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

come into his mind the moment he had seen Luther in
the public room The older man appeared content to go
on studying the drawings

Theo finally fumed "You knew I'd be here You were
waiting "

"Yes " Luther glanced up "Flonan wanted to send
greetings "

"What else7 Come straight out '

"General Erzcour He commands the Caria military
region "

"I know He's a good officer, I've heard What of
him7"

"Flonan says Erzcour must be replaced If you press

171

your chief minister to do it, he'll pay attention- He'll
listen to one of his own people."

"I'm not one of his own people. Or anybody's."
Luther raised his hands in mock defense- "Don't get
ruffled. I didn't mean it that way."

"However you meant it, Erzcour's none of my busi-
ness. I can't guess what Florian has in mind. Perhaps I
don't want to. He's my friend, but I don't agree with
him. He knows that. How can he ask me this kind of
favor?"

"He sees it the other way round."
"Florian doing the monarchy a favor? Why?"
Luther shrugged. "Does it matter?" He closed the
book. "Take it as a favor or whatever. Only make sure
Erzcour's dismissed. Pensioned off. Anything. So long
as he has no troops under him.

"The king wants to make reforms. I'li give him that
much credit," Luther went on. "But some of the aris-
tocracy and the military won't stomach them. We don't
know how many are in the faction, but they're up to
some kind of mischief. It's a good guess Erzcour's with
them."

"You have proof?" Theo tried to stay calm. Even be-