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

waiting for a reply, he ran to the door she'd just left.

She rubbed the sweating gelding's head soothingly to calm him. He was a sturdy
enough animal, in good shapeЧbut of no particular breeding; not a horse a noble
would ride.

His rider hadn't been wearing nobleman's clothes either, for all the confidence in
his command. Rialla concluded that he must be the healer that Lord Jarroh had sent
for; there would have just been enough time for a messenger to make it to the village
and back.

The horse butted her impatiently with his head, and she began walking him
toward the stable. Even though the man she'd followed was long gone, she could
ask about him in the stables; there was just something about the way the servant had
been so casual in the midst of the confusion of Lord Karsten's collapse that made
her curious about him.

The stables were dark and cool and smelled like horses and fresh strawЧnone
of the foul odors that would hint of slovenliness. Rialla felt herself relax in the
familiar atmosphere.

The horse she was leading whinnied piercingly at the scent of the unfamiliar
animals. A stable boy appeared from a nearby stall. He tossed Rialla a friendly smile
and reached for the reins, saying, "The healer's beastie, eh? Here now, I'll cool him


out a bit and find an empty corner to stick him in."

Rialla handed the horse over to him and then asked, "Did you see the man that
just came in here and took out a liver-chestnut mare?" A proper slave would never
attempt conversation with anyone other than another slave, but the groom seemed
cordial enough.

The boy glanced around, probably to see if anyone was watchingЧa stable boy
was hired to work, not to chatter with slaves. Satisfied that everyone else was busy,
he said, "That was the Lord Winterseine's man, Tamas. He's here a lot. If I were
you, I'd try and avoid him if you can."

"Winterseine or Tamas?" Rialla asked.

"Tamas. Winterseine's all right. Tamas, though, is awful quick with a whip or a
fist." The boy looked at her meaningfully. "He likes it rough, makes him feel
powerful. Stay out of his way unless you like it that way too." Without further delay
he led the horse down the aisle to begin cooling it off.

Thoughtfully, Rialla returned to the castle and sneaked back into the room where
she'd left LaethЧor at least she tried to sneak back in. Laeth met her at the door and
said in furious tones that the whole room could hear, "Where have you been, girl? It
couldn't have taken you so long to carry out Lord Jarroh's orders."