"Alexander, Lloyd - Westmark 02 - The Kestrel" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alexander Lloyd)

Luther had overheard Theo's inquiry. "Do you get much news from the palace?"

"Not as much as I'd like. Mickle-Princess Augusta-writes to me. So does Chief Minister Torrens. They're never sure where I'll be, and neither am I- By the time anything catches up with me it could be weeks. I send them word whenever I find a dispatch rider. It gets there sooner or later."

"Money?"

"Enough. I have a treasury warrant. King Augustine himself signed it. Do you need anything?"

Luther winked. "You can buy supper for us later."

Luther unbolted a door at the head of the stairs. The chamber was small, and the slope of the raftered ceiling made it appear still more cramped. Except for a pair of saddlebags in the comer,. there was no sign it had been much lived in. The table was bare, the straw mattress unrumpled. The fire had nearly burned out in the hearth.

"The landlord claims it's the best room in the house." Luther lit a candle stub. He squatted at the fireplace and blew on the embers- "I hope he's lying. Now, let's hear about your grand tour."

"Not very grand," said Theo, "but it suits me better this way. I can see more on my own." He gave Luther a wry smile "Sometimes I wonder if Augustine wants me to learn about the kingdom or if he Just wants me anywhere but at the Juliana Palace No-that's not fair He means well I could have stayed It was my choice

"Even so," he went on, "I still wonder Mickle doesn't care a rap if she's a princess and I'm a commoner For Queen Caroline, it's bad enough that I was a printer's devil Worse, that I had anything to do with Florian The courtiers already make it a royal scandal '

"Meanwhile, they pack you off sightseeing '

"I've done more than that " From his jacket, he took a wad of papers, closely written, tied about with string. "I've been keeping a journal What I've seen, what I've done I've talked with bailiffs, stewards, tenant farmers I've been looking at town archives, too, estate accounts when I can get at them I put down all the figures how much yield for an artistocrat's land, how much more for a freeholder's There's no question, it strikes you in the face-"

"That the aristocracy's made a botch of it," put in Luther "Embarrassing discovery for a future prince "

"I copied the figures and sent them to Torrens and the king They can see for themselves "

Luther chuckled "You're a born troublemaker You should have stayed with us "

"No There must be another way to set things right Not trying to pull down the monarchy There's terrible poverty in the countryside, in the towns, too, for that matter But if it could be worked out fairly, everyone would be better off It's common sense-"

"It's common sense to end the monarchy altogether Start with that, not with how many bushels of corn to an acre "

"That's only your way of looking at it ' "Mine And a great many others' " Theo put back his papers Argument was useless Luther, like Florian, had set on one path and would see no other What troubled Theo was whether they understood things more clearly than he did He brightened as he reached into the traveling case "I've been doing something else "

He brought out his sketchbook and opened it on the table Since leaving Mananstat, he had taken the habit of drawing At first, it merely passed the time But lately it had become more than idle amusement If a day passed without adding to his sketches, he felt unsatisfied and empty

Luther paged through the book, now and then stopping to look closer at a scene a peasant woman and her child, a gaggle of street urchins, a fishwife, a carpenter planing a board "That's Westmark Not your accounts and archives "

Theo warmed his hands at the fire Something had 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 "Florian 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"