"Duncan, Dave - A Man Of His Word 02 - Faery Lands Forlorn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

she had first appeared in the tower-middle-aged and thick-bodied. There had been
an even more revealing glimpse later, when Sagorn had replaced himself with
Andor. Startled by the occult transformation, Rasha had momentarily become an
ugly old woman. The svelte maiden image would have been the illusion, obviously.
Sorcerers lived a long time, but most likely this very tall and youthful sultan
was Rasha's son, or grandson.
A surge of exhaustion closed over Inos like a dark wave. She was in no state to
deal with sultans, or sultanas, or sorceresses. And then the jeweled drape
tinkled. Inos spun around as Aunt Kade came through. Kade! Short and plump and
blinking watery blue eyes at the brightness, but oh, how welcome!
"Aunt!" Inos hugged her fiercely.
"Ah, there you are, dear! " She sounded tired, but quite calm. She seemed
blissfully unaware of her disreputable appearancerose and silver gown all
stained with tea, bedraggled snowy hair fluttering in the hot breeze.
Inos took a deep breath and forced herself to display suitably ladylike
behavior. "How nice that you can join us, Aunt! Let me present you . . . the
Princess Kadolan, sister of my late father, King Holindarn of Krasnegar. The
sultan ... er. . . "
"Azak!" snapped Azak.
"Sultan Azak. " Inos was not at her best at the moment. "Your Majesty!" Aunt
Kade curtsied, with no perceptible wobble. She was again demonstrating her
astonishing durability. The sultan frowned, registering aristocratic surprise at
these two waifs appearing in his domain. When he clenched his jaw, the fringe of
red beard rippled. Of course he could not possibly be as stupendous as he
thought he was, but Inos decided she would go so far as to class him as
noteworthy. Again making his curious gesture, he bowed to Kade-deeply, but less
deeply than before. Then he went back to staring at Inos.
"Your father? You are a queen in your own right?"
"I am."
"How extraordinary!"
Indignant, Inos opened her mouth and then firmly closed it again; a queen with
only two loyal subjects should be discreet. Which reminded her of her other
loyal subject--
"Aunt, where is Rap?" She turned back to the curtain of jewels and pushed at it.
It was still immovable from this side, a one-way curtain.
"Still in the chamber, I expect, dear."
"The slut is in there, I presume?" Azak inquired. Inos and her aunt both turned
to stare at him.
"The woman who calls herself Sultana Rasha? You have met her? She is beyond that
drape-wherever that may be?" He folded his arms imperiously.
"Beyond that drape is Krasnegar, my kingdom!" Inos shouted, feeling her
threadbare self-control starting to rip. This ordeal had been going for a whole
day and night, and she just couldn't take much more. "I want to go home!"
"Indeed?" He seemed skeptical. "You have no magic of your own, either of you?"
"None!" Inos shouted.
"Inos!" Kade frowned disapprovingly.
The djinn shrugged. "Well, I am no sorcerer, merely the rightful ruler of this
domain. For sorcery you must deal with the bitch. "
"Is she not your ... Well, if you are sultan here, then what is she to you?"
Inos demanded, still ignoring glances from Kade. The djinn scowled grotesquely