"Dave Duncan - A Man Of His Word 1 - Magic Casement" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

decided that Aunt Kade probably wanted her at the affair no more than she wanted
to attend. Unfortunately, Kade might decide that duty required her to promote
Inos's education in the social graces.
At that point in her misery, Inos found herself out in the bailey, and there was
a wagon heading for the gate.
She had promised Kade that she would not go riding alone. No one had said she
could not go down to the harbor unaccompanied... or at least into the town
itself... not recently, anyway. The guard was the problem. The token sentry
would not likely say anything; but nosy old Sergeant Thosolin liked to sit in
the guard room and watch who came and went all day. He might consider that he
had authority to question Princess Inosolan. Even if he didn't, he probably
would.
She hurried across the cobbles to the wagon, then strolled casually beside it as
it clattered and jingled through the archway. There was just room for a slim
princess to walk between the high rear wheel and the greasy black stones. The
noise reverberated astonishingly in that narrow space. She was shielded from the
guard room; she marched past the sentry without a glance; a moment later she was
in the outer court, feeling like an escaped ferret.
If a king could safely walk unaccompanied around the town, then his daughter
could, yes?
Inos did not ask the question aloud, so no one answered it. She was in no
danger. Her father was a popular monarch and Krasnegar a very law-abiding place.
She had heard tell of large cities where what she was doing might be foolish,
but she was certain that she would come to no harm in Krasnegar. Aunt Kade might
object that being unaccompanied was unladylike, but Inos could see no reason why
her father's independent kingdom need be bound by the customs of the Impire.
A single wagon road zigzagged down the hill, but Inos preferred the narrow
stairways and alleys. Some of those were open, some roofed over. Some were
bright and sunny, some dark, others partly lighted by windows and skylights.
They were all steep and winding, and this fine day they bustled. Inos was
recognized often. She received smiles and salutes, frowns and surprised glances,
all of which she acknowledged with a confident and regal little nod, as her
father did. She was growing up-they must expect to see her around often in
future. And yet, hurrying down the steep little town, Inos saw no one of any
interest, only thick-shouldered porters and wide-hipped matrons, tottering
crones and stickymouthed toddlers. None but the dull remained in Krasnegar in
summer.
From time to time she caught glimpses of slate roofs below her and the harbor
below those. Two ships had arrived already, the first of the season, and there
she was headed. The early arrivals always made Krasnegar nervous, for in some
years they brought sickness that would slash through the town like a scythe-it
was less than two years since one such epidemic had carried off the queen. But
the harbor was where the excitement would be, where the fishermen and whalers of
Krasnegar itself mingled with visitors come to trade, stocky, urbane ships'



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