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

"Why are you so worried about him?" Aldiar asked suddenly. "You're not his mother."

Idalian swung around, cursing himself for allowing his gaze to stray up to the schoolroom window. "Why do you say that?" he demanded, knowing he should not have spoken at all.

"I have to pry you away from his side for my lessons," Aldiar complained. "You won't go out riding unless it's with Tirel, you stay with him every moment you can. Do you expect danger to him here in his own castle?"

"Yes," he replied bluntly, saw the black eyes go even wider, then thought quickly. "You heard what happened at my home. One of the enemy walked right into the residence, disguised as a merchant. And the few survivors of Gilad Seahold talked of a young juggler who led

them a chase up the ramparts and flung a torch from the wallsЧit had to have been a signal of some kind. What makes you think Balarat is any more secure?"

"Oh." Aldiar raked his hair back, shaking his head as it flopped into his eyes again. "What you mean is that Fironese are all dark, just about like these barbarians. It'd be hard to tell us apart, wouldn't it?"

"You said it, I didn't," Idalian snapped.

"But it would be easy to mistake one for the other," he insisted. "And you don't trust any of us, do you?"

Idalian sheathed his knife. "I'm going back upstairs. It's too cold out here."

"There's no need to worry," Aldiar said. "Truly."

"You think I'm a fool for itЧbut if anything happens to Prince TirelЧ"

"It won't." Flatly. "I give you my word."

Idalian laughed aloud. "Oh, and that makes me feel so much better!"

Dark skin flushed with anger, the boy moved closer to him and hissed, "You think you understand, but you don't. Not anything!"

"Would you care to explain it to me of your infinite wisdom?"

"Maybe. Someday when I'm sure you can be trusted!" And with that he stalked off, the knife still gleaming in his hand.

*

It was a good wine, rich and full-bodied, the very last of the prized vintage of 732. That year, Ossetian wine makers had crushed cask after cask so exquisitely that Sioned had sworn the Goddess herself had had something to do with it. Nothing could be that perfect without divine intervention.

Andry savored the taste, his eyes dreamy. He hadn't his aunt's nose, but one would have to be dead and burned not to appreciate this glassful of liquid rubies. Dead and burnedЧor Nialdan, he thought with a smile, watching the big Sunrunner take another large swallow.

Nialdan much preferred the heavy, bitter ale favored by sailors who made port in Waes, where he had been born. He tended to toss back the finest wine as if it were colored water.

Nialdan wasn't the only one who had taken a swift, bracing gulp after Andry's casual announcement. The other devr'imЧincluding the two newestЧhad overcome their initial shock by now and were marshaling arguments. Andry won his bet with himself about who would speak first.

"You can't!" Valeda exclaimed. "We need you here!"

"Not really."

"You're Lord of Goddess Keep!"

"That I am. But my duties extend beyond these walls."