¡¨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£º¡¡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