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