kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第70部分

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een　with　a　woman；　I　know　there　has　to　be　more　to　making　love　than　just　the　physical　relief。〃
As　Morgan　nodded　wisely；　sensing　no　need　for　a　verbal　response。　Kelson　paused　only　long　enough　to　draw　breath　before　racing　on；　justifications　and　logic　jumbling　all　together　with　emotion　and　the　natural　apprehensions　of　the　sexually　uninitiated。
〃There's　another　thing；　too；〃　the　king　blurted；　starting　to　pace　again。　〃I'm　the　king。　What　if　there　had　been　children？　The　last　thing　I　need　plicating　the　already　convoluted　family　relationships　in　Gwynedd　is　a　succession　of　royal　bastards　to　muddy　the　waters　twenty　years　from　now　…　or　to　bee　pawns　in　my　enemies'　hands　at　any　time。　And　I'm　Deryni；　Alaric。　My　children　will　be；　too。　That　alone　might　have　been　enough　to　ensure　their　deaths　and　those　of　their　mothers。　It　just　seemed。。。　safer　to　abstain；　and　avoid　the　risk。〃
〃It　probably　was；〃　Morgan　agreed。
〃So　that　leaves　me　in　the　very　awkward　position　of　being　a　virgin　on　my　wedding　night；〃　Kelson　concluded。　〃That's　fine　for　a　woman；　it's　essential　in　the　woman　I　marry。　But　…　what　if　I　don't　know　what　to　do；　Alaric？　What　if　she　laughs　at　me？〃
Morgan　had　all　he　could　do　not　to　smile。　Was　there　a　man　alive　who　had　not　had　such　fears；　at　least　in　the　beginning？　And　some　never　really　lost　those　fears　…　though　Kelson；　with　his　gentleness　and　his　genuine　concern　for　others；　was　not　likely　to　be　left　with　that　dilemma。
With　avuncular　understanding；　then；　Morgan　put　an　arm　around　Kelson's　shoulders　and　did　his　best　to　reassure；　reminding　the　virgin　Kelson　of　his　young　bride's　similar　state　and　suggesting　ways　that　the　king　might　sense　how　best　to　please　her。　That　idea　had　never　even　occurred　to　Kelson。　By　the　time　Dhugal　appeared　at　the　door　with　the　rest　of　the　king's　wedding　procession。　Kelson　could　relax　and　even　banter　with　his　more　worldly　foster　brother　as　he　put　on　his　crown　and　went　out　to　meet　his　bride。

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The　horses　and　the　bride's　pany　were　waiting　in　the　castle　yard　under　a　sky　of　palest　winter　blue；　Sidana　gowned　in　slightly　darker　shades　of　the　same　and　seated　on　a　milk　white　palfrey　with　white　and　silver　bardings。　The　fine　wool　of　her　mantle；　a　deeper　azure　embroidered　with　golden　pomegranates　all　around　the　hem；　had　been　spread　over　her　horse's　rump　so　that　it　nearly　trailed　the　ground　in　the　back。　She　was　crowned　with　a　wreath　of　white　roses；　her　long；　chestnut　hair　spilling　down　her　back　to　nearly　veil　the　mantle。
Llewell　stood　at　her　horse's　head；　nervously　knotting　and　unknotting　the　animal's　white　leather　lead…rein　in　gloved　fingers　…　a　brooding　shadow　in　darker　blue　than　Sidana's；　scowling　into　the　sun。　A　little　way　behind；　Richenda　and　three　other　ladies　waited　on　pale　grey　palfreys；　ready　to　attend　the　bride。　Others　of　the　king's　attendants　were　already　mounted　up　as　well。　Deny　holding　the　reins　of　his　black　stallion。　To　one　side；　four　of　Kelson's　knights　were　readying　a　canopy　of　sky　blue　silk　to　carry　over　the　bride。　None　of　the　four　ranked　lower　than　an　earl's　son。
〃We　are　blessed　with　fair　weather　for　our　nuptials；　my　lady；〃　Kelson　said；　inclining　his　head　in　tentative　greeting　when　he；　Morgan；　and　Dhugal　had　made　their　way　through　the　horses　and　bowing　courtiers　and　stopped　before　her。　〃I　trust　that　my　people　have　made　you　wele　and　carried　out　the　preparations　to　your　satisfaction。〃
〃Satisfaction？〃　Llewell　said　before　Sidana　could　reply。　〃How　can　there　be　satisfaction　when　we　are　prisoners？〃
〃Your　bondage　has　been　light；　I　think；〃　Kelson　murmured；　hoping　desperately　that　Llewell　was　not　going　to　make　a　scene。　〃You　have　not　been　ill…used。〃
〃Ah；　and　you　do　not　consider　that　you　ill　use　my　sister　by　forcing　her　to　agree　to　this　marriage？〃　Llewell　asked。
I　thought　he'd　agreed　to　cooperate；　Morgan　said　to　Kelson；　as　Sidana　drew　in　a　breath　of　horror　and　Kelson's　jaw　tightened。　Do　you　want　me　to　put　him　to　sleep？
No；　just　shake　him　up　a　bit。　Sidana　wants　him　to　escort　her。
As　you　wish。
Without　a　flicker　of　warning；　Morgan　reached　across　to　seize　Llewell's　upper　arm　in　a　vise…grip；　though　his　pleasant　expression　did　not　alter。
〃The　lady　has　agreed　to　an　honorable　marriage；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Now；　will　you　hold　your　tongue；　or　must　I　thrash　you　over　my　knee　for　the　spoiled；　ill…bred　young　boor　that　you　are？〃
〃You　wouldn't　dare！〃
〃Wouldn't　I？〃
〃Llewell；　please　…　〃
〃Stay　out　of　this；　Sidana！〃
〃My　prince；〃　Morgan　murmured；　his　hand　clamping　tighter　on　Llewell's　arm；　〃by　your　leave；　I　shall　escort　this　young　fool　to　a　place　where　he　can　do　no　one　any　harm　…　himself　included。〃
〃Now　yet。　Llewell；〃　Kelson　said　quietly；　〃you　have　found　me　an　unmonly　patient　man　so　far。　You　may　judge　the　truth　of　that　by　the　fact　that　you　are　still　alive；　even　though　your　mother　treacherously　slew　my　bishop　and　you　yourself　claim　to　stand　between　your　sister　and　the　Mearan　crown。　Out　of　concern　for　the　feelings　of　my　bride；　I　am　willing　to　overlook　a　great　deal。　But　I　will　not　have　your　insolence；　and　I　will　not　have　you　disrupting　your　sister's　wedding　and　coronation。　Now；　are　you　certain　you　want　to　pursue　this　line　of　resistance？〃
Llewell's　eyes　blazed　with　undisguised　hatred；　but　after　a　few　seconds；　he　turned　his　head　away。
〃You'd　only　use　your　black　magic　on　me；　if　I　tried；〃　he　muttered　into　the　horse's　mane。
〃What　did　you　say？〃　Kelson　gasped。
As　Morgan　jerked　Llewell　around　to　face　them；　even　angrier　than　he　had　been。　Kelson　moved　closer　incredulously。
〃I　…　said　that　you'd　only　use　your　accursed　powers　on　me；　if　I　didn't　agree　to　cooperate！〃　Llewell　said　haltingly；　still　defiant；　though　he　winced　at　the　pressure　of　Morgan's　fingers　digging　into　his　biceps。　〃As　your　Deryni　priest　did　before。〃
〃Are　you　trying　to　goad　me　into　an　act　we'll　both　regret？〃　Kelson　whispered。
〃Llewell；　please！〃　Sidana　begged。　〃For　my　sake。　You　can't　stop　the　marriage。　You　promised　you　would　stand　beside　me。　If　they　take　you　away；　I'll　be　all　alone！〃
Heaving　a　heavy；　defeated　sigh；　Llewell　drew　himself　up　with　as　much　dignity　as　he　could　salvage　from　the　situation；　though　Morgan's　hand　remained　clamped　on　his　arm。
〃I　see　I　am　also　alone；〃　he　said　evenly。　〃But　I'll　not　deprive　my　sister　of　the　escort　to　which　her　rank　entitles　her。　I'll　…　play　my　father's　part　and　give　away　the　bride；　if　it's　the　proper　form　you're　looking　for。　Kelson　of　Gwynedd。　But　I'll　be　loathing　you　for　every　second！〃
〃Ah　…　loathing　me。〃　Kelson　raised　an　eyebrow　and　smiled　with　relief。　〃Well；　I　can　put　up　with　that；　I　suppose；　if　you　do　as　you're　told。　Morgan；　you　can　let　him　go。　My　lady；　I'm　sorry　you　had　to　witness　this。〃
〃Please　forgive　my　brother；　my　lord；〃　Sidana　whispered。　〃He　only　means　to　protect　me。〃
〃Sidana；　I　don't　need　to　hide　behind　a　woman's　skirts！〃
〃Will　you　shut　your　mouth？〃　Morgan　muttered。
As　he　raised　a　gloved　hand　in　threat；　Llewell　drew　back　in　alarm。
〃Enough；　Morgan！〃　Kelson　said。　〃He's　young　and　he's　proud　and　hurting。　Let's　not　make　those　fatal　flaws。　I　will　make　you　one　threat；　however；　Llewell　of　Meara；〃　he　went　on；　turning　the　full　force　of　his　quicksilver　gaze　on　the　Mearan　prince　again。　〃I　will　remind　you　only　once　that　Morgan　and　other　loyal　friends　and　vassals　will　be　right　at　my　side　during　the　ceremony。　If　anything　happens　that　isn't　supposed　to；　and　it's　your　fault　…　anything　…　I　am　here　and　now　giving　them　free　license　to　take　whatever　action　they　deem　necessary。　That　assumes；　of　course；　that　I　haven't　dealt　with　you　first。　Do　I　make　myself　perfectly　clear？〃
〃You　do；〃　Llewell　muttered　under　his　breath。
〃I　didn't　quite　hear　that。〃
〃You　make　yourself　perfectly；　abundantly　clear；〃　Llewell　repeated　sullenly。
〃Good。　Then　we　understand　one　another。　My　Lady？〃
He　glanced　up　at　Sidana　again；　tentatively　extending　his　hand；　and　to　his　surprise；　she　responded。　Much　heartened；　he　bent　to　brush　her　knuckles　with　his　lips；　more　confident　as　he　straightened　and　released　her　hand。
〃My　lady；　I　apologize　again。　A　woman's　wedding　day　should　be　joyous　and　free　from　care。　I'm　afraid　I've　started　it　out　on　rather　a　poor　note。〃
〃You　have　done　what　you　had　to　do；　my　lord；〃　she　whispered；　〃and　I；　too；　must　once　more　beg　pardon　for　my　brother。〃
〃Sidana！〃
Ignoring　Llewell's　outburst。　Kelson　shook　his　head。　〃This　is　neither　the　time　nor　the　place　to　speak　further　of　the　matter；　my　lady。　Later；　after　we　are　wed；　there　will　be　time　enough　for　everything。　But　for　now；　the　archbishops　are　waiting　…　and　the　people　…　to　see　their　new　queen　go　to　her　marriage　and　coronation。　May　I　give　the　mands　for　our　procession　to　begin？〃
〃Do　you　ask　my　permission；　my　lord？〃　she　said；　amazed。
〃Of　course。　You　are　my　lady　and　my　queen。〃
One　look　at　her　brother　glaring　up　at　her；　hanging　on　her　every　gesture　and　expression；　apparently　was　sufficient　to　keep　Sidana　from　answering　with　words；　but　she　shyly　inclined　her　head　nonetheless。　To　Kelson；　it　seemed　more　than　just　dutiful　agreement。　As　he　withdrew　to　the　head　of　the　procession　where　his　horse　waited；　he　signalled　the　knights　to　bring　the　canopy　…　blue　silk　powdered　all　over　with　tiny　stars　and　moons　…　but　his　expression　was　jubilant　once　his　back　was　safely　to　the　Mearan　prince　and　princess。
〃Alaric；　did　you　see？〃　he　whispered；　as　Morgan　held　his　stirrup　and　helped