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A Kiss Of Shadows :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 292 из 338"I mean that if you kill Galen, that won't get you a place in my bed. I don't like you, Conri. You don't like me. I won't sleep with you under any circumstance. So sit down, shut up, and let someone talk who has a chance in hell of sharing my bed."
Conri was left standing, open-mouthed, and lost as to what to do. He was one of the most courtwise of all the guards. He sucked up to Cel expertly. He flattered the queen within an inch of propriety. He knew which nobles to treat well and which he could ignore or even treat badly. I'd fallen into the last category, because you couldn't be Cel's friend and be mine. Cel wouldn't allow it. I watched Conri's face as he realized that he hadn't been quite as courtwise as he thought he had. I enjoyed his embarrassment.
But he rallied. "My challenge stands. If I cannot share your bed, then I don't want Galen to have you either."
My hand tightened on Galen's arm. "Why fight if you know you don't get the prize?" I asked.
Conri smiled, and it wasn't pleasant. "Because his death will cause you pain, and that will be almost as sweet as your body next to mine."
Galen rose, sliding away from my grip on his arm. He started down the steps, and I was afraid for him. Conri was a cruel, brown-nosing bastard, but he was also one of the best swordsmen in the court.
I stood, hopping because I couldn't bear weight on my left foot. Rhys caught me or I might have fallen. "I am still the reason for this duel, Conri."
Conri nodded, watching Galen walk toward him. "Indeed, you are, Princess. Know that when I kill him, I did it all for spite of you."
Then I had one of those moments of desperate inspiration, a brilliant idea born of panic.
"You cannot challenge a royal consort to a death duel, Conri," I said.
"He is not a royal consort until you are pregnant," Conri said.
"But if I am actively trying to have a child with him, then he is my royal consort, because we have no way of knowing if I am with child at this second."
Conri turned to me, shocked. "You have not—I mean—"
The queen laughed again. "Oh, Meredith, you have been a busy, busy little bee." She stood. "If there is even a remote chance that Galen could have fathered a child upon my niece, then he is indeed a royal consort until proven otherwise. If you slew him and she was with child, and you had deprived this court of a fertile royal pair, I would see your head rotting in a jar on a shelf in my room."
"I don't believe it," Cel said. "They have not had sex tonight."
Andais turned to him.
Conri was left standing, open-mouthed, and lost as to what to do. He was one of the most courtwise of all the guards. He sucked up to Cel expertly. He flattered the queen within an inch of propriety. He knew which nobles to treat well and which he could ignore or even treat badly. I'd fallen into the last category, because you couldn't be Cel's friend and be mine. Cel wouldn't allow it. I watched Conri's face as he realized that he hadn't been quite as courtwise as he thought he had. I enjoyed his embarrassment.
But he rallied. "My challenge stands. If I cannot share your bed, then I don't want Galen to have you either."
My hand tightened on Galen's arm. "Why fight if you know you don't get the prize?" I asked.
Conri smiled, and it wasn't pleasant. "Because his death will cause you pain, and that will be almost as sweet as your body next to mine."
Galen rose, sliding away from my grip on his arm. He started down the steps, and I was afraid for him. Conri was a cruel, brown-nosing bastard, but he was also one of the best swordsmen in the court.
I stood, hopping because I couldn't bear weight on my left foot. Rhys caught me or I might have fallen. "I am still the reason for this duel, Conri."
Conri nodded, watching Galen walk toward him. "Indeed, you are, Princess. Know that when I kill him, I did it all for spite of you."
Then I had one of those moments of desperate inspiration, a brilliant idea born of panic.
"You cannot challenge a royal consort to a death duel, Conri," I said.
"He is not a royal consort until you are pregnant," Conri said.
"But if I am actively trying to have a child with him, then he is my royal consort, because we have no way of knowing if I am with child at this second."
Conri turned to me, shocked. "You have not—I mean—"
The queen laughed again. "Oh, Meredith, you have been a busy, busy little bee." She stood. "If there is even a remote chance that Galen could have fathered a child upon my niece, then he is indeed a royal consort until proven otherwise. If you slew him and she was with child, and you had deprived this court of a fertile royal pair, I would see your head rotting in a jar on a shelf in my room."
"I don't believe it," Cel said. "They have not had sex tonight."
Andais turned to him.