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

All in all, Rialla preferred his younger brother, who saw with clearer vision, and
was much less bound by society's strictures.

Laeth had slipped back into his role as prodigal son, and rubbed shoulders with
Darranian nobility as comfortably as he did with the mercenaries of Sianim. Even
seated beside his brother's wife, Marri, he didn't lose the easy charm. Only Rialla
knew from the whispered conversations she had with Laeth at night that his feelings
for Marri hadn't changed.

There were over a hundred people in the dining hall. Laeth had told Rialla that by
the next evening that number would triple, and over five hundred people would
attend the ball two nights hence. The day after that, she and Laeth would return to
Sianim. For all the drama and high emotion that had started this trip, it was beginning
to look as though they might return to Sianim without incidentЧ or information.

When Laeth finished his meal and waved Rialla back from the table, she assumed
a position near a window where the wind would give her a little fresh air.

She was the only slave in the room. It was unusual and vulgar to bring one's
slave to a public function, but Laeth shrugged it off and said that he had only
recently purchased her and wanted to keep an eye on her for a while. Since it was
obvious that she was expensive (the tattoo proclaimed her a highly trained dancer as
well as indicating who trained her), no one made a fuss.

Laeth was talking with a small group of people consisting of Lord Karsten, the
sharp-eyed, fox-faced Lord Jarroh, who was Karsten's constant companion, and
Lady Marri, who clutched her husband's arm tightly and stood with her gaze fixed
determinedly on the floor. Rialla wondered absently about the topic of conversation.
Laeth's face held the sardonic smile he adopted to hide his feelings. Karsten
appeared to be pale under his deeply tanned skin.


As Rialla watched with growing speculation, sweat gathered on Karsten's
forehead and trickled down his temple. He said something and bowed to excuse
himself. He gave his wife's shoulder a dismissing pat, and put her clinging hand on
Lord Jarroh's arm.

As Karsten turned to go, he collapsed suddenlyЧfalling to his knees. Laeth was
there only a moment before Lord Jarroh, who was hampered by Marri's grip. Laeth
managed to get a shoulder under his brother's arm and half carried him to a heavily
stuffed sofa.

Her erratic empathy chose that moment to flare briefly to life, and Rialla cringed
at the pain Karsten was suffering, though the sofa was close enough that she could
tell not a sound crossed his lips. He merely gripped Laeth's hand and closed his
eyes.

With Laeth kneeling at the head of the sofa, Marri had little choice but to pull up
a padded bench and sit near the foot.