kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第70部分

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As　Meraude　curtseyed　and　departed；　closing　the　door　behind　her。　Kelson　tried　not　to　give　any　outward　sign　that　he　even　noticed　the　scared；　drained　look　on　Sidana's　face；　only　gesturing　mildly　for　Duncan　to　precede　him　up　the　steep　steps　to　the　embrasure。　Llewell　turned　warily　at　their　approach；　and　Sidana　backed　off；　both　of　them　standing　finally　in　the　right…hand　er　of　the　partment；　she　with　her　back　pressed　close　against　her　brother's　side；　he　with　a　protective　arm　around　his　sister's　shoulders。
〃Please　sit　down　…　both　of　you；〃　Kelson　said　quietly；　gesturing　toward　the　cushions　behind　them；　then　taking　a　seat　himself；　Duncan　to　his　left。　〃There's　no　need　to　make　this　more　difficult　than　it　already　is。　I　don't　intend　to　threaten　either　of　you；　but　there　are　things　which　must　be　said。　Sit　down！〃　he　repeated；　when　neither　of　them　moved。　〃I'd　rather　not　crane　my　neck　looking　up　at　you。〃
Blanching　even　whiter；　Sidana　eased　herself　onto　a　cushion；　back　ramrod　straight；　hands　balled　into　fists　at　her　sides；　though　she　tried　to　hide　them　under　the　folds　of　her　skirt。　Llewell；　sinking　down　beyond　her；　looked　just　as　scared；　but　he　did　a　fair　job　of　hiding　it　behind　a　facade　of　bravado。　Suddenly　Kelson　was　aware　how　he　must　look　to　them；　crowned　and　wearing　his　state　robes　of　crimson　and　ermine；　with　a　Deryni　bishop　at　his　side。　He　tried　to　soften　his　expression　a　little　as　he　glanced　from　one　to　the　other　of　them；　but　knew　he　must　be　firm。　He　was　glad　of　Duncan's　tempering　presence。
〃I've　had　word　from　your　mother；〃　he　said　to　both　of　them；　resting　his　hands　awkwardly　on　his　thighs。　〃Her　emissary　arrived　this　morning。〃
Sidana　gave　a　little　gasp；　closing　her　eyes　for　just　an　instant。　Her　brother　flushed　scarlet。
〃She　still　defies　you；　doesn't　she？〃　Llewell　crowed。　〃She's　going　to　stand　against　you！〃
〃She　executed　my　bishop；　who　was　her　hostage；〃　Kelson　said　evenly；　refusing　to　be　baited。　〃Do　you　know　what　that　means？〃
As　Sidana　glanced　fearfully　at　her　brother；　Llewell　drew　himself　up　even　more　haughtily。
〃Do　you　intend　to　execute　us　as　well；　then？　We　are　not　afraid　to　die！〃
〃No　one　has　accused　you　of　being　afraid；〃　Kelson　said　sharply。　〃And　I　am　trying　to　insure　that　no　one　else　need　die　…　though　I　think　even　you　will　agree　that　I　would　be　within　my　rights　to　kill　you。〃
〃Deryni　bastard！〃　Llewell　muttered。
〃I　will　admit　to　being　Deryni；〃　Kelson　replied　softly。　〃And　I　shall　attribute　your　use　of　the　other　term　to　your　anger　and　the　brashness　of　youth。　But　do　not　interrupt　me　again；　or　I　shall　ask　Bishop　McLain　to　deal　with　you。〃
He　sensed　they　knew　the　threat　was　not　an　empty　one。　As　Sidana　stifled　another　little　gasp　and　both　of　them　glanced　automatically　at　Duncan；　Llewell　closed　his　mouth　and　sat　back　sullenly　in　his　place。　Duncan　wore　no　weapons　and　presented　no　particular　physical　threat　in　size　or　even　expression；　but　they　must　suspect　he　was　also　a　〃Deryni　bastard。〃　Neither　had　had　a　taste　of　his　particular　talents；　but　they　had　both　felt　Morgan's　magic。　The　threat　was　sufficient　for　the　moment。
〃Very　well；　then。　I　trust　we　understand　each　other　on　that　point；〃　Kelson　breathed。　〃Please　believe　that　it　is　not　my　wish　to　execute　anyone；　especially　my　own　kinsmen　and　women；　but　I　would　be　less　than　true　to　my　coronation　vows　if　I　allowed　treachery　to　go　unpunished。　I　am　Meara's　lawful；　anointed　king；　as　well　as　Gwynedd's。　Your　mother　has　risen　in　rebellion　against　me　and　taken　an　innocent　life。〃
Sidana　continued　to　stare　at　him　numbly；　and　Llewell　appeared　to　be　on　the　verge　of　another　outburst；　but；　at　least　for　the　moment；　the　threat　of　Duncan　sitting　across　from　him　kept　him　silent　as　Kelson　went　on。
〃But　I　wish　to　spend　no　further　lives　in　this　matter；〃　Kelson　said　in　a　more　conciliatory　tone。　〃It　is　my　earnest　desire　that　Meara　and　Gwynedd　may　be　one；　as　our　greatgrandfathers　intended。　And　if　that　can　be　acplished　peaceably；　then　that　is　what　I　choose。　You　can　help　me　do　that。〃
〃Us？　Help　a　Haldane？〃　Llewell　sneered。
Even　as　Llewell　said　it。　Kelson　was　glaring　at　him　angrily　and　signing　to　Duncan。
〃One　more　word　out　of　him。。。〃　he　said　with　deliberate　menace。
Casually　but　purposefully；　Duncan　moved　closer　to　the　end　of　the　embrasure；　within　easy　reach　of　Llewell。　The　boy　subsided　immediately；　and　Kelson　turned　his　full　attention　on　Sidana。　He　almost　hoped　Llewell　did　say　something　else；　his　constant　interference　was　not　making　this　any　easier。
〃What　I　say　next　must　be　directed　to　you；　my　lady；〃　he　said　patiently。　〃I　do　not　expect　you　to　do　anything　for　me　but　I　do　hope　you　will　do　what　you　must　for　the　sake　of　Meara。　I　offer　you　a　way　to　resolve　the　conflict　between　our　two　lands　without　further　shedding　of　blood。　I　ask　that　you　join　your　royal　line　with　mine　…　that　our　children　may　reign　as　undisputable　rulers　of　a　united　Gwynedd　and　Meara。〃
He　hardly　flickered　an　eyelid　at　Llewell's　strangled　cry；　only　shooting　out　a　hand　to　seize　Sidana's　right　wrist　when　she　would　have　tried　to　stop　Duncan。　The　bishop　was　across　the　intervening　space　before　Llewell　could　even　leave　his　seat；　imposing　control　so　swiftly　that　Llewell　had　time　for　only　a　futile　gesture　in　Kelson's　direction。　The　prince's　eyelids　fluttered　once　and　then　closed　as　he　crumpled　into　Duncan's　arms；　his　head　lolling　against　the　episcopal　purple　without　resistance。　In　repose；　with　the　defiant　lines　erased　from　the　face；　he　looked　even　younger　than　his　fifteen　years。
〃He　was　warned；〃　Duncan　murmured；　shifting　Llewell's　head　and　shoulders　to　a　more　fortable　position　across　his　lap　and　glancing　up　at　Sidana。　〃I　haven't　harmed　him。　He　can　hear　what's　going　on　around　him；　he　simply　can't　react。　I　promise　you；　he　felt　no　pain。　Nor　is　he　feeling　any　now。　His　Majesty　has　asked　a　question　of　you；　my　lady。　I　suggest　you　answer　him。〃
With　a　startled　gasp；　Sidana　jerked　her　wrist　away　from　Kelson　and　stood；　apparently　only　then　remembering　that　he　still　had　held　it。　She　was　too　proud　to　cry；　but　Kelson　could　sense　the　effort　it　took　her　to　bite　back　her　tears　as　she　retreated　to　the　left…hand　er　of　the　embrasure；　as　far　from　all　of　them　as　she　could　get。　Hugging　her　arms　across　her　breast；　she　stared　blindly　out　the　window　for　several　seconds；　her　long　hair　cloaking　her　to　her　knees。　When　first　she　tried　to　speak；　her　voice　broke。　Embarrassed；　she　turned　the　strangled　sound　into　a　nervous　cough。
〃Do　I　…　correctly　discern　a　proposal　of　marriage？〃　she　managed　to　ask　at　last。
〃You　do；〃　Kelson　replied。
〃And　does　the　king　truly　ask；　or　does　he　mand？〃　she　whispered　bitterly。　〃If　I　refuse；　will　he　take　me　by　force？〃
Kelson　managed　a　mirthless　smile；　choosing　to　ignore　the　jibe。
〃Here；　in　front　of　witnesses；　my　lady？〃　he　said　lightly。　〃And　a　bishop；　at　that？〃
〃A　Deryni　bishop；〃　she　countered；　lifting　her　chin　defiantly；　〃who　has　already　bent　my　brother　to　your　will。　Why　should　he　not　do　the　same　to　me；　if　you　desire　it？　Or　you　could　do　it　if　you　wished。　We　have　heard　how　you　won　your　crown　with　black　magic。〃
Duncan　glanced　at　the　king　indignantly；　but　Kelson　shook　his　head；　his　own　denial　already　forming　on　his　lips。
〃Do　you　truly　believe　I　would　force　you　into　marriage？〃　he　asked　softly。　〃Or　that　a　bishop　would　countenance　it；　much　less　be　part　of　such　coercion？〃
〃You　are　Deryni　…　both　of　you。　I　do　not　know　what　you　might　do。〃
〃I　would　not　use　any　power　at　my　mand；　whether　physical　or　Deryni；　to　force　you　to　an　act　against　your　conscience；　Sidana。　Marriage　is　a　sacrament。　That　means　something　to　me　…　something　very　important。　But　also　important　is　what　our　marriage　might　mean　to　our　two　lands：　an　end　to　the　bloodshed　over　disputes　of　succession；　peace　in　our　time。　Is　the　thought　of　being　a　queen　so　abhorrent　to　you？〃
She　bowed　her　head；　her　shoulders　shaking　silently　for　just　a　moment。
〃What　of　my　parents？〃　she　asked　at　last。　〃And　my　brothers？〃
Kelson　glanced　at　the　motionless　Llewell　and　sighed。　〃I　would　offer　Llewell　the　opportunity　to　renounce　his　rights　to　the　Mearan　titles　your　family　claims。　Once　I　had　his　parole；　I　would　honor　him　with　all　the　estate　appropriate　to　the　brother　of　my　queen。〃
〃And　Ithel？　My　mother　and　father？〃
〃I　know　what　you　desire　to　hear；〃　he　replied；　〃but　I　cannot　offer　you　any　false　hopes。　O