"Rawn, Melanie - Dragon Star 2 - Dragon Token" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragon Stories)

The talkative pair were discussing quite openly their half-brother's nearness to the throne of Princemarch, now that Pol and the two little princesses might be killed at any instant.

"Rinhoel's claim is stronger than Daniv's. Chiana was only six when Rohan forced her to sign the parchment that disinherited her."

"Daniv's mother was elevenЧof legal age. So if Pol dies. ..." She pursed her lips. "How much of a fight would Prince Miyon put up? Against Rinhoel's marrying Jihan or Rislyn, I mean."

Rialt struggled against nausea and turned his back.

"Oh, not much. Although he'll extract a stiff price for the marriage." She giggled. "Half the Desert!"

"Not unless Maarken and his son and daughter and all of Andry's children die, too. They're the next heirs to the Desert."

"Well, Rinhoel can bother about it once he's at Dragon's Rest."

"And Chiana is finally at Castle Crag! She'll never leave it until her last breath and we'll be rid of her at last."

"I wonder which of Pol's daughters Rinhoel will Choose. They're both said to be pale, puny little things." The third sister spoke up for the first time. "I can just imagine the ways he'll use to decide between them!"

The trio laughed aloud at this, drawing a few startled glances.

"My dear!" her sister chided gaily. "When he's High Prince, he can do as he pleasesЧso why not take both?" Rialt swung around on his heel, unable to stand any more. "The day he touches either of them, I'llЧ"

"Here you are, my lord!" exclaimed Mevita, grabbing his arm. "Come and tell Princess Palila aboutЧ"

"Leave me be!" He took her off, intent on the sisters, and took a menacing step forward. Mevita's hand shackled his wrist.

"My lord!" she said sharply.

He ignored his wife. "You miserable, foul-minded bitchesЧ"

"Did you hear that?" "How dare you insult us!"

"And he threatened our brother Prince Rinhoel. We all heard him!"

Mevita hung onto him with all her strength. Rialt tore out of her grasp and advanced on Halian's daughters. People were staring now, some of them shocked and some of them delighted by the excitement. He clamped his fingers around a skinny, silk-clad shoulder. "Papa!" she squealed in honest alarm. "Yes, someone fetch Prince Halian," Rialt snarled. "You can tell him your treason with your own lips!"

"My lordЧno!" Mevita pleaded. "Think!"

"Shut up!" he ordered, but he released the woman. "It sickens me even to touch you."

"You assaulted me! Papa! Papa, help!"

Mevita had him by the arm again, trying to draw him away. "Excuse my husband, my lady, it's his grief talking, and the wineЧ"

It infuriated him to hear her grovel to them. But she dug her nails into his hand and a measure of sanity returned.

"What's all this?" Halian asked.

His daughters immediately accused Rialt of vile insults and preparations to do violence. Halian, for all his faults as a ruler, was a tender parent when his children were called to his notice. He turned angry eyes on Rialt.