〃Innocent？〃 Jodrell snorted。 〃Since when did the guilt or innocence of hostages have anything to do with their fate？ Beg pardon。 Sire； but Henry Istelyn was far more innocent than any Mearan princeling。 His fate cries out for vengeance！〃
〃Aye； and if I did allow vengeance to rule me； what kind of a king would I be？〃 Kelson countered。 〃I swore oaths； Jodrell！ Oaths to uphold law…to temper justice with mercy…not to take vengeance！〃
〃I see no justice here；〃 Jodrell muttered almost inaudibly； as he shifted angrily in his chair。
〃What was that； Jodrell？〃
〃I said that it seems you intend to allow the offspring of traitors to go unpunished。 Sire！〃 Jodrell said in a louder voice； his handsome face distorted by a scowl； 〃and to reward one of them with the very crown her mother tries to seize so treacherously！ Mercy is weakness in this case； Sire。 The Mearan bitch slew the hostage she took； it is our right to slay the ones we hold。〃
〃An eye for an eye？〃 Kelson said。 〃I think not。 And you yourself admit that it is Caitrin who has rebelled against me。〃
〃Aye； rebelled； Sire！〃 Bradene boomed。 〃And mitted sacrilegious murder！ Shall the sins of the fathers not be visited upon the children？ She had a bishop executed； Kelson！ A man anointed of God！ And before they took his life； Edmund Loris had the audacity not only to exmunicate him； but to degrade him from the priesthood…Henry Istelyn： one of the godliest men I have ever known！〃
As Kelson searched for a temperate reply； for this was getting quite out of hand； Cardiel shook his head and laid a restraining hand on Bradene's sleeve。
〃Peace； brother；〃 he said quietly。 〃No one will argue that Istelyn was not a godly man。 But given that he was a godly man； he will not have faltered when faced with his martyrdom in the cause of king and faith。 Loris' action was empty of substance。〃
〃Of course it was empty；〃 Bradene retorted。 〃That isn't at issue here。 Empty or not； Istelyn had to face an unjust death…alone； bereft of the outward solace of his office。 And to die so horribly；〃 he finished lamely； anger dissolving away to grief。
Cardiel sighed and looked down at the table； tears in his eyes。
〃Dear； dear brother； I beg you； do not torment yourself this way。 In all things。 Henry Istelyn was the king's and God's good servant。 We must believe that he died in the faith…that he did what any of us would pray we had the grace to do； were we in his place…and that his faith sustained him through…〃
〃No！〃 Bradene gasped； anger flaring again。 〃Let the faith of the Mearan brats sustain them； as they meet their justly deserved fate as traitor's kin！ Sire； I cannot find it in my heart to let this pass。 One crushes a viper's brood… one does not marry it！〃
Morgan； seated at the king's right hand with Richenda close beside him； could not fail to catch the overflow of shock and stomach…churning grief that flared for just an instant as the two archbishops argued。 It was quickly damped； but he knew Richenda had sensed it； too。 He could feel her trembling； her hand clenched tight in his。 He knew also what it was costing Kelson not to lash out in his own anger and sense of helplessness。 No matter what the king did； some would not agree。
Hurting with Kelson； Morgan turned pleading eyes on the two archbishops； letting his glance include everyone around the table。
〃Let be； my lords！〃 he said； cutting off another heated exchange。 〃Do you think your railing makes his decision any easier？ What are you trying to do to him？ Do you think he does not know？ How heavy must the crown be？〃
〃How heavy was Istelyn's burden？〃 Bradene muttered。
But any further outburst was forestalled by Arilan's withering glance and the pained； passionate shake of Cardiel's grey head。
〃Please； Bradene；〃 Cardiel murmured。 〃Duke Alaric is right。 However terrible and unjust may have been our brother Istelyn's fate； that is past。 He is beyond our ability to help or hinder him。 We must not let the wisdom of our future decision be clouded by our grief and outrage。〃
〃Archbishop Cardiel is correct；〃 Nigel agreed。 〃If we kill our hostages； we lose all hope of any peaceful resolution to the Mearan question。 Spite will only breed yet more spite； and … 〃
〃Aye； now there's a key word；〃 Ewan butted in。 〃Breeding。 Let the lad get on with his wooing。 Archbishop。 He needs to breed an heir。〃
A rumble of agreement from the other laymen around the table gave Ewan encouragement to go on。
〃Go ahead and marry the lass。 Sire。 Wed her and bed her as quickly as ye may … and get her with child before the spring campaign！ There are many in Meara who'll e flocking to yer standard if there's an heir to two crowns in the offing。 But ye haven't time to waste。〃
As Bradene sighed and bowed his head； lifting a ringed hand in grudging acquiescence； a little of the tension seemed to leave the room。 After a moment； Nigel gazed down the table at his royal nephew； attempting a strained smile。
〃Wise counsel。 Kelson；〃 he said quietly； 〃though I should have phrased it a trifle more delicately。 You need an heir of your own body and you need a Mearan alliance。 And the heir born of a Mearan union would be the strongest asset of all。 I know this marriage is not what you would have chosen； had things been different； but … 〃 He shrugged。 〃What can I say； except to wish you the best of fortune and offer you every power at my disposal to facilitate this match？〃
Kelson glanced up at Nigel listlessly； hands folded still and quiet。 〃Thank you。 Uncle。 Please do not mistake my lack of enthusiasm for lack of gratitude。 All that you and Duke Ewan have said is perfectly correct。〃 He sighed。 〃We must now pray that the Lady Sidana sees matters in a similar light。〃
〃And if she does not … 〃 Arilan said archly； his glance again conveying the implication of extraordinary methods of persuasion。 〃Will you marry her anyway； against her will？〃
〃I have already said that I would；〃 Kelson answered a little sharply。 〃Will you perform the ceremony。 Bishop； if I bring an unwilling bride before the altar？〃
Arilan pursed his lips； nodding resolutely。 Bradene and Cardiel looked shocked。 Ewan snorted。
〃Take him at his word。 Sire。 This is no time for too many niceties。 If she will n？？ have ye at first； bed her and then wed her … or at least threaten to do it。 She'll e around。〃
That remark elicited its own flurry of ment and indignation； principally among the clergy but also from Richenda and Dhugal； until Kelson finally cleared his throat and swept them all with his grey Haldane eyes； some of the old； hard fire of his father's day touching each one。
〃I'll manage my own wooing； thank you； gentlemen；〃 he said when they had quieted。 〃It will be conducted with as much honor as possible on both our parts； but there shall be a royal wedding at Twelfth Night； I promise you； one way or another。〃
〃Why the delay？〃 asked Saer de Traherne。 〃If pan of the purpose of this exercise is to get an heir before the spring campaign。 Sire； you should be sowing the seeds as quickly as possible。 The Mearan lass is young。 It may take her a while to begin breeding。〃
As Kelson blushed furiously； at a loss how to answer Duncan came to his rescue。
〃If I read his Majesty's intentions correctly； my lord I suspect he plans to crown the queen on the same day he marries her； which presents a somewhat different logistical problem than merely publishing the banns and bringing the intended couple before a priest。〃
As Kelson nodded and murmured； 〃Aye；〃 obviously grateful for the rescue； Duncan went on； 〃Indeed； if the lady is to be enthroned in state fitting the consort of the King of Gwynedd； we shall all find ourselves hard…pressed to plete the preparations in so short a time。 And as I'm sure the Lady Richenda will confirm； twelve days will be only barely adequate to prepare the gowns and jewels that our queen…to…be will require for this momentous event。〃
〃'Tis true； my lords；〃 Richenda said quietly。 〃Not only that； I beg you have some care for poor Sidana herself。 Is it asking too much that she should have at least a little time to prepare for the role being thrust upon her？〃
〃She will hae guessed what's in store；〃 Ewan muttered。 〃She has been bred to her duty。 Dinnae coddle the lass too much； Sire。〃
〃I