"Lee Edgar - Princess 01 - Queen of The Persians" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

across the main body of water. Gradually, the men hauled and pulled until, with a great cry, Hegai hurled himself
onto the cliff path. For one dreadful moment, Khshayarsha was sure he had lost them both. However, he had
underestimated the strength of the big man who pulled himself to safety and lay, panting, on the cliff path.
The King was the first on the scene and he gently turned the child over onto her back. тАШWhy,тАЩ he said with feeling. тАШIt
is a young girl and she is beautiful.тАЩ
тАШShe may also be badly hurt,тАЩ said the Captain of the Guard. тАШWith your permission, highness, I will have the men
take her to Haman.тАЩ
The King stood up and nodded. He had seen a great many women and girls in his life and, already, he had
gathered a harem of a dozen or more concubines from Babylon in addition to his own queen, Amestris. However,
young though she may still be, this child already had the basis for much more beauty than all of them put together.
As he watched, the procession made its way back to the camp and the girl was placed in front of the Magi.
тАШLeave me,тАЩ Haman told the soldiers. тАШOil and balsam,тАЩ he commanded the servants and, several minutes later,
she lay before him as he examined her carefully.
The King raised one eyebrow in a request for diagnosis.
тАШThere would appear to be no bones broken, my Lord King. However, the girl has been badly hurt here,тАЩ he pointed
to her lower ribs and then her flat belly, тАШAnd here.тАЩ
тАШCan you heal her?тАЩ
тАШI know not how long she has been in the water. I would think most of the night and who knows what damage the
cold may have done to her? Additionally, she may be damaged inside. I cannot tell until she wakes and can tell me
where the pain is.тАЩ
тАШYou can save her life?тАЩ
Haman shrugged. тАШShe is in the hands of Zurvan, the god of time and destiny. I will do only what I can.тАЩ
Khshayarsha smiled. тАШThe gods are with us, my friend. Have we not saved her from Azhdahak, the dragon of the
deep? Mithra will be generous and spare her life so that she may serve me at Shushan the Castle.тАЩ
тАШWe have to consider how she came to be in the river, Highness; where she came from.тАЩ
тАШYou are right.тАЩ He turned to a guard. тАШSend Artabanus to me at once.тАЩ
The soldier left and, a few moments later, a man of around fifty entered in the uniform of a High General. тАШMy Lord
King?тАЩ
тАШSend scouts to search upstream. The girlтАЩs family must be somewhere nearby. They will be missing her.
Artabanus nodded. тАШIt shall be done.тАЩ He left to give the order.
тАШWell?тАЩ said the King to Haman who was now carefully rubbing soothing balsam into the skin of the girlтАЩs belly.
тАШI cannot tell, highness. She is starting a fever.тАЩ
тАШHow soon will you know?тАЩ
тАШNot today,тАЩ Haman replied. тАШI ask your permission to remain here with her while you continue your journey to
Shushan.тАЩ
тАШWe will all wait.тАЩ
тАШWith respect, Highness,тАЩ the Magi grovelled. тАШYou are expected. The Queen will have arranged a great banquet for
you.тАЩ
The mention of Queen Amestris caused Khshayarsha to stiffen. His marriage had been a political one, arranged
by his father in an effort to keep the peace with the Babylonians. He had tried to live up to his responsibilities not
only as ruler but also as husband, but Amestris continually flaunted her acquired position, often to the detriment of
the Empire. One day, he thought to himself, that woman will go too far.
Khshayarsha looked down at the child with sadness. тАШShe is so like my own daughter, Haman. Do everything you
can for her.тАЩ
тАШI will treat her as if she was one of your own children, my Lord King.тАЩ
Khshayarsha smiled and laid his hand on HamanтАЩs shoulder. тАШI have total confidence in you.тАЩ
тАШMy Lord King. May that always be true. I will serve you with honour as I did your father.тАЩ
The King watched him working and asked, тАШAre there many as loyal as yourself?тАЩ
тАШI regret, not many, Your Highness. There are Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, and Tarshish of the Persians as well
as Meres and Marsena of the Medes. They would each serve you unto death.тАЩ