kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第53部分

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cently　emerged　from　the　relative　shelter　of　cloister　or　academia。　But　the　coup　de　grace　was　an　acknowledged　if　reluctantly　practiced　fact　of　life　to　the　battle…seasoned　…　a　human　mercy　to　friend　or　foe　when　only　pointless　suffering　lay　between　a　man　and　death。　Other　than　the　two　bishops；　only　Conall　was　yet　unblooded　in　that　regard。　Even　Dhugal　had　not　escaped　the　grim　initiation。　Most　of　the　young　border　lord's　experience　had　been　limited　to　animals　sick　or　injured　past　healing；　but　once　it　had　been　one　of　his　own　clansmen　shattered　in　a　fall　from　a　river　cliff；　and　no　one　else　was　nearby　to　take　responsibility。　The　man　had　been　beyond　speech　already　by　the　time　Dhugal　reached　him；　hardly　a　bone　unbroken　in　his　twisted　body；　but　the　pain…glazed　eyes　had　begged　for　release；　all　the　suffering　ending　as　Dhugal　drew　his　dirk　across　the　pulsing　throat。　Dhugal　had　just　turned　thirteen。
As　Nigel　cleared　his　throat　impatiently　and　sat　forward；　Dhugal　jerked　himself　back　from　memory　and　suppressed　a　shudder；　glad　that　the　decision　about　the　unfortunate　Istelyn　was　none　of　theirs　to　make。　He　knew　no　one　blamed　him　for　not　bringing　Istelyn　out　of　Ratharkin；　but　he　regretted　his　inability　nonetheless。　The　bishop　had　been　a　brave　man　and　a　wele　friend　for　the　short　time　Dhugal　had　known　him；　even　if　they　had　disagreed　over　points　of　conscience。
〃We　serve　neither　Istelyn　nor　ourselves　by　brooding　on　this　further；〃　Nigel　said　quietly；　breaking　the　awkward　silence。　〃No　one　regrets　his　situation　more　than　I；　for　he　has　been　a　good　friend　as　well　as　a　faithful　shepherd　to　the　Church；　but　I　think　we　must　address　more　constructive　concerns。〃　He　looked　directly　down　the　table　at　Kelson。　〃Sire；　Loris　may　seem　the　greater　threat　at　the　moment；　but　his　importance　is　directly　related　to　the　influence　and　support　of　the　Lady　Caitrin。　Break　her　and　you　will　break　him　as　well。〃
Kelson　inclined　his　head　in　wry　agreement。　〃I　should　like　very　much　to　do　both。　Uncle。　Unfortunately；　I　fear　that　any　meaningful　forcing　of　that　issue　must　wait　until　the　spring。〃
〃Well；　thank　the　heavens　for　that　bit　of　wisdom；〃　Ewan　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃I　thought　he　might　be　intending　to　gallop　off　to　Meara　again　tonight！〃
〃In　this　weather？〃　Bradene　asked；　shocked。
Morgan；　sensing　the　disapproval　under　Ewan's　gruff　aside；　flashed　a　warning　look　at　Kelson。
〃I　think　His　Majesty　is　quite　aware　of　the　situation；　Ewan；〃　he　said　easily。　〃In　any　case；　even　were　it　not　for　the　weather；　we've　lost　our　element　of　surprise。　Our　foray　into　Meara　went　unchallenged　because　no　one　expected　us　to　venture　forth　on　the　edge　of　the　season's　first　storm。　They'll　be　ready　for　us　next　time。〃
〃They'll　be　ready　for　a　military　offensive；　yes；〃　Nigel　countered。　〃However；　I　have　in　mind　an　offensive　which　requires　no　military　action　whatsoever。　The　means　of　acplishing　that　offensive　is　already　in　your　hands；　Sire。〃
Expressionless；　Kelson　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　lowered　his　eyes；　tracing　the　carving　on　the　chair　arm　with　one　fingertip。　He　suspected　he　knew　what　was　ing。　He　had　hoped　to　avoid　the　question　indefinitely。
〃If　you're　referring　to　our　hostages。　Uncle；　I　don't　make　war　on　women　and　children。〃
〃Nor　am　I　asking　you　to　do　so；〃　Nigel　said。　〃I　would　remind　you；　however；　that　not　all　wars　are　won　on　the　battlefield。〃
Before　Kelson　could　frame　a　reply；　Ewan's　bearded　face　creased　in　a　lecherous　grin。
〃He　means　the　marriage　bed；　lad。　Now；　there's　a　merry　winter's　sport！　I　told　ye　a　bride　was　what　ye　needed。　An'　wouldn't　that　frost　her　mother？〃
〃Ewan；　please！〃
Kelson's　rebuke　stilled　the　old　duke's　tongue；　but　it　did　not　wipe　the　grin　from　his　face　or　extinguish　the　gleam　in　his　eyes。　Nigel　was　studying　his　royal　nephew　with　a　mixture　of　passion　and　resolution；　not　liking　the　suggestion　any　more　than　Kelson　did。　To　Kelson's　left。　Archbishop　Bradene　looked　dubious；　Cardiel　thoughtful。　As　Bradene　cleared　his　throat；　all　eyes　instantly　turned　toward　him。
〃Sire；　it　appears　that　between　them。　Their　Noble　Graces　have　just　suggested　a　marriage　with　the　Lady　Sidana；〃　Bradene　said　quietly。
〃The　Princess　Sidana；　by　Mearan　reckoning。　Excellency；〃　Nigel　amended；　〃and　heiress　to　what　they　regard　as　the　legitimate　royal　line。〃
〃But　it　isn't　the　legitimate　royal　line；〃　Kelson　pointed　out。　〃And　even　if　it　were；　she　has　a　mother　and　two　brothers　ahead　of　her。〃
〃The　mother　is　not　a　young　woman；〃　Nigel　countered。　〃Even　if　she　were　to　escape　us；　you　have　time　on　your　side。　You　can　easily　outwait　her。　Of　the　brothers；　one　is　in　our　hands　already　and　the　other　eventually　will　be　taken　or　slain　in　battle。　Eliminate　the　two　of　them　and　marry　Sidana　…　not　necessarily　in　that　order　…　and　the　Mearan　royal　line　will　bee　the　legitimate　line　in　your　children's　generation；　as　should　have　been　done　in　your　great…grandfather's　time。〃
From　the　animation　of　the　discussion　that　followed；　it　soon　became　apparent　that　the　notion　had　already　occurred　to　at　least　a　few　of　them；　probably　from　the　moment　Sidana　rode　through　the　city　gates　in　Morgan's　arms。　Kelson　mostly　listened　for　the　first　few　minutes；　occasionally　exchanging　uneasy　looks　with　Morgan；　Dhugal；　or　Duncan；　but　when　at　last　he　held　up　a　hand　for　silence；　he　had　shuttered　his　true　feelings　behind　a　facade　which　even　Morgan　could　not　pierce。
〃There　is　a　certain　logic　in　what　my　uncle　has　proposed；　my　lords；〃　the　king　said　carefully。　〃I　will　tell　you　from　the　outset　that　this　is　not　the　first　time　the　lady　in　question　has　been　proposed　as　a　potential　royal　bride。　When　I　was　in　Transha　a　few　weeks　ago。　Lord　Dhugal's　late　father　also　extolled　the　lady's　suitability　…　not　as　an　uncle　seeking　rich　dowry　for　his　niece；　but　as　a　loyal　liegeman　suggesting　a　possible　way　to　ease　the　tension　which　has　been　increasing　along　the　Mearan　border　for　the　last　several　years。〃
〃Old　Caulay　offered　you　her　hand　and　you　didn't　tell　us？〃　Ewan　blurted；　eyes　flashing　above　his　bushy　beard。　〃Why；　that　old　fox！〃
〃He　didn't　offer　me　her　hand；　Ewan！〃　Kelson　retorted；　allowing　himself　a　sigh　of　exasperation。　〃He　wasn't　in　any　position　to　make　me　such　an　offer。　He　simply　pointed　out　the　obvious　advantages　of　such　a　match。　Sidana　was　still　in　Meara　at　the　time。〃
〃And　now　that　she　is　in　Gwynedd？〃　Nigel　asked。
Kelson　closed　his　eyes　briefly　and　drew　a　deep　breath；　then　let　it　out　with　a　patient　sigh。
〃Frankly；　the　idea　terrifies　me。　I　don't　even　know　the　girl。　But　I'm　a　king　first　and　a　man　second。　If　such　an　alliance　would　ease　the　tension　along　the　border　and　help　secure　peace；　then　I　would　be　less　than　true　to　my　coronation　oath　if　I　did　not　give　it　my　wholehearted　support。〃
〃It　might　just　do　that。　Sire；〃　Jodrell　said　thoughtfully。　〃I　know　the　Mearans。　My　patrols　go　back　and　forth　across　the　border　constantly。　Caitrin's　sons　or　Sidana's　sons　…　it　would　make　no　difference　to　most　folk。　They've　been　sending　sons　and　husbands　and　brothers　off　to　war　with　Gwynedd　for　over　a　hundred　years。〃
〃I　doubt　a　marriage　with　Sidana　would　stop　that；〃　Saer　de　Traherne　said。　〃Unless　Caitrin　does　submit　by　Christmas；　which　I　think　highly　unlikely　in　light　of　that；〃　he　gestured　curtly　toward　the　letter　and　box；　〃there's　still　going　to　be　a　war　in　the　spring　…　at　least　until　we　take　her　and　Ithel。〃
Bishop　Hugh；　silent　until　then；　sat　forward　and　raised　a　hand　for　recognition。
〃Sire；　forgive　me　if　I　speak　out　of　turn；　but　might　not　a　marriage　with　Sidana　be　used　to　negotiate　a　true　peace？　Perhaps　Caitrin　would　be　willing　to　renounce　her　claim；　if　she　were　assured　that　her　daughter　would　be　queen　of　a　united　Meara　and　Gwynedd。〃
Dhugal　shook　his　head　emphatically。　〃Not　a　chance；　Excellency。　Even　if　she　would；　Ithel　wouldn't。　He's　full　of　plans　for　when　he's　king。　Llewell's　little　better；　though　at　least　we　have　him　in　custody。〃
〃The　lad　is　right。　Sire；〃　Jodrell　agreed。　〃Marriage　with　Sidana　might　provide　an　ultimate　solution；　but　we'll　still　have　to　take　Caitrin　and　Ithel　…　and　any　other　Mearan　heirs；　while　we're　at　it　…　before　it　would　be　meaningful。　Judhael；　in　particular。　Mearan　partisans　might　pass　over　Sidana　if　another　male　heir　could　be　persuaded　to　take　up　the　cause。〃
〃We　will　deal　with　Judhael；　my　lord；〃　Arilan　said　pointedly。　〃You　need　not　worry　about　a　reneg