"04 - Emperor and Clown 1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

the shrouded figure standing in the moonlight.
"Inos!"
"Don't get up . . ."
But Kadolan struggled to her feet and reached out, and they came together and
hugged.
"Oh, Inos, my dear! I have been so ... er ... concerned! Are you all right?"
"All right? Of course, Aunt!" Inosolan broke away and turned toward the window.
"Of course I am all right. I am the most cherished, tightly guarded woman in
Arakkaran. Perhaps in all of Zark. How could I not be all right?"
Kadolan's heart shattered at the tone. She moved forward, but her touch caused
Inosolan to edge away.
"What are you doing all alone, sleeping in a chair, Aunt? Have you dined yet
this evening?"
"Tell me, dear!"
"Tell you what?"
"Everything!"
"Really! You want the details of my wedding night?"
Kadolan gulped and said, "Yes, I think maybe I do."
Slowly Inosolan turned to face her. She was swathed from head to floor in some
sweeping white stuff. Only her eyes showed. "Why, Aunt! That is not a very
ladylike question."
"Don't joke, Inos. There is something wrong."
"Intruders have been breaking into the palace and killing guards."
"Inos, please!"
"There is Rap. He is in prison."
"Yes."
"Because of me. That is wrong-that a faithful friend should suffer for trying to
aid me."
"In a few days, when the sultan has had time to repent of his anger . . ."
Inosolan wrung her hands. "Do we have a few days?" Her voice quavered, then
steadied. "What are they doing to him, Aunt? Do you know?"
"No, dear. I have asked."
"I dare not. Azak promised no more bloodshed, but he is insanely jealous. I
never knew what that phrase meant before. It's a clichщ, isn't it, insanely
jealous? But in this case it's exact. He forbids me even to think of another
man. To plead for Rap again would doom him instantly. And what he did in the
Great Hall. . ."
"We shall do what we can, dear."
"Little enough, I fear."
Silence fell, and the two stared at each other in the diffuse glow of the moon
beyond the windows while Kadolan heard the pounding of her heart. "There is
more, isn't there?" she said.
Inosolan nodded. "I never could deceive you, could I?" Then she raised a hand
and removed her veil.
Oh, Gods! Kadolan closed her eyes. Not Not "Rasha died too soon," Inosolan said.
"She had not removed the curse!"
"No, she hadn't. She'd said she would, but she hadn't got around to it. He was
going to kiss me." Even in that spectral glow, the marks were plain. Two fingers
on one cheek ... the print of thumb on the other. And the chin! Burned into the
flesh.