kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第73部分

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nda　wept　quietly　in　one　another's　arms；　and　even　the　three　royal　cousins　looked　subdued：　Conall　genuinely　regretful　and　the　two　younger　boys　wide…eyed　and　still　a　little　frightened　at　the　violence　they　had　witnessed。　Sighing；　Morgan　crouched　down　beside　the　silent　king；　where　Duncan　also　knelt。　Dhugal　stood　white…faced　and　mute　behind　his　father；　helpless　to　offer　fort。
〃Is　there　anything　else　you'd　like　me　to　do；　my　prince？〃　Morgan　asked；　resting　a　brief；　sympathetic　touch　on　the　rigid　shoulders。
Kelson　only　bowed　his　head　and　closed　his　eyes；　mind　tightly　shuttered　against　intrusion。
〃Go　to　your　wife；　Alaric；〃　he　whispered。　〃Please。　She　needs　you　now；　and　I　…　need　to　be　alone。〃
〃Very　well。　Duncan；　Dhugal；　are　you　ing？〃
〃In　a　moment；〃　Duncan　answered。　〃We'll　meet　you　in　the　sacristy。〃
Sighing；　Morgan　rose　and　joined　the　others　waiting　for　him；　embracing　Richenda　for　a　few　seconds；　then　simply　letting　his　wife　hold　him　before　shepherding　Nigel　and　his　family　out　a　side　door。　Kelson　opened　his　eyes　as　Dhugal　eased　down　silently　beside　Duncan；　but　he　did　not　look　up。
〃Kelson；　we　have　a　lot　to　learn　about　a　lot　of　things；〃　Duncan　said　softly。　〃We　tried；　Alaric　and　I；　but　there　simply　wasn't　time。　If　we　were　better　trained　…　but　who　knows　how　to　train　healers；　these　days？〃
〃No　one　could　have　saved　her；〃　Kelson　whispered。　〃She　wasn't　meant　to　live。　It　was　all　too　easy。　The　perfect　solution：　for　the　king　to　marry　the　fair　princess　and　unite　the　two　lands；　bringing　peace。。。。〃
Dhugal　swallowed　audibly；　tears　springing　to　his　own　eyes。　〃It's　my　fault；〃　he　said。　〃I　should　have　been　watching　Llewell　more　closely。　If　I'd　…　〃
〃It　wasn't　your　fault；〃　Kelson　dully。　〃No　one　could　have　known　Llewell　would　kill　his　own　sister；　rather　than　see　her　wed　his　mortal　enemy。　But　when　we'd　gotten　through　the　vows；　I　thought　he'd　accepted　it。〃
〃Kelson　is　right；　son；〃　Duncan　said　softly。　〃You　couldn't　have　known。　I　doubt　even　Llewell　knew；　before　the　actual　instant。　One　of　us　would　have　caught　some　hint。〃
Kelson　shrugged　and　gave　a　heavy　sigh。　〃It　doesn't　matter　now；　anyway。　We　did　our　best；　with　the　best　of　intentions　…　and　it　wasn't　enough。　The　Fates　obviously　have　something　else　in　store　for　us。〃
〃Perhaps；〃　Duncan　said。
A　taut　silence　fell　between　them；　Dhugal　unconsciously　easing　closer　to　his　father　for　fort；　but　Kelson　was　oblivious　to　them。　After　a　moment；　Duncan　slowly　rose；　gathering　his　blood…caked　surplice　in　his　arms　and　motioning　for　Dhugal　to　join　him。
〃We'll　leave　you　alone　for　a　few　minutes；　then。　Sire；〃　he　said　softly。　〃I'll　be　back　when　I've　changed。　Dhugal；　will　you　help　me？〃
〃In　a　moment；〃　Dhugal　whispered；　not　moving。
〃Very　well。〃
Without　further　words；　Duncan　retreated　slowly　up　the　altar　steps　and　through　the　sacristy　door；　leaving　only　Dhugal　still　kneeling　beside　the　king。
〃Kelson；　I'm　so　sorry；〃　Dhugal　managed　to　whisper。
〃I　know。　So　am　I。〃
〃Did　…　did　you　really　fall　in　love　with　her？〃　Dhugal　asked。
〃Fall　in　love？〃　Kelson　shrugged　dejectedly。　〃How　should　I　know？　I　never　had　the　time　to　find　out。　I　think　I'd　convinced　myself　that　I　could　love　her；　and　I　was　prepared　to　do　everything　within　my　power　to　make　her　a　good　husband。　Perhaps　a　king　hasn't　the　right　to　expect　more　than　that。〃
〃A　man　has　the　right；〃　Dhugal　said　indignantly。　〃Is　a　king　any　different？〃
〃Yes；　damn　you！　A　king　is　different。　He　…　〃　Kelson　lowered　his　eyes；　fighting　back　tears。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　whispered。　〃I　am　a　man　as　well　as　a　king；　and　I　grieve　for　both　my　brides　today。　This　girl；　who　I　might　have　e　to　love　as　wife　as　well　as　queen　…　and　the　thwarted　union　of　our　two　lands；　which　might　have　brought　peace　a　little　sooner。　I　…　〃
His　voice　broke；　threatening　to　sob；　and　he　set　aside　his　crown　and　buried　his　face　in　one　bloodied　hand。
〃Please　leave　me；　Dhugal；〃　he　managed　to　choke　out。
He　even　managed　to　keep　control　until　Dhugal　had　gotten　up　and　left；　shaking　his　head　hopelessly　as　he　let　his　eyes　pass　once　more　over　the　still；　pitiful　form　before　him。
O　God；　they　mean　well；　but　how　could　they　possibly　understand？　he　thought　numbly。　It's　over　before　it　even　had　a　chance　to　begin。
Vision　starting　to　blur；　he　reached　out　one　trembling　forefinger　to　lightly　touch　a　lock　of　her　hair　that　was　not　slick　with　her　blood。　He　lifted　it　to　his　lips　as　the　tears　welled　in　his　eyes；　fighting　back　the　sobs　which　threatened　to　reduce　him　to　a　weeping　ruin。
Sidana。。。　he　whispered　only　in　his　mind。　Sidana；　my　silken　princess。　I　would　have　tried　to　make　you　happy。　You　might　have　been。。。
Tenderly　he　slid　his　arms　under　her　shoulders　and　lifted　her　to　rest　against　his　chest；　heedless　of　the　blood；　cradling　her　head　against　his　shoulder　and　rocking　her；　whispering　her　name　as　the　tears　made　him　blind　and　the　sobs　shook　both　their　bodies。
〃Sidana。。。〃
And　thus；　set　apart　by　his　blood　and　his　crown；　as　he　would　always　be。　Kelson　of　Gwynedd　crouched　in　the　ruin　of　shattered　dreams　and　wept　bitter　tears；　holding　the　dead　hope　of　peace　in　his　trembling　arms。

Here　ends　Book　I　of　The　Histories　of　Kelson　the　King。　Book　II；　The　King's　Justice；　will　continue　the　struggle　of　Kelson　against　the　conspiracy　of　Archbishop　Loris　and　Caitrin　of　Meara；　bring　the　return　of　Jehana；　Kelson's　Deryni　mother；　and　develop　new　themes　and　problems　for　the　young　King　and　his　counsellors。
　
　
　
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