃　Morgan　said　after　a　slight　pause；　suspecting　that　Kelson　might；　but　reluctant　to　go　into　too　intimate　detail　in　front　of　one　of　Kelson's　apparently　more　experienced　peers；　and　with　all　of　them　increasingly　in　their　cups。
〃What　makes　a　marriage　is　not　the　wedding　night；　however；〃　he　went　on；　〃but　what　es　after。　I　suspect　that　Kelson's　marriage　will　be　rather　like　everyone　else's　in　that　respect。　Regardless　of　how　much　he　and　his　bride　eventually　may　e　to　care　for　one　another　…　and　God　grant　that　love　will　grow　between　them　…　there　will　be　good　days。。。　and　days　that　are　not　so　good。〃　He　shrugged　and　smiled。　〃One　works　things　out。〃
Kelson　looked　at　him　strangely。　〃Is　that　the　voice　of　experience；　Alaric？〃　he　said　softly。　〃Odd；　but　it　never　even　occurred　to　me　that　you　and　Richenda　were　anything　but　deliriously　happy。　You　seemed　so　much　in　love　…　〃
〃And　we're　still　in　love；〃　Morgan　said；　raising　an　eyebrow　wistfully。　〃That　doesn't　mean　there　aren't　occasional　problems；　however。　She's　an　intelligent；　headstrong　woman。　Kelson　…　and　I'm　as　headstrong　a　man　as　you're　ever　likely　to　meet。　I　wouldn't　lie　to　you　and　say　we　haven't　had　our　bad　days；　but　I　will　assure　you　that　the　nights　are　almost　always　good。〃
〃I'll　bet　they　are。〃　Dhugal　chuckled；　raising　his　cup　in　oblivious　salute　as　Kelson　looked　at　him　in　astonishment。　〃I've　heard　about　your　wife。　Your　Grace！〃
〃Have　you；　now？〃
Morgan's　dry　tone　of　affront　was　only　in　jest；　for　he　knew　Dhugal　had　not　meant　his　ment　the　way　it　sounded；　but　the　look　of　consternation　which　came　over　the　boy's　face　as　he　realized　what　he　had　said　could　not　be　ignored。　Better　he　learn　about　the　consequences　of　too　much　drink　while　in　the　pany　of　friends　than　among　strangers；　who　might　take　genuine　and　perhaps　deadly　offense。
〃Your　Grace；　I'm　sorry！〃　the　boy　managed　to　whisper；　his　eyes　so　wide　Morgan　wondered　how　he　could　see。　〃I　only　meant　…　〃
〃What　did　you　mean。　Earl　of　Transha？〃　Morgan　replied　softly。　〃That　my　wife　is　beautiful？〃
〃Yes！　And　that's　all！〃
Before　their　very　eyes；　Dhugal　turned　a　pasty　shade　of　green；　so　quickly　that　even　he　was　taken　by　surprise。
〃Too　much　to　drink！〃　he　managed　to　croak；　as　he　lurched　to　his　feet　and　ran　stumbling　from　the　room　to　disappear　into　a　garderobe　cubicle；　which　shortly　echoed　with　the　sound　of　retching。　Kelson；　hardly　less　inebriated　but　in　far　better　control；　at　least　of　his　stomach；　stifled　an　embarrassed　giggle　and　hiccoughed。
〃I'm　sorry。　I　shouldn't　laugh。　I　think　I've　had　too　much　as　well。　Someone　ought　to　make　sure　he's　all　right；　though。〃
〃I'll　go；〃　Duncan　said；　rising　to　join　the　unfortunate　Dhugal。
Morgan　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　the　retreating　bishop；　then　back　at　the　still…snickering　king。
〃Are　you　sure　you're　all　right？〃　he　asked　Kelson。
Kelson　shook　his　head　and　pressed　the　cool　goblet　against　his　forehead　as　he　closed　his　eyes。
〃No。　I'm　scared　silly　about　tomorrow。　I'm　going　to　have　a　wife；　Alaric！　She　doesn't　even　like　me。　What　am　I　going　to　do？〃
〃You're　going　to　make　the　best　of　it；　as　you　have　with　everything　that's　been　dealt　you；〃　Morgan　replied。　〃And　as　for　whether　she　likes　you　or　not；　why　not　give　her　a　chance　before　you　decide　she　doesn't？　You're　going　to　discover　a　great　change　just　since　you　last　saw　her。　And　you've　already　admitted　that　you're　attracted　to　her。　Make　that　work　for　you。　It　isn't　that　hard　to　fall　in　love。　I've　done　it　dozens　of　times。〃
Kelson　snorted　and　opened　his　eyes。　〃Only　once　that's　counted　…　and　where　did　that　get　you？　Is　something　wrong　between　you　and　Richenda；　Alaric？　Is　there　anything　I　…　　what　a　stupid　thing　to　say！〃　He　took　another　quick　gulp　from　his　cup　and　looked　back　at　the　surprised　Morgan。　〃Well；　here　I　am；　scared　witless　about　getting　married；　asking　an　old　married　man　whether　there's　anything　I　can　do　to　help　him。　I'm　as　drunk　as　Dhugal！〃
〃Not　if　you　mean　what　you　say；〃　Morgan　replied；　eying　the　king　wistfully。
〃That　I'm　drunk