"Briggs, Patricia - Sianim 2 - Steal the Dragon.text" - читать интересную книгу автора (Briggs Patricia)

cheerfully enough, "The bread is fresh and Cook just pulled a honey ham out of the
oven. The beef is a bit overdone and dry."

"Sandwiches then. Two ham?" Laeth looked at Rialla and she nodded. "And two
mugs of watered ale as well."

When they were alone, Laeth said, "Ren called me in this morning. He wanted me
to see if I could talk you into going."

Rialla shook her head. "He did a good enough job of that himself."


"Why are you going?" asked Laeth semi-humorously. "I'm going to protect
Karsten, but all that I have to face is seeing Marri as his wife, and a possible death
sentence if anyone discovers that I am spying for Sianim. You have to go back to
being a slave."

"Ren says that Karsten intends to outlaw slavery in Darran," replied Rialla. "He
heavily implied that my presence would help, though come to think of it, I'm not
really certain how."

"You're risking a lot for slaves that you don't even know, Ria," commented
Laeth.

She tossed him a wry smile and fingered her scar. "I'm not doing it for them.
Most of them are probably quite comfortable being slaves; in Darran it's not much
worse than being a wife most places, maybe even better. I'm doing it for revenge.
The slavers who live in Darran stole something from me, and I'll never get it back.
It's my turn to help steal something from themЧfrom him."

Letty brought their food and accepted several coppers and a kiss from Laeth
before she left.

"Aren't you worried?" asked Laeth quietly, fingering a slice of fresh bread.

Rialla swallowed her bite and sipped from her glass before answering. "About
being a slave?" She shrugged. "I wouldn't go with anyone else, if that's what you
mean. I know that I can trust you not to leave me there. For someone not used to it,
owning a slave is a heady thing; and I am a dancerЧmore valuable than most. I
could bring you more gold than most people will see in a lifetime." As she spoke,
Rialla could feel her face stiffen into its accustomed mask. Her voice went flat,
losing the animation that characterized it.

"I won't do that," said Laeth softly.

She smiled at him, dropping her slave face. "I know that. Why do you think I
wouldn't go with anyone else? You've owned both slaves and estates, and chose to
relinquish them. Even if I didn't know you, I'd rather go with you than a
Southwoodsman who has never thought about owning a slave in his life."