"Asaro, Catherine - Skolian Empire 6 - Quantum Rose" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asaro Catherine)

"Yes." She had never expected this generosity. He didnТt even own this building he had refurbished. Then it occurred to her that perhaps it wasnТt such generosity after all. He did own the palace now, as well as everything else that had belonged to her family. Including her.

They walked down the Entrance Hall, accompanied by the two servants and the tall woman. The hall ended at a gleaming ballroom that stretched to their right and left. Radiance from its chandeliers reflected off the walls and parquetry floor, yet she saw no candles within the chandeliers, only shimmers of light.

They crossed the width of the ballroom to another archway that opened into the Long Hall, which ran the length of the palace perpendicular to the Entrance Hall. Moonglass paneled its walls and a dark carpet covered the floor. Lamps set in rose-shaped molds glowed at intervals along the walls.

Lionstar set off down the hall, still holding KamojТs arm. The tall woman easily matched his stride, but Kamoj and the servants almost had to run to keep up.

Lionstar didnТt stop until they reached a door at the east end. Then he turned to the others. "You can go. IТll take her up."

The tall woman spoke. "Perhaps Kamoj would like to meet the staff. Look at the palace. Have dinner." Dryly she said, "Catch her breath."

"Who?" Lionstar asked.

"Kamoj," the woman said.

"WhoТs that?" he asked.

This isnТt happening, Kamoj thought.

The woman stared at him. "Your wife."

Lionstar turned to her. "Kamoj? Is that your name?"

"Yes," Kamoj said.

"ТS pretty," he said. "Like you."

"She hasnТt even had a chance to unpack," the woman said.

"Unpack what?" he asked.

"Her suitcases. Trunks. I donТt know." The woman looked at the two servants. "Whatever her belongings came in."

"She donnee have any, Colonel Pacal," the plump woman said.

The tall woman looked startled. Turning back to Lionstar, she said, "Saints above, Vyrl. DidnТt you arrange for her things to be brought up?"

"If it hasnТt been done," he growled, "then do it."

The woman blinked at him. Then she turned to Kamoj and spoke gently, as if Kamoj were a child instead of a grown woman. "Do you have things you would like? We can send someone down to Argali House in the morning."

Kamoj nodded. "Thank you. Lyode will know what to send."

"Lyode?" the woman asked. "Is that a person?"

Lionstar scowled. "Dazza, stop interrogating her."

Kamoj wished they would decide what to call one another. Was the tall woman Dazza or Colonel Pacal? Was Lionstar a governor or a prince? The tall woman had called him Vyrl. A shortened version of Havyrl, probably. Perhaps if she thought of him by a nickname, it would make all this seem less intimidating.