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

She stopped walking and shook his arm. "Tell me what you're talking about! You're not making sense!"

"Picture a snowstorm," he suggested. "Just a little one. Two groups not quite sighting each other, not quite sure who the other might be. Neither has had access to a Sunrunner for Goddess knows how long, so neither knows where the Vellant'im are. A skirmish in the snow against soldiers who, for all they know, are the enemy . . . except that the one side knows very well who the other is. And then we'll all be in mourning gray for yet another prince."

Arnisaya still wore that color in memory of her brother Lord Segelin and his family, dead the first day of the war at Gilad Seahold. She wore it to remind all who looked at her of what she had lost, unavenged. But in the snug little world of Fessada, girt by snow and far from the fighting, people had ceased to notice the color or remember what it meant.

Camanto knew all this, knew how angry it made her. He wondered how much of what else he knew he ought to tell her. She was impulsive and reckless, likely to say whatever was in her head. But he needed her. With a shrug, he went on.

"Does it make sense now, dear sister?"

She had recovered her powers of speech. "Yarin wouldn't dare."

"Whether he would or not, Laric is currently our problem. No matter what Father says, he'll try to cross the Ussh River."

"With his princedom at stake, I should think he would! And he must, if what you say of Yarin is true."

He smiled. "You know, I was just thinking of ways to prevent him."

He kept a firm hold on her arm so she couldn't strike him with it. Her other hand came up and he grabbed that, too. Her hair came loose of its pins, cascading around her crimsoned face, and he spared another moment's admiration for a woman of immediate passionsЧ so unsuited to his cold fish of a brother.

"Gently, my lady!" he laughed. "Hear me out in full before you kill me!"

"I thought you a man of honor and pride!" she snarled. "You led me to think it after Rohan died. Have you turned craven like your father and brother?"

"You don't much care who fights whom, do you? As long as someone does something!"

"I care about my son," she snapped. "And what fine examples his kinsmen are of what a prince should be! Nothing but cowardice andЧ"

"Yes, yes, I know the whole list of defects in our characters," he interrupted. "You have such a demanding standard of excellence. Will you listen for a moment, Arnisaya? I promise you'll like what you hear. For Len-ig's sake as well as your own."

Sullenly, she replied, "Talk. It's all you and your breed are good at."

This was the way to handle her, he thought: ignite her temper, then bank the fire with sweet reason that kept it smoldering against the object he intended. Life with her would not be placid, but never would it be dull.

"I've notified those among the highborns who believe as we do to be ready at my summons. The household guard is mine to command as well. What do you think I've been doing all autumn and half the winter?"

She caught her breath. "Riding the nearer keeps, and the river all the way to Einar. But you said it was to make sure we had defenses enough if the Vellant'im did attack."

"So I said. So I meant. And now my father and brother will thank me for itЧfor when Laric is denied crossing here, he can be persuaded south. Edirne will

have no stomach for riding that far in such weather. So once he's trotted out looking lovely on his horse and shouted a bit at Laric, he'll return here and leave the army to me."

"And once you've persuaded Laric down to Einar? What will Lord Sabriam do?"

She had a quick brain when she chose to use it. He smiled. "His son Isriam is in the Desert. His sister Kiera married AHun of Lower PyrmeЧand their son Kierun is Pol's squire. It's taken direct threats from my father to keep Sabriam from outfitting his merchant ships for war and sailing against the Vellant'im in Brochwell Bay. Thus far, he hasn't moved. A hundred troops have been at Einar since mid-autumn to make sure of it. But when I arrive with a whole army, and tell Sabriam to give Prince Laric all the ships he needs. ..."

Arnisaya clutched his arm excitedly. "Who's to say it's not your father's will? But why do all this for Laric? Firon and Fessenden have ever contended over their borders. Even when Laric was made prince in 719, and so much was settledЧ"

"Чand so much land was handed over to us to gain our support for Laric's claim," he broke in. "I know all that. But Laric wants nothing but Firon. There's been no trouble since he came to Balarat. Peace is a very good thing, Arnisaya."