"Alexander, Lloyd - The Beggar Queen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alexander Lloyd)

Х^ PART I 3%

THE BEGGAR
QUEEN




^ \ ^c

Spring in the Caria River valley was a matter of opin-
ion. The day had beguh gently. By dusk, when Theo
reached the little inn at Mull, it was spitting hard, grainy
snow.

He made sure his horse was decently stabled, then
carried what little baggage he had into the public room.
Near the fire, a traveler sat carefully scraping his boots.
With his wmdbumed face and patch of gray hair, he
could have been any kind of stteady, reliable journey-
man who did his own work and minded his own busi-
ness.

Theo stopped short. The steady, reliable journeyman.
when Theo last saw him, had been galloping like a
maniac on a stolen cavalry mount, his shirt in bloody
tatters.

Theo dropped his traveling case. "Luther?"

The man recognized him at the same instant and in
a couple of long-legged strides came to greet him, look-
ing him up and down with easy familiarity.

"The latest fashion in Marianstat?" Luther's glance
took in the stained cloak and scuffed boots.

[3

"I wouldn't know." Theo grinned back at him. "I
haven't been there forЧit must be six months now."

"Alone? The future prince of Westmark without a
dozen lackeys following?"

"I did have one," said Theo. "He worked very hard
at stealing my clothes and selling them. Apart from that,
he did nothing; so I finally sent him back to court."

"The right place for a lazy rascal. Now, lad, what