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

Cleanly clad in Riyan's clothes, Pol also took Riyan's chair at the high table. Ruala insisted on it, and also that Meiglan take the place that was usually hers as Lady of Feruche. But the new High Princess chose instead to sit on Pol's leftЧand called Betheyn over to take the chair at his right.

It was kindly meant. Pol remembered that this had been Sorin's table; had he lived, Beth would have presided here as his wife. Perhaps it was Meiglan's way of

thanking her, or of reminding those at Feruche whose Lady she might have been. Mainly it impressed the ever-fractious Dorvali merchants, for whom Beth, along with Isriam, had taken responsibility.

The Dorvali were here because Skybowl wasn't big enough. Pol had no intention of keeping them at Feruche, eitherЧthough accommodations were much more spacious, and provisions, thanks to Ruala's foresight in sending to Elktrap, were plentiful.

Trouble was, they might get used to this. Feruche was so obviously big and strong that the war might seem very far away. He mentioned as much to Beth over the haunch of venisonЧcooked to perfection and more than welcome after days of marching rationsЧand she nodded.

"We'll have to convince them otherwise. Getting them out of Skybowl wasn't much of a problem. Getting them out of Feruche. ..." She shrugged. "Where can we send them?"

"I know just the place." Pol turned to his wife. "Meg-gie, I forgot to ask earlierЧdid you happen to talk to Master Nemthe's daughters on the way here?"

"Yesterday, my lord," A little smile played over her lips. "Just as you asked. They were rather nice, after they got over the fact that it was me." She gave a little shrug of bemusement that anyone would think her formidable.

"Oh, yes," he teased, "I'm sure they chat with princesses all the time." To Betheyn, he went on, "By now they'll have told their parents that they were honored with the High Princess' confidence." Plucking up Meig-lan's free hand, he kissed the palm. "Were you properly nervous and fearful, my love, when you mentioned Chal-dona and how much you'd rather be there than here?"

Ruala, seated on Meiglan's other side, laughed quietly. "Pol, you have no shame. Setting her to do your work for you!"

"Mind your chiding, my lady. I heard what you did to Master Nemthe," he retorted with a grin.

"But not so well that he didn't scruple to leave a tally

sheet behind for Maarken and Hollis to find. As if he'd been summing up his losses, and 'forgot' it in his hurry to vacate the room," she snorted.

Beth was frowning her confusion. "Chaldona? I don't know it. What's there that these people would want?"

"Safety," Pol said succinctly.

Ruala leaned forward and explained, "It's a way station on the road through the Veresch, and very appropriately namedЧin a valley between cliffs. Every spring the mountain folk come to trade and gossip and enjoy themselves. It's a bit like the Rialla Fair, only smaller and more fun."

"And Chaldona can provide for more than three hundred Dorvali?"

"Three times that number descend on it every year, and stay in the guest houses."

Meiglan added, "Which are empty the rest of the year. Yes, please, Kierun.," she said as the squire hovered at her elbow, "I'd love another cup of taze."

"If the mountain folk stayed," Ruala continued, "Chaldona would be a rather large town. The guest houses are a bit rustic, but comfortable enough. The only problem I foresee is evicting the Dorvali once they're established."

"Always assuming we can get them there in the first place," Pol said, nodding thanks to Kierun for the steaming cup set before him. "An idea Meggie has now put into the minds that matter."

Chay, who had been listening from his chair next to Beth's, cleared his throat in warning. "Successfully, too. Here is our Meiglan's unsuspecting victim nowЧlooking just as he would have if Sioned herself had played him. My congratulations to the High Princess."

Pol felt the hand in his tense at the title. But he had no time even to glance at her in sympathy, for Master Nemthe was indeed approaching the high table. Pol briefly debated the merits of offering to meet with him alone, then decided that the more witnesses, the better. He assumed his most pleasant face and hid anticipation as the merchant distributed bows all around.

Ruala spoke first. "Master Nemthe, I trust you and your family are comfortable here."

"Feruche is a vast improvement over SkybowlЧmeaning no disrespect, my lady," he added awkwardly.