kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第72部分

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en　them　then　was　like　a　flash　of　summer　lightning；　bright　and　hot；　surging　into　every　nerve　and　sinew。
The　dark　eyes　were　quickly　lowered　…　had　she　felt　it；　too？　…　but　the　sensation　lingered　as　she　repeated　her　own　part　of　the　vows；　her　voice　as　cool　and　still　as　the　sacred　well　at　Candor　Rhea；　the　ripples　of　her　words　stirring　hope　and　even　gentle　promise　of　what　might　be。　Kelson　kept　her　hand　in　his　when　she　had　done；　and　she　did　not　flinch　or　try　to　pull　away　as　they　looked　back　to　Cardiel　for　the　blessing　of　the　ring。
But　it　was　Duncan's　hand　that　produced　it；　and　Arilan's　that　blessed　it；　sprinkling　it　with　holy　water　and　then　passing　it　through　incense　smoke　with　a　special　prayer。　An　artisan　of　Arilan's　acquaintance　had　wrought　it　of　Cassani　gold　…　a　Deryni　craftsman　of　Camberian　Council　connections；　the　bishop　had　confided　to　Kelson　alone；　in　a　rare　moment　of　candor　about　that　particular　aspect　of　his　own　life。　On　a　flat；　oval　facet　pared　from　the　curve　along　the　top；　the　man　had　etched　a　delicate　Gwynedd　lion；　the　eyes　set　with　tiny　rubies　…　fitting　token　to　seal　a　new　queen　to　her　lord　and　land。　Kelson's　hand　was　trembling　only　a　little　as　he　recited　the　words　after　Duncan；　slipping　the　ring　briefly　over　the　tips　of　thumb；　forefinger；　and　middle　finger　before　ending　with　her　ring　finger。
〃In　nomine　Patris；　et　Filii；　et　Spiritus　Sancti；　Amen。〃
Cardiel　joined　their　inside　hands　then；　binding　them　ritually　with　the　stole　from　Duncan's　neck；　all　three　bishops　laying　their　hands　on　the　joined　ones　as　Cardiel　pronounced　his　confirmation　of　the　marriage　vows：
〃Ego　conjungo　vos　in　matrimonium：　In　nomine　Patris；　et　Filii；　et　Spiritis　Sancti。〃
In　that　holy　moment；　lulled　by　the　great　〃'Amen〃　chanted　and　embellished　by　the　choir；　no　thought　of　danger　entered　Kelson's　mind。　Head　bowed　and　eyes　closed；　hand　locked　to　his　bride's；　he　was　too　intent　on　savoring　the　fullness　of　his　new　estate　to　sense　Llewell's　heartsick　shift　from　thought　to　deadly　action。
Only　as　Sidana　gasped　and　was　half　jerked　from　his　grasp　did　he　bee　aware　…　far　too　late　to　prevent　it！　Far　too　late　for　anyone　to　prevent　it！　With　his　hand　tangled　in　the　stole　binding　him　to　Sidana；　he　could　not　whirl　in　time　to　stop　Llewell　…　or　the　deadly　little　knife　the　Mearan　prince　inexplicably　produced　from　somewhere。　The　lightning　flash　this　time　was　bright…honed　steel　glinting　in　the　candlelight；　dyed　by　a　pluming　shower　of　crimson　as　Llewell　slashed　it　across　his　sister's　throat　in　a　single　desperate　stroke。
It　seemed　to　Kelson　that　everyone　but　Llewell　was　encased　in　thick　honey；　moving　far　too　slowly　to　do　anything　but　gape　in　horror　at　Llewell's　ghastly　act。　Even　the　blood　fountaining　from　the　victim's　mortal　wound　seemed　to　hang　suspended　in　space；　Sidana's　lips　frozen　in　a　silent　O；　the　light　in　the　brown　eyes　already　fading　as　Kelson's　scream　echoed　in　the　cathedral；　both　physical　and　psychic：
〃Nonononononononono。。。！〃
Then　all　at　once；　everyone　was　moving。　Shouts　of　outrage　and　dismay　ripped　the　silence　as　Dhugal　and　the　knights　who　had　held　the　canopy　swarmed　over　Llewell　and　dragged　him　to　the　floor；　trying　to　avoid　his　knife　…　　trying　to　keep　him　from　turning　it　on　himself。　Kelson；　stunned　almost　past　function　by　the　senseless　horror　of　the　act；　caught　the　sinking　Sidana　to　his　breast　and　eased　her　to　the　floor；　one　futile　hand　clamped　to　the　awful　wound　in　her　throat　even　as　his　eyes　sought　Morgan　and　Duncan　and　his　mind　screamed　for　them　to　save　her。
Blood　gushed　from　her　throat　as　they　crowded　around　her；　drenching　the　blue　of　her　gown　and　pooling　in　the　hair　spread　under　her　head　like　a　cloak；　staining　the　white　roses。　Duncan's　white　surplice　turned　red　almost　in　the　blink　of　an　eye；　his　and　Morgan's　hands　slick　with　her　blood　as　they　tried　to　staunch　her　wound。
〃Don't　kill　him！〃　Arilan　manded；　as　Dhugal　and　the　knights　finally　brought　Llewell　under　control　and　yanked　him　to　his　feet；　battered　and　bruised。　〃That　satisfaction　is　for　another！〃
Still　Morgan　and　Duncan　fought　to　save　the　mortally　wounded　princess。　Kelson　staring　numbly　at　the　blood；　Cardiel　finally　summoning　the　initiative　to　begin　shepherding　horrified　witnesses　out　of　the　choir；　Arilan　assisting。　The　two　Deryni　continued　their　feverish　efforts　for　yet　a　few　more　minutes；　until　finally　Morgan　looked　up　at　Kelson　and　shook　his　head；　bloody　hands　lifted　in　a　vanquished；　futile　gesture。　Duncan　murmured　a　silent　prayer　for　Sidana's　soul；　making　the　sign　of　the　Cross　over　her　bloody　forehead；　then　sighed　and　also　raised　his　eyes　to　Kelson's。　His　once　white　surplice　was　drenched　with　her　blood；　his　hands　red　with　it；　and　he　could　only　look　up　at　Kelson　helplessly；　unable　to　offer　any　solace。
〃Kelson；　we　tried；〃　he　whispered。　〃God　help　us；　how　we　tried！　But　it　happened　so　fast　…　　she　lost　so　much　blood；　so　quickly。。。。〃
Before　Kelson　could　respond；　Morgan's　glance　flicked　to　the　panting；　triumphant　Llewell；　bloody　himself　from　his　rough　handling；　standing　on　wide…spraddled　legs　in　the　midst　of　the　hard…eyed　knights；　Dhugal　with　the　bloody　dagger　in　his　hand。　In　a　single　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　genu