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

be an adequate tool for his purposes. "He plans to continue through the Great
Swamp by clearing the ancient path through it. My sources say he can do it."

The Spy master's smile dropped from his face and he sat forward intently on his
chair. "Sianim, for all its military fame, is just a small city-state; alone against Cybelle
we'd stand no chance at all. The Western nations need to face the Easterners as
allies if we are to have a chance to stand against them. I have been working to patch
old hostilities for the last few years. The most difficult conflict to smooth has been
the persistent fighting between Darran and Reth."

"So what do you need me for? There are other people who speak Darranian,"
said Rialla quietly, obviously not stricken with any sudden urge to be of assistance.

"Lord Karsten is the driving force behind the Rethian alliance. There are people
who don't want Darran to be tied to Reth; the last outbreak of war is still fresh in the
minds of those on both sides who lost kin. The antagonism is in no way helped by
Reth's traditional link with magic; as you well know, Darranians view sorcery as
something twisted and defiled. Karsten's influence is such that he is capable of
overriding the objections of his peers in the councilЧif he survives to do so."

Ren cleared his throat before continuing, watching the woman narrowly to gauge
her response. "Last week an assassin's arrow killed the horse that Lord Karsten was
riding. Karsten was lucky, but I want to know who was behind the attempt so I can
have them stopped.

"Lord Karsten is sponsoring a week-long celebration of his birthday at his
country estate, Westhold. Because of the attempt on his brother's life, Laeth has
agreed to attend the celebration to see what he can find out."

Ren leaned forward intently. "But I need something more. My dear mother used
to say, 'An unguarded tongue will bring down the stoutest walls.' Around Lord
Karsten's brother every word will be weighed, measured and carefully doled out.

"What I need is someone no one noticesЧa part of the furnishings of the keep.
Unfortunately the furniture can't tell me what it hearsЧbut a slave can." Ren
watched Rialla closely for her reaction, but not so much as a twitch gave away her
thoughts.


She stared silently at the floor for a moment, then lifted her eyes to meet his. "I
would do a great deal for Sianim: but not this. Paint a tattoo on someone else and I
will teach them to be a slave, but I will leave Sianim before I go back to Darran."
Her voice was cold and hard, the voice of someone with the courage to cut the skin
from the side of her face and cauterize the resultant wound.

Ren sat back undismayed: he still had a carrot to dangle in front of her. "To
make the alliance more acceptable to Rethians, Lord Karsten has proposed several
changes in Darranian law. Marriages with outsiders will be legal; this is required, of
course, to permit the marriage between the princess and King Myr. Trade taxes will
be lowered or possibly eliminated." He paused and softened his tone to attract her