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

order in which they were admitted. There are good reasons for this, but it can cause difficulty, especially
now, when we train fewer boys than we used to. I send regular reports to the Commander of the Royal
Guard, advising him how many we have ready for binding. Sir Vicious, in turn, advises His Majesty. Two
or three times a year, the King comes to Iron-hall and harvests the next batch. He cannot delegate that
duty; it must be his hand on the sword that binds them.тАЭ

Isabelle suppressed a shiver, thinking of the deadly white scar over BeauтАЩs heart.

тАЬOf course the King may also assign Blades to other persons.тАЭ Lord Roland regarded her darkly. тАЬYou
will not remember the Thencaster Plot, but one of its more distressing results was that some Blades were
put in impossible conflicts of loyalty. Many went insane when their wards turned traitor. Others died
fighting against their king. Ever since then, His Majesty has been reluctant to gift Blades to others. The
Royal Guard absorbs almost our entire output nowadays; that is why we admit so few. But the King has
not completely given up assigning private Blades.тАЭ

Like Beau. She nodded.

тАЬConsequently,тАЭ Grand Master continued, тАЬI had no reason to be suspicious a few days ago when a
man rode into Ironhall with a warrant from the King. He gave his name as Sir Osric Oswaldson. I was
mildly surprised that I had never


11Paragon Lost

heard of him, nor had Master of Protocol, but he dropped hints of a secret mission and the King wishing
him to have a Blade guardian.тАЭ

тАЬIs that usual, my lord?тАЭ

Lord Roland smiled. тАЬNo, but possible. It happened to me, about half a century ago.тАЭ

And Beau, who was positively leering. He hated mysteries he had not created himself.

тАЬI was unhappy that the warrant required me to bind only one Blade, because His Majesty knows my
concerns about that and has never ignored them before. But kings do as they please.тАЭ

тАЬOsric,тАЭ Beau said. тАЬBaelish name.Washe a Bael?тАЭ
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тАЬHe could be. His hair was more sandy than red, but it did have a reddish tinge and he was the right age
to be one of AthelgarтАЩs childhood friends. He volunteered no personal information and brought no
attendants who might have gossiped in the kitchens. The King sent most of his cronies home after the
Thencaster Affair, but he could well have chosen one for some confidential mission. It all made sense.тАЭ

When his audience did not comment, Lord Roland continued. тАЬI gave him my usual lecture on the care
and upkeep of Blades. In all good faith I summoned Prime and introduced him to his ward-to-be.
Swithin? Remember him?тАЭ