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

Inos looked again at the miraculous fabric that enveloped her. She had never
owned anything like this before. She had not known that such material existed.
What a gown it would make! Gold dragons on green fields and fall foliage...
Whenever she moved the dragons shimmered, as if about to fly. Aunt Kade would be
ecstatic over it and delighted that Inos was taking an interest in clothes at
last. And her father would certainly not object, for she must expect to start
playing her part in formal functions soon, as she neared her coming of age. She
would ask Kade to advise her on the design.
"It's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," Inos said firmly.
"I absolutely must have it. How much is it?"



file:///G|/rah/Dave%20Duncan%20-%20A%20Ma...His%20Word%201%20-%20Magic%20Casement.txt (4 of 174) [2/14/2004 12:03:29 AM]
 file:///G|/rah/Dave%20Duncan%20-%20A%20Man%20Of%20His%20Word%201%20-%20Magic%20Casement.txt

2
No one had ever suggested that Mistress Meolome might be a sorceress, but the
thought occurred to Inos as she panted up the last alleyway that led to the
castle. Three and a half gold imperials? How had she ever been bewitched into
agreeing to pay so much for a mere swatch of silk?
Aunt Kade would have hysterics.
Aunt Kade must not be allowed to find out.
The best strategy was certainly for Inos to go to her father at once and explain
that she had saved him the trouble of choosing a birthday gift for her. True,
her birthday was still some time off. Also true, he had never given her anything
worth three and a half gold imperials-not close, even-but she was growing up and
she needed such little luxuries now. Surely he would understand when he saw the
silk itself and she explained why she had chosen it and why it was so suitable.
He would be pleased that she was beginning to take more of an interest in
ladylike matters... Wouldn't he?
She had some jewelry of her own that she might be able to sell-if she was able
to sneak back into the town again. She might raise a hall imperial that way. A
straight "three" would sound a much neater, rounder sort of number.
Father would understand, of course, that the only alternative was his dear
daughter's tragic suicide from the highest battlements. Possibly she could live
without the silk-she had managed so far-but she could certainly not endure the
shame of having to return it. So he would congratulate her on her good taste and
see that the money was sent as she had promised.
Wouldn't he?
She reached the top of the lane and paused to catch her breath, and also to
reconnoiter the courtyard. There was only one gate to the castle and it opened
into this cobbled outer court. Now there was no wagon in sight to provide cover,
only a few ambling pedestrians. The summer sun was high enough to smile in over
the ancient stone walls and brighten the pigeons that strutted around, cleaning
up the horse droppings. Relics of winter snow bled quietly to death in corners.
A man-at-arms was standing as rigid as his pike beside the gate, with two mangy
dogs snuffling aimlessly beside him. Within the big arch of the entrance, nosy
old Thosolin would be lurking in his guard room.
It was none of Thosolin's business, she decided firmly. Whether or not he had