"Dave Duncan - Tales of King's Blades 6 - Paragon Lost" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

Isabelle opened her mouth to start asking questions and Beau kissed it. He might still not be the best
swordsman in


17Paragon Lost

the world, because in the two years since he won the KingтАЩs Cup he had been deprived of the intense
daily practice that experts needed to keep up their skills. She never doubted that he was the worldтАЩs best
kisser.
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He was far stronger than he looked, and she could do nothing but cooperate. Her swelling breasts
spread against his hard chest and her belly could just still fit in the concave curve of his. When the world
spun at a crazy angle and her knees buckled, he lowered her carefully to sit on the bench. She was giddy
and breathless. He was flushed.

Only then did he take up the sword.

тАЬWhy didnтАЩt you accept his gold?тАЭ she asked bitterly.

тАЬBecause I will have nothing to do with treason.тАЭ

тАЬTreason?тАЭShe thought of the horrible things they did to traitors.

тАЬTampering with the KingтАЩs Blades could certainly be construed as treason.тАЭ His eyes flickered a steely
warning, and she remembered the cryptic hints that there might be more to the crime than Roland and he
had said. тАЬSooner or later the inquisitors will bay.тАЭ He peered along the blade.

The first time he proposed to her, he had warned her that a BladeтАЩs ward must always come first,
promising she would always be second. He had lied, although unwittingly.Just Deserthad been second.
He had always spoken of his sword as female,she. She was a schiavona sword, two-edged, tapered,
basket hiltтАФnot a large, clumsy weapon, but neat, like him. Also deadly, like him. The only time Isabelle
had ever seen tears in his eyes was when they took her away. And now she was back. Roland had
known the one coin that would buy her husband for whatever his real purpose was.

тАЬItтАЩs yours, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ She was still breathless.

тАЬOh, no.тАЭ He smiled thinly. тАЬHis Majesty ordered mine destroyed, remember? But Master Armorer
keeps records of


18Dave Duncan

every sword he makes, so Roland could have ordered a replica. He would pay for it himself, too.тАЭ

She could see the nicks on the edge, many of which tallied menтАЩs lives. This was the originalJust Desert,
the one he had slaughtered with on the ghastly Skyrrian quest. The King had been defied. Roland had not