九味书屋 > 文学经管电子书 > kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir >

第72部分

kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir-第72部分

小说: kutzkattherine.the bishopsheir 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



the rest of the evening。
On the military and ecclesiastical front; preparations also went forward as Twelfth Night approached。 The morning after Christmas; the archbishops loosed the next offensive in their attempt to bring Loris to his knees; extending their earlier exmunication of rebel bishops and Mearan royal family to a general interdict of all of Meara。 Kelson doubted the long…range usefulness of the measure; for it was unlikely that Loris would observe it; but he allowed it to be sent along with his formal declaration of war in the spring。 As was only honorable; he also sent notice of his intentions regarding Sidana: a stark; official copy of the banns of marriage published in Rhemuth that same morning; witnessed by nearly a dozen bishops and lords of state as well as by both principals。 There was no chance of Mearan interference with the latter; for no messenger could reach Ratharkin and return before the wedding took place; and as for the rest; spring would decide the future from that point。
〃Her parents would probably rather she were dead;〃 Kelson said gloomily; sipping rich Fianna wine with his closest friends the night before his wedding。 〃Maybe she would; too。 I suspect Llewell would。 I'm sure he wishes I were。〃
Dhugal; showing the effects of the evening's indulgence far more than the king; shook his head and chuckled; exchanging an exaggerated wink with Morgan and Duncan。
〃Of course Llewell wishes you were dead。 Sire;〃 he said lightly。 〃Llewell is her brother。 What brother ever thinks any man is good enough for his sister?〃
〃There was once one good enough for my sister;〃 Morgan replied; glancing over his cup at Duncan with a sad; wistful smile。
The ment caught both younger men by surprise …  Dhugal; who had no idea what Morgan was talking about; and Kelson; who understood the reference all too well。 As Kelson lowered his eyes; obviously saddened by the memory; Dhugal turned puzzled gaze on Duncan; who sighed and raised his cup slightly in remembrance。
〃To Kevin and Bronwyn: together for all eternity。〃
He grimaced and drank the toast; not looking up as Morgan and Kelson silently followed suit。 Dhugal; even more mystified; turned to Kelson in question。
〃Did they die or something?〃 he whispered; much sobered。
Kelson leaned his head against the back of his chair and closed his eyes。 〃Or something。〃
〃What does that mean?〃 Dhugal persisted。 〃Weren't they … Deryni?〃
Sighing; Morgan picked up the wine pitcher and began carefully refilling his and Duncan's cups; not meeting any of their eyes。
〃Bronwyn was。 She was my only sister。 Kevin was Duncan's half…brother; and human。 There was also at Duke Jared's court a young architect named Rimmell who'd taken a fancy to Bronwyn; though no one knew that at the time … least of all Bronwyn。 In any event; Rimmell formed an insane jealousy of Kevin。 Two days before Bronwyn and Kevin were to be married; Rimmell apparently decided he must eliminate his rival。〃
〃You mean he killed Kevin?〃 Dhugal breathed。
Morgan paused with the wine pitcher in his hand to gaze unseeing at the fire。
〃Not … directly;〃 he said after a slight pause。 〃He obtained a love charm from an old witch woman up in the hills。 She told him it would turn Bronwyn's love away from Kevin and toward himself。 The charm was ill…set。 It backfired。 Bronwyn … tried to protect Kevin。 Both of them died。〃
〃How awful!〃
With another sigh; Morgan shook his head and resumed pouring wine for the king; obviously trying to shake the mood as well。
〃I'm sorry。 I thought everyone knew。 And I apologize to you as well; my prince。〃 He set the pitcher on the hearth and glanced at Kelson。 〃This is hardly fit conversation for the night before your wedding。 We should speak of less ill…fated unions: your aunt and uncle; your parents … 〃
〃Your own marriage; perhaps?〃 Kelson asked with a faint smile; his lips red with the wine of which he had just drunk deeply。
As Morgan demurred; unreadable emotions flickering across his face; and Duncan chuckled politely; Dhugal gave a tipsy giggle and raised his cup in unsteady salute。
〃Here; here。 Your Grace! You're the only married man among us。 Tell my virgin brother what he can expect on his wedding night!〃
〃I … doubt our lord the king needs any serious instruction in that regard;〃 Morgan said after a slight pause; suspecting that Kelson might; but reluctant to go into too intimate detail in front of one of Kelson's apparently more experienced peers; and with all of them increasingly in their cups。
〃What makes a marriage is not the wedding night; however;〃 he went on; 〃but what es after。 I suspect that Kelson's marriage will be rather like everyone else's in that respect。 Regardless of how much he and his bride eventually may e to care for one another … and God grant that love will grow between them … there will be good days。。。 and days that are not so good。〃 He shrugged and smiled。 〃One works things out。〃
Kelson looked at him strangely。 〃Is that the voice of experience; Alaric?〃 he said softly。 〃Odd; but it never even occurred to me that you and Richenda were anything but deliriously happy。 You seemed so much in love … 〃
〃And we're still in love;〃 Morgan said; raising an eyebrow wistfully。 〃That doesn't mean there aren't occasional problems; however。 She's an intelligent; headstrong woman。 Kelson … and I'm as headstrong a man as you're ever likely to meet。 I wouldn't lie to you and say we haven't had our bad days; but I will assure you that the nights are almost always good。〃
〃I'll bet they are。〃 Dhugal chuckled; raising his cup in oblivious salute as Kelson looked at him in astonishment。 〃I've heard about your wife。 Your Grace!〃
〃Have you; now?〃
Morgan's dry tone of affront was only in jest; for he knew Dhugal had not meant his ment the way it sounded; but the look of consternation which came over the boy's face as he realized what he had said could not be ignored。 Better he learn about the consequences of too much drink while in the pany of friends than among strangers; who might take genuine and perhaps deadly offense。
〃Your Grace; I'm sorry!〃 the boy managed to whisper; his eyes so wide Morgan wondered how he could see。 〃I only meant … 〃
〃What did you mean。 Earl of Transha?〃 Morgan replied softly。 〃That my wife is beautiful?〃
〃Yes! And that's all!〃
Before their very eyes; Dhugal turned a pasty shade of green; so quickly that even he was taken by surprise。
〃Too much to drink!〃 he managed to croak; as he lurched to his feet and ran stumbling from the room to disappear into a garderobe cubicle; which shortly echoed with the sound of retching。 Kelson; hardly less inebriated but in far better control; at least of his stomach; stifled an embarrassed giggle and hiccoughed。
〃I'm sorry。 I shouldn't laugh。 I think I've had too much as well。 Someone ought to make sure he's all right; though。〃
〃I'll go;〃 Duncan said; rising to join the unfortunate Dhugal。
Morgan glanced over his shoulder at the retreating bishop; then back at the still…snickering king。
〃Are you sure you're all right?〃 he asked Kelson。
Kelson shook his head and pressed the cool goblet against his forehead as he closed his eyes。
〃No。 I'm scared silly about tomorrow。 I'm going to have a wife; Alaric! She doesn't even like me。 What am I going to do?〃
〃You're going to make the best of it; as you have with everything that's been dealt you;〃 Morgan replied。 〃And as for whether she likes you or not; why not give her a chance before you decide she doesn't? You're going to discover a great change just since you last saw her。 And you've already admitted that you're attracted to her。 Make that work for you。 It isn't that hard to fall in love。 I've done it dozens of times。〃
Kelson snorted and opened his eyes。 〃Only once that's counted … and where did that get you? Is something wrong between you and Richenda; Alaric? Is there anything I …  what a stupid thing to say!〃 He took another quick gulp from his cup and looked back at the surprised Morgan。 〃Well; here I am; scared witless about getting married; asking an old married man whether there's anything I can do to help him。 I'm as drunk as Dhugal!〃
〃Not if you mean what you say;〃 Morgan replied; eying the king wistfully。
〃That I'm drunk

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的