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

breast.

As she went downstairs, LovyanТs heart was heavy, and she felt
badly about it. Of course Donilla deserved this moment of triumph,
of vindication. After ten years of a childless marriage, her first
husband had cast her off as barren, a bitter humiliation for any
woman to bear, worse than the heartbreaking thought that she
would never have children. Now she had her son, and everyone in
Eldidd knew that she wasnТt the barren one. Unfortunately, her
small triumph had important political consequences, of which her
second husband seemed to be painfully aware. Garedd was a man
of middle years, with two sons and a daughter by his first marriage;
a solid sort with gray in his blond hair and mustaches, he was
genuinely pleased at LovyanТs news, breaking out into a laugh and
yelling that he had a son to his warband across the hall. Then,
almost instantly, he wiped the look of triumph off his face.

УMy apologies for gloating, Your Grace,Ф he said. УBut it takes a
man that way.Ф

УYou donТt need to apologize to me, cousin,Ф Lovyan said wearily.
УNor to Rhys, either, though IТd advise you to stay away from
Aberwyn for a while.Ф

УI was planning to, truly.Ф

There lay the crux of the matter; Gwerbret Rhys had been DonillaТs
first husband, the one who had shamed her as barren because he
had no heirs for his vast rhan, one of the most important in the
entire kingdom. If he died childless, as now seemed most likely,
Eldidd could well break out into open war as the various candidates
tried to claim the gwerbretrhyn for their own clan. Although Lovyan
was fond of her cousin and his wife, she was here to witness the
birth because of its political implications. Since she was the tieryn
of Dun Gwerbyn, with many vassals and large holdings, her time
was too valuable for her to ride around the countryside playing at
midwife for her vassalsТ wives. But it had been necessary that she
see with her own eyes that, truly, Donilla had given birth to a child.

УDo you think Rhys will adopt a son?Ф Garedd said.

УI have no idea what Rhys will or wonТt do anymore, for all that heТs
my firstborn son. An adopted heir wonТt have much of a chance in
the Council of Electors anyway. The sensible thing for him to do
would be recall Rhodry from exile.Ф

Garedd raised one questioning eyebrow.

УI havenТt given up hope yet,Ф Lovyan snapped. УBut truly, my lord, I
understand your skepticism.Ф