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

She replaced the book and turned back to him. "Yes." This time her voice was
as meek as it had been at first.

"I spoke with Laeth, I believe he is a friend of yours, who informed me that you
speak native-quality Darranian." He turned the statement into a question with an
inquiring look.

She shrugged indifferently, but her left hand came up to finger the scar that
marred her face and her gaze shifted back to the floor.

Darranian slaves were all elaborately tattooed on the left side of their faces for
identification. In Darran, slaves could not be freed; the tattoo marked them for life.

Ren decided to change tactics. "Do you know who Lord Karsten is?" he asked
bluntly.

"You mean other than Laeth's brother?" she asked, but continued in indifferent
tones without waiting for a reply, "He is one of the Darranian lords pushing to ally
the kingdoms of Reth and Darran. I understand that the proposed alliance involves
the marriage of King Myr of Reth to the king of Darran's older sister."

Ren nodded his head in agreement. "Lord Karsten is the most influential member
of the regency council. With his support the new alliance is a virtual certainty."

The light mockery eased back into Rialla's voice as she spoke for the first time
without being prompted. "Sianim wants to prevent the alliance? Maybe an accident
for Lord Karsten?"

"Of course not!" replied Ren in a shocked tone, widening his eyes improbably to
show his innocent dismay at her suggestion. "My dear young woman, Sianim never
interferes with the politics of any government. We are mercenaries, and merely hire
ourselves out to the highest bidder."

He knew when the corner of her mouth turned up in a reluctant smile that she
caught the satire with which he spouted their official dogma.

"So," she said, "tell me. Why is it that Sianim doesn't intend to hinder the
alliance? The feud between Darran and Reth has diverted a steady stream of gold
into our coffers over the past century or so."

Ren looked at her with the same pleasure with which a schoolmaster might regard
a pupil asking a thoughtful question. He rubbed his hands together with satisfaction


and began to talk.

"The Great Swamp has long been a barrier between the East and our West." He
gestured to her impatiently. "Sit down, girl. This will take a while. Now thenЕ the
only trading currently done with the East is through the Ynstrahn sailing fleets that