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

Rialla took in the room at a glance. Her fragmented talent caught the suspicion
that was in the air, directed at Laeth. She bowed her head humbly and said in clear
tones that would carry, "Master, this morning you told me to see if I could find the
pin you were missing. When someone mentioned a groom, I remembered that you
were wearing it yesterday afternoon when you went hunting, but I didn't see you
wear it to dinner. I thought that maybe when you were in the stall with the servant
girlЕ" She cowered nervously, as if realizing that she shouldn't have said anything
about that.

Someone laughed and made an obscene comment; sleeping with servants was
commonplace, but not to be talked about in public. Laeth backhanded her forcefully
on her face, knocking her to the ground. It looked more impressive than it was.
Laeth's blow was no worse than many a strike they'd exchanged on the practice
floor at Sianim. Like any good slave, Rialla cowered and whimpered; all slaves learn
quickly that if it looks as if the blow hurt, it isn't as likely to be repeated.

To Rialla's astonishment, a large, gentle hand touched her shoulder and the healer
helped her to her feet. "She was near the stables and took my horse when I arrived.
You shouldn't give orders unless you want them followed, my lord."

Rialla barely restrained a gasp at the healer's tones. No commoner talked to a


noble in that tone of voiceЧnot if he wanted to live to face the morning.

Mercenary or not, Laeth's upbringing as a Darranian noble caused his eyes to
flash with outrage. The healer didn't give Laeth a chance to reply before turning to
Lord Jarroh. "I have managed to counteract the poison in Lord Karsten's system.
He'll be weak, but should be well enough in an hour or so. I'll leave my bill with the
clerk as usual." He swept out of the room with as much presence as any of the
nobles.

Deliberately Laeth reacted to his frustrated anger as most of his peers would have
under the circumstance. He knocked Rialla to the ground again, hitting her
open-handed on her cheek with a blow that was more flash than substance.

"Wait for me in my room," he snarled.

Rialla scurried gratefully out, and holding a hand to her face, she headed to the
bedroom while Laeth complained loudly about poorly trained slaves.

As she turned the first corner of the hallway, Rialla was stopped by a hand on
her arm. Startled, she looked up to see the healer. Before she could draw away, he
touched her untattooed cheek with his hand. Raising an eyebrow, he tilted her head
so he could see the side of her face clearly in the torchlight.

"There is no mark where he hit you." His comment was in a mild tone, but firmly
spoken. Clearly he would have answers before he left her alone.

Rialla looked around frantically and saw with relief that there was no one in the