"Katherine Kurtz - Kelson 3 - The Quest for Saint Camber" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)the business of legitimating young Dhugal."
"He's still a bastard." "In that his parents were not wed according to the usual rites of Mother Church-perhaps. But a form of marriage was enacted, and both parents were free to marry at the time. That's enough for the king. And at his request, the bishops almost certainly will grant the necessary dispensation." "A piece of parchment," Conall muttered. "It changes nothing." "Why, one might almost think you were jealous," Tiercel said mildly. "Jealous? Of Dhugal?" "Well, he is of true Deryni lineage, after all, and the king's blood brother," Tiercel said pointedly. "That gives him a few perquisites that mere cousinship and usurped Haldane potentials don't confer, doesn't it? Don't worry, I won't betray your secret." "I'd rather not talk about it," Conall said, turning his face away guiltily. "No, I don't suppose you would." Tiercel stood. "Well, I must be away. You're sure you don't want something for your headache?" "No. It's nearly gone already." Conall swallowed uneasily, fighting down a flush of embarrassment at his outburst. "Tiercel, I-" The Deryni lord ducked under the shoulder strap of his satchel, then began drawing on his clammy cloak as he glanced back at Conall. "Yes?" "I-please don't mind me getting a little hot about Dhugal. I guess I am a bit jealous." He glanced down at his stockinged feet. "I suppose I'm a bit jealous of Kelson, too." shoulder until the younger man looked up and managed a shifty, half-hearted smile, then took his hand away. "You have much to recommend you for yourself alone, Conall. Don't let jealousy make you lose sight of that." "I'll try. Will-will we have time for any more sessions before I leave?" "One more, perhaps," Tiercel said, "though not until after the knighting. You're going to be very busy between now and then. And I'd better come to you, rather than the reverse. You're going to be under increasing scrutiny-not because anyone suspects anything," he added, at Conall's flash of alarm, "but simply because, since the conferring of knighthood denotes a full coming of age in your rank as prince and knight, people are going to be interested in what you're doing and how you're taking the new responsibilities that come with the honor." "I suppose that makes sense," Conall agreed. "Will you send word in the usual way, then?" Tiercel nodded. "We'll plan tentatively for the night before you actually leave on the progress. Most everyone else will be otherwise occupied getting last-minute arrangements taken care of, so you're that much less likely to be missed." "True enough." Conall stood as Tiercel gathered up cap and gloves. "Good luck with your knighting, then," Tiercel said, clasping his hand to Conall's and brushing his mind briefly against the other's in leave-taking. "Mine was far less lavish than what they have planned for you, but I'll never forget it. Will you return to Rhemuth now, or are you staying a while with |
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