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

In another half hour, Nevyn came down to the great hall. A tall man
with a thick shock of white hair and a face as wrinkled as old burlap,
still he moved with strength, striding up to the table of honor and
making Garedd a smooth bow. When he announced that the lord
could visit the lady, Garedd was off like a flushed hare, because he
loved his young wife in an almost unseemly way. Nevyn accepted a
tankard of ale from a page and sat down beside Lovyan.

УWell,Ф he remarked. УShe had a remarkably good first birth for a
woman her age. Knowing you, youТre pleased in spite of yourself.Ф

УJust that. I was always fond of her. If only some other beastly man
had cast her off.Ф

Nevyn gave her a thin smile and had a well-deserved swallow of
ale.

УIТll be leaving tomorrow,Ф he said. УGoing to Dun Deverry. Now that
I have a nephew at court, I can hear some of the gossip from the
kingТs councils.Ф

УNephew, indeed! But IТm glad heТs there, all the same. IТm
beginning to think that our only hope is to get our liege to override
RhysТs sentence of exile. ItТs happened before.Ф

УGwerbrets have also risen in rebellion against such meddling. Do
you think Rhys will?Ф

УI donТt know. Ah, by the Goddess herself, it aches my heart to
think of war coming to Eldidd, and all over my two squabbling
sons!Ф

УThe war hasnТt started yet, and IТm going to do my cursed best to
make sure it doesnТt.Ф

Yet he looked so weary that she was suddenly frightened. Even
though he was the most powerful dweomerman in the kingdom, he
was still only one man. He was also caught up in political intrigue
thatЧor so it seemed to herЧhis magical calling would ill equip
him to handle.

УAh well,Ф she said at last. УAt least the child himself was born with
good omens. They always say itТs a lucky lad whoТs born the first
day of spring.Ф

УSo they do, and letТs hope this spring is as well omened for us
all.Ф

The absent way he spoke made her realize that he very much