"Sara Douglass - The Axis Trilogy 1 - BattleAxe" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglass Sara)

Rivkah away from Borneheld. Borneheld daily cursed Axis for causing his
mother's death. One day, Borneheld thought viciously, he would meet this
bastard brother of his in combat, and then the world would see once and for all
who was the better man. Artor would judge who had better right to live. The
stem of his goblet finally bent and it spun out of Borneheld s hand and onto the
floor.
A servant scurried to replace it with another and mop up the mess, and for
an instant Borneheld met Axis' eyes across the head of Priam and Judith. The
hatred between them was naked enough for any to see.
Jayme gently touched Axis' arm and drew his attention away from
Borneheld. He spoke quietly so that no-one else would hear.
"My son, I am pleased and relieved that you managed to travel so quickly
from Coroleas. I hardly dared expect you so soon."
Axis smiled at Jayme, his dislike of Borneheld fading before the gentle face
of the Brother-Leader. "We were close to the Corolean Sound when your
message reached me, Father." The title was one of deep respect tinged with
some gratitude. Apart from his command, no-one else accepted him the way the
Brotherhood did. "It was relatively easy for us to extricate ourselves and put to
sea for Achar." The Coroleans had been angry to see them go when the threat
from the sea-raiders had been at its worst but Axis' charm had smoothed
diplomatic relations.
"Axis," Jayme said quietly, "Nothing can be accomplished tonight. We cannot
talk here and you are exhausted. Come to my rooms in the eastern wing of the
palace at sunrise tomorrow morning. We can share prayers and then talk. think
we shall both be summoned to Priam's presence later."
Axis was silent for a moment. "It is the news from the north, then?"
Jayme smiled at his protege. Even in Coroleas the BattleAxe had managed to
keep his lines of information open. "Yes, my son. But let us not discuss it here in
whispers. Better left till the morning."
"Besides," Axis whispered loudly in a stage whisper, glancing along the table
with amused eyes, "if I stay here any longer I'll sour the cream in the trifle."
Jayme pinched Axis' arm sharply, but his eyes smiled. "Rest well, BattleAxe.
Furrow wide, furrow deep."
"Furrow wide, furrow deep, Father," Axis replied, and kissed the Brother-
Leader's emerald ring before he straightened and moved to the edge of the dais.
He paused and bowed briefly to Priam before making his way out of the room.
As he went he glanced again at the young woman who had stared at him earlier.
She blushed and turned away. A moment later at a table some three or four
removed from the royal dais, his eye caught that of one of the noblewomen, the
Lady of Tare, and she inclined her head slightly, a smile hovering around her
lips.

The Lady of Tare
Embeth, Lady of Tare, made her way carefully along the darkened corridors
of the palace. Most of the revellers were still enjoying themselves in the
Chamber of the Moons, but she had finally managed to escape; courtly etiquette
had kept everyone in their seats until the king and queen left.
She had not expected to see Axis at the banquet and had felt a jolt of
surprise and pleasure when she saw him. He wasn't due back from Coroleas until
Frost-month. She was pleased he was here at the palace instead of the