"Kerr, Katharine - Deverry 03 - Bristling Wood v1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragon Stories)

УYour Grace? ThereТs a noble lord at the gates. Should I ask you
what to do, or go find Lord Garedd?Ф

УYou may ask me, because IТm of higher rank. If I were of the
same rank as Garedd, youТd have to go find him. Now. Which
noble lord is it?Ф

УTalidd of Belglaedd, Your Grace. He said the strangest thing. He
asked if he was welcome in the dun that should have been his.Ф

Beside her Nevyn swore under his breath.

УOh ye gods,Ф Lovyan said feebly. УHe would turn up right now!
Well, lad, run and tell him that indeed heТs welcome in the dun
called Bruddlyn. Tell him that exactly and not a word more.Ф

As soon as the page was on his way, Nevyn turned to her with the
lift of a quizzical eyebrow.

УIt all goes back to LoddlaenТs war,Ф she said, her voice heavy with
weariness. УTaliddТs sister was CorbynТs wife. She went back to
her brother before the war even started, because having Loddlaen
in the dun was driving her daft, and I canТt say I blame her for that,
frankly. But then, after Corbyn was killed, I attainted this demesne
because sheТd left her husband. All my loyal men would have
grumbled if I hadnТt. I offered her a settlement of coin and horses,
but Talidd refused to let her take a copper or a filly of it.Ф

She broke off because the subject of this explanation was striding
into the great hall, stripping off his cloak and riding gloves as he did
so. Talidd of Belglaedd was a heavyset man of forty, with gray hair
still streaked with blond, and shrewd green eyes. Tossing his cloak
to the page, he came over and made the tieryn a deep bow. His
bland smile revealed nothing at all.

УIТm surprised to see you here, my lord,Ф Lovyan said.

УI came to congratulate Garedd on the birth of a child. The page
tells me itТs a lad.Ф

УIt is, and a healthy one.Ф

УThen Dun Bruddlyn has yet another heir, does it?Ф Talidd paused
to take a tankard of ale from a serving lass. УWell, the gods may
witness the justice of that.Ф

Lovyan debated challenging him then and there. If sheТd been a
man, and thus able to fight her own duels, she might well have
done it, but as it was, she would have to call for a champion.
Answering that call would be the captain of her warband, Cullyn of