kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第65部分

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ugal！〃
〃Not　if　you　mean　what　you　say；〃　Morgan　replied；　eying　the　king　wistfully。
〃That　I'm　drunk？　Oh　…　that　I'm　willing　to　help；〃　Kelson　answered；　echoing　Morgan's　patient　nod。
〃Yes。〃
〃Very　well。　What？〃
〃What？〃
〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do　to　help？〃　Kelson　said；　making　a　rolling　gesture　with　his　free　hand　to　urge　Morgan　on。　〃e　on；　tell　me。〃
With　a　short；　resolute　sigh；　Morgan　leaned　a　little　closer；　toying　with　his　goblet　between　his　two　hands　as　he　gazed　across　at　the　king。
〃I'd　like　Richenda　to　remain　at　court　when　we　go　on　campaign　in　the　spring。〃
〃You　mean　here　in　Rhemuth？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What　about　the　children。　Aren't　they　still　in　Coroth？〃
〃I　can　have　them　brought　here　as　soon　as　the　weather　lets　up。　They'll　be　fine　where　they　are；　through　the　winter　months。　Derry's　mother　has　bee　their　governess。　And　my　staff　have　things　under　control　otherwise。〃
Kelson　grimaced；　obviously　having　trouble　following　Morgan's　logic。
〃So　the　children　join　Richenda　here　in　the　spring　and　they　all　stay　here　through　the　campaign。　I　still　don't　understand　why。〃
〃Well；　for　one　thing；　your　future　queen　has　taken　a　fancy　to　my　wife；　as　you　well　know；〃　Morgan　replied。　〃That　would　be　reason　enough；　all　by　itself。　She　could　also　help　your　aunt。　With　a　new　baby　on　the　way；　Meraude　shouldn't　have　to　shoulder　the　duties　of　chatelaine　indefinitely；　and　until　you're　sure　you've　won　Sidana's　loyalty；　you　won't　be　able　to　trust　her　with　those　duties。〃
Kelson　nodded　profoundly。　〃Aye；　that's　true　enough。　And　I'm　sure　Aunt　Meraude　would　wele　Richenda's　pany。　But　won't　Richenda　be　needed　at　Coroth；　with　you　away？〃
Morgan　bowed　his　head　and　toyed　with　the　stem　of　his　goblet；　wishing　desperately　that　she　were。
〃No；〃　he　whispered。
〃No？　But　she's　your　duchess。　Who　else　is　equipped　to　manage　things　for　that　long　in　your　absence？〃
〃Not　the　former　wife　of　a　traitor；〃　Morgan　said　quietly。
〃What？〃
〃They　don't　trust　her。　Kelson。　I　think　they　mean　well；　but　I　suppose　they're　afraid　she'll　betray　me。　Maybe　they　think　she'll　take　revenge　for　my　part　in　Bran's　death。〃
〃But　I　killed　Bran　…　and　partially　for　that　very　reason；　so　no　one　could　later　say　you　killed　him　to　get　his　wife。〃
Morgan　sighed。　〃I　know。　There's　more。　Hillary　says　they're　nervous　about　her　being　co…guardian　for　Brendan　…　that　if　something　were　to　happen　to　me；　she'd　have　Corwyn　and　Marley　at　her　disposal　until　Brendan　and　Briony　came　of　age。　And　then；　if　she　were　to　betray　you　…　〃
〃Alaric；　that's　insane！〃　Kelson　blurted。　〃She's　loyal！　She'd　never　betray　either　of　us！　There　must　be　some　other　explanation。〃　He　made　a　vexed　face。　〃It's　probably　Hamilton　and　Hillary's　fault；　not　wanting　to　let　go　of　the　authority　they've　had　all　these　years　you　weren't　married。　One　can　hardly　blame　them　for　being　jealous。〃
Morgan　shook　his　head。　〃I　wish　it　were　that　simple；　my　prince。　Actually；　Hamilton　and　Hillary　like　her　very　much。　They're　as　mystified　as　you　and　I。　But　a　few　of　their　officers　have　e　right　out　and　told　them　they　can't　be　responsible　for　the　men's　behavior　if　I　leave　her　in　charge　and　something　goes　wrong　…　even　if　it　isn't　her　fault〃。　He　sighed。　〃So　I　haven't　given　her　any　authority；　and　I　haven't　been　able　to　bring　myself　to　tell　her　why。　It　would　make　it　seem　like　I　agreed　with　them。〃
Kelson　was　sobering　fast　as　he　listened　to　Morgan's　account；　and　he　set　aside　his　cup　with　a　grimace　of　distaste　as　Morgan　finished。
〃You　should　have　told　me　sooner。〃
〃I　didn't　want　to　bother　you。　Before　Carsten　of　Meara　died　and　everything　blew　up；　I　thought　I'd　be　home　all　winter　and　get　things　straightened　out。　Now　it's　going　to　be　the　end　of　next　summer　before　I　get　home。　I　didn't　know　she　was　ing　for　Christmas　court；　you　know；　but　I'm　glad　she　did；　under　the　circumstances。　Rhemuth　will　be　the　best　place　for　her　until　I　get　things　sorted　out。〃
〃You　still　should　have　told　me。　Does　Duncan　know？〃
〃No。　No　one　else。〃　He　broke　off　as　Duncan　appeared　in　the　garderobe　doorway　supporting　a　weak　and　contrite　Dhugal。
〃He's　going　to　be　fine；〃　Duncan　called；　grinning　as　he　helped　Dhugal　cross　the　room　and　sit　gingerly　in　his　former　place。　〃He　isn't　nearly　as　drunk　now　as　he　was　a　few　minutes　ago；　are　you；　son？　I　think　he's　learned　a　valuable　lesson；　too。〃
〃Aye。　Never　again；〃　Dhugal　nodded　miserably。　〃What　kind　of　wine　was　that；　anyway？　I've　never　felt　this　awful　before；　just　from　drinking。〃
Lazily；　Morgan　raised　his　cup　to　sniff　at　its　contents。　〃Fianna　red。　It's　quite　good；　actually。　Does　your　head　hurt？〃
〃Like　a　smithy's　forging　swords；〃　Dhugal　muttered；　palming　across　both　his　eyes　and　tipping　his　head　against　the　chair　back。　〃I　may　die。〃
Duncan；　perching　casually　on　Dhugal's　chair　arm；　slipped　one　hand　behind　the　back　of　Dhugal's　head　and　began　to　massage　at　the　base　of　his　skull；　steadying　him　with　his　other　hand　on　a　shoulder　as　Dhugal　sighed　and　immediately　began　to　relax。　Morgan；　guessing　what　Duncan　was　about　and　sensing　that　Dhugal　did　not；　glanced　at　Kelson　and　prepared　to　divert　Dhugal's　attention　further。　At　least　they　might　salvage　something　for　Dhugal　from　this　evening's　work。
〃Well；　I　suppose　we　all　know　that　feeling；〃　he　said　with　a　smile；　sending　the　king　a　hint　of　their　intentions。　〃Red　wine　is　the　worst　offender；　too。　I　remember　one　night　with　Derry　in　Jennan　Vale　…　long　before　you　were　king。　Kelson　…　when　he　and　I　got　so　drunk　on　the　local　vintage　that　I　was　sure　it　was　the　end　of　both　of　us。　Derry　can　really　drink；　too。　He　got　up　on　a　table　and　sang　a　song。。。。〃
He　spun　the　yam　for　several　minutes；　he　and　Kelson　watching　Dhugal　fall　increasingly　under　Duncan's　influence　all　unawares；　the　hands　slowly　sinking　to　rest　on　his　lap；　the　lines　disappearing　from　his　forehead　as　he　relaxed　in　sleep。　After　a　few　more　minutes；　Duncan　shifted　one　hand　briefly　to　cover　Dhugal's　closed　eyes。　When　he　looked　up　at　Morgan　and　Kelson；　he　grinned。
〃Well　done。　He　isn't　exactly　controlled；　but　he's　asleep。　I　didn't　want　to　push　my　luck。　The　shields　are　still　very　much　in　place。　And　if　he　thought　he　had　a　headache　just　now；　wait　until　morning！〃
〃I'd　rather　not　think　about　that；〃　Kelson　muttered。
〃Ah；　but　you　have　a　choice；〃　Morgan　said；　shifting　back　in　his　chair　and　setting　aside　his　cup　with　a　grin。　〃One　of　the　side…benefits　of　having　healing　talents　is　being　able　to　ease　the　morning　after。　Actually；　we　could　probably　help　Dhugal；　too；　but　it's　much　harder　having　to　work　around　shields。　Maybe　that　will　be　an　incentive　for　him　to　learn　to　lower　them。〃
〃I　hope　something　soon　is！〃　Kelson　murmured。　Sighing；　he　stood　and　ran　a　hand　through　his　rumpled　hair。　〃But　it's　time　we　all　got　some　sleep；　I　suppose。　Duncan；　why　don't　you　bring　Dhugal　on　into　my　room；　there's　plenty　of　room　for　two　in　my　bed；　at　least　until　tomorrow　night　…　and　then　you　and　Alaric　can　put　me　out　of　my　misery　as　well。〃
A　little　unsteadily；　but　declining　Morgan's　offer　of　assistance；　the　king　led　the　way　into　the　sleeping　chamber　and　shed　his　outer　garments。
〃Make　everything　be　right　when　I　wake　up；　Alaric；〃　ne　whispered；　as　he　lay　back　and　Morgan　sat　down　beside　him。　〃Please。〃
〃Close　your　eyes　and　go　to　sleep；　my　prince；〃　Morgan　said　softly。
He　let　himself　sink　into　trance　as　Kelson　obeyed；　spreading　his　hand　across　Kelson's　forehead　to　touch　the　closing　eyelids　with　thumb　and　middle　finger；　wrapping　his　consciousness　lovingly　around　that　of　his　king　and　guiding　it　into　stillness。　After　a　few　seconds；　Duncan　joined　him　in　rapport；　the　two　Deryni　gradually　extending　ease　and　healing　upon　the　king；　fort　to　soul　and　mind　as　well　as　body。

Epiphany　dawned　cold　but　clear　for　the　royal　nuptials。　Shortly　after　dawn；　Morgan　was　already　attending　to　the　few　remaining　details　that　must　be　resolved　before　the　start　of　the　bridal　procession；　which　would　wind　its　way　from　Rhemuth　Keep　down　to　the　cathedral　below。　He　did　not　mind　rising　early；　since　his　bed　was　empty　anyway　…　　though　in　a　good　cause。　Richenda　had　spent　the　night　with　the　nervous　royal　bride。　Two　hours　before　the　wedding　procession　was　to　begin；　heading　down　the　corridor　that　led　past　Kelson's　apartments；　he　met　Duncan　just　emerging。
〃How　is　he？〃　Morgan　asked；　as　the　two　of　them　continued　on　down　the　corridor。
Duncan　smiled。　〃Well　enough。　I've　just　heard　his　confession　…　and　he's　as　nervous　as　I've　ever　seen　him　over　something　that　isn't　mortally　dangerous　…　but　he's　in　good　spirits。　'Hopeful'　is　probably　be　the　best　word　to　describe　him。〃
〃Well；　that's　reassuring；〃　Morgan　said。　〃How　about　Dhugal？〃
〃I　don't　know。　He'd　gone　to　change　before　I　arrived。　I　gather　that　loud　noises　and　sudden　movements　are　not　his　favorite　things　just　now；　however。　Poor　lad。〃
〃Well；　we　all　had　to　learn　that　the　hard　way；　didn't　we？〃　Morgan　replied。　〃Incidentally；　and　on　a　far　more　optimistic　note；　did　you　know　that　Llewell's　consented　to　lead　his　sister's　horse　this　morning；　and　to　stand　witness　to　the　marriage？〃
Duncan　chuckled。　〃I'm　not　surprised　to　hear　it。　I'm　told　he　had　Bradene　hear　his　confession　yesterday。　Apparently　he's　quite　contrite。〃
〃More　likely；　Nigel　sat　him　down　and　had　a　little　chat　about　the　realities　of　being　a　hostage　prince；〃　Morgan　snorted。　〃But　…　well；　look　who's　still　alive　despite　his　hangover！〃　he　added　jovially；　as　Dhugal