〃Indeed； do not coddle her at all；〃 Richenda retorted； before Kelson could reply。 〃But I speak as one who was herself a bride of expediency； wed to the benefit of lands rather than any desire of my own。 Give the girl a few days to realize her duty； to decide that this is what she herself wants； for the sake other own land。 She may thank you in years to e； when she is your queen。〃
〃And I thank you； my lady；〃 Kelson murmured。 〃You do right to remind us of Sidana's part in all of this。〃
She inclined her head gracefully。
〃May I also ask you to serve her while you are at court？〃 he went on； with a strained； hopeful grin。 〃And perhaps to supervise the feminine aspects of our preparations？ I have no illusions that she will be any more enthusiastic about this match than I am； but perhaps your experience and sympathy can help her accept what must be。〃
〃I would be most honored to serve your intended queen； Sire both now and in the future；〃 Richenda murmured。 〃My lord and I discussed the very matter only this morning。〃
〃Ah；〃 Kelson said。 〃Well； that's a relief。〃
He glanced at the rest of them； drawing a deep breath a。id letting it out audibly； then stood。 Immediately the rest stood as well。
〃Very well； then； gentlemen … and my lady；〃 he said。 〃I go now to speak with your future queen。 Lady Richenda； I would be pleased if you would acpany me … and Bishop Duncan as well。 I leave the rest of you to continue setting plans for the ing nuptials。 Uncle； I shall ask you to preside in my absence。〃
Kelson was glad； a little while later； that he had asked Richenda and Duncan to go with him； for he found himself more anxious than he wanted to admit； as he led them along the dimly lit corridor。 He had installed Sidana in his mother's former apartments on her arrival in Rhemuth； judging them the only suitable quarters for a princess of however dubious seniority； now he wondered whether he had been contemplating this visit all along。
His mouth was dry as dust as he approached the outer door； and he cleared his throat nervously as he motioned Duncan on ahead to announce him。 The guards came to smart attention and rendered royal salute as the three of them approached； but he gave sign for them to be at ease as he straightened a fold of his heavy court robe。 He had exchanged his state crown for a simpler； lighter circlet of gold； and he glanced nervously at the shadow he cast by torchlight as Duncan paused before the door。 Richenda waited slightly behind him。
〃You're sure you're ready to go through with this； Sire？〃 Duncan murmured； glancing aside at him with hand poised on the brocaded bell pull。
Swallowing awkwardly。 Kelson nodded； conveying just a little of his sense of apprehensive duty in a lightning thought as Duncan's yank brought an answering chime of bells。 The Deryni bishop glanced at him again in radely support and passion and posed his own expression as the door was opened by a serving maid。 The girl gaped at his episcopal purple。
〃The king wishes to see the Lady Sidana； child；〃 Duncan said； quietly； putting on his most reassuring yet manding demeanor。 〃May we e in？〃
A little flustered； both by his rank and his mere male presence； the girl dropped him a curtsey and stood aside to let them enter； making another； deeper reverence to the king； whose eyes she would not even meet。 As she closed the door behind them。 Duchess Meraude appeared in the doorway to the next room； smiling as she saw who had arrived。
〃Nephew；〃 she said； ing forward to dip in formal curtsey。 〃You are most wele。 And Bishop Duncan … and Richenda！ Ah； Richenda； what a wele Christmas gift you are！ Alaric neglected to tell me you were ing。〃
As the two women embraced happily； even Kelson managed a wan smile； murmuring his own greeting as Meraude brushed his cheek with a dutiful kiss。 He was always surprised at how short Meraude was。 The top of her head reached only to his chin。 In his new awareness of things feminine； sweeping his glance over her deep green gown； he found his eyes drawn unabashedly to her slightly swollen abdomen。
〃Ah； yes； there's finally to be another little one；〃 she said casually； noticing his notice。 〃She's due late in the spring。〃
〃She？〃 Richenda said； smiling。
〃Yes； how do you know it's a girl？〃 Kelson asked。
〃Well； with three boys already； I'm allowed to hope it's a little girl；〃 Meraude replied。 〃Not that I would wish her the fate of some princesses。〃 She glanced among the three of them speculatively。 〃Is there to be a royal wedding？ Is that what you've e to tell her？〃
Biting at his lower lip。 Kelson nodded。 〃I fear it is； Aunt。 And I … think it best if only Father Duncan acpanies me just now。〃
〃Of course。 Sire；〃 Meraude murmured； suddenly a little cooler。 〃She's in the solar。〃
She held her head high as she led king and bishop across the room。 She might have been a queen herself。 The long hair coiled at the back of her head beneath her veil was black as any Haldane's； her plexion fair and smooth。 As she paused at the entrance to the solar and turned to beckon him pass through； she looked hardly older than her royal charge … who turned and froze in the mouth of a deep window embrasure on the other side of the room。
〃Good afternoon； my lady；〃 Kelson said neutrally。
Sidana blanched at the sound of his voice； immediately turning away from him to stare out at the falling snow； her apprehension apparent even from where Kelson stood。 The dying sun shining through the window beyond cast reddish highlights on her long chestnut hair and purpled the pale blue of her gown。
〃The lord Llewell is visiting his sister。 Sire；〃 Meraude warned； restraining Kelson with a hand on one forearm as he started toward the girl。 〃Well； it is Christmas；〃 she added； at his expression of annoyance as he stopped to stare down at her。 〃No one said they couldn't see one another … and it was only for an hour。 Should I not have let him e？〃
Sighing； Kelson shook his head and continued toward the embrasure until he could see Llewell sitting stiff and indignant at the far end。 He had hoped not to have the Mearan prince present for this conversation； but perhaps it was for the best。 If he could win Llewell's cooperation； it would be easier for Sidana。
But Llewell stood as their eyes met； defiance like a wall between them； hand going automatically to his belt for the weapon which was not there。 For just an instant； Sidana looked like a trapped； frightened bird。
〃No； there's no harm done。 Aunt；〃 Kelson replied easily。 〃What I have to say concerns Lord Llewell as well as the Lady Sidana。 I must warn you； though； Llewell： I intend this to be a civilized； reasoned discussion。 Any disruption on your part will be dealt with。 Do I make myself clear？〃
For an instant Llewell only stood there glowering； right hand flexing and unflexing where the hilt of his dagger would have been； and Kelson wondered whether he and Duncan were going to have to deal with a physical confrontation。 He sensed Duncan tensing beside him in readiness； and knew Duncan wondered； too。 But Llewell was stayed from any further indiscretion by Sidana's urgent touch on his arm； the slight shake of her head。
〃Let be； brother；〃 she whispered。 〃I would not be the cause of your hurt。 If he wills； he will speak with me。 There is nothing you can do to stop it。〃
〃Your sister is very wise； Llewell；〃 Meraude agreed。 〃You must accept what is。 Do not make me regret I allowed you to e。〃
Sullenly Llewell turned a long； bitter gaze on Kelson and dropped his hands to his sides； forcing the wound…up tension from his body with visible effort。 In answer； Kelson inclined his head in cool acknowledgment。 Llewell continued to stare at him for several seconds before dropping his head to murmur something to Sidana that no one else could hear。 Then the prince turned his back on his sister's royal caller； to stare out the window。 Even Sidana looked embarrassed at his rudeness and wrung her hands worriedly as she stole a glance at the king。
〃Please go and make the Duchess Richenda wele； Aunt；〃 Kelson said to Meraude； not taking his eyes from Sidana。 〃Father Duncan and I have matters well in hand。〃
As Meraude curtseyed and departed； closing the door behind her。 Kelson tried not to give any outward sign