"Elliott,.Kate.-.Crown.Of.Stars.3.-.Burning.Stone" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elliott Kate)

reconciliation between brother and sister."

After twenty days riding with the king's progress, Alain could
not bring himself to like, trust, or even respect the handsome,
charming, and ingenious Father Hugh. But he felt obliged to
be fair. "Father Hugh is well spoken of by everyone at court.
Everyone says his influence has benefited the princess
immeasurably."

"Certainly his manners are excellent, and his mother is a
powerful prince. I would not like to make an enemy of him.
Nevertheless, he has thrown his weight behind Sapientia, and
all that influence comes to naught if she does not become
regnant after her father."

"I don't like him because of what he did to Liath," muttered
Alain.

Lavastine raised an eyebrow and regarded his son skeptically.
"You have only her wordЧthat of a kinless EagleЧthat he
behaved as she describes. In any case, if she was his legal
slave, then he could do what he wished with her." That easily
he dismissed Liath's fears and terrors. "Still, the Eagle has
uncommon gifts. Keep an eye on her, if you will. We may yet
use her again to our advantage."

Prince Sanglant had retreated to the river, away from the kill
and the commotion. His new hangers-on, uncertain of his
temper as always, kept a safe distance although they made an
obvious effort to distinguish themselves from those who
flocked around Sapientia. The prince stood on the verge
where the bluff plunged away to the water. The fishermen had
stopped to stare at the sight of a noble lord and his fine
retinue.

"He'll go in," said Alain suddenly, and as if his wordsЧ surely
too distant for the prince to hearЧtriggered the action,
Sanglant abruptly began to strip at the bluff's edge.

Tittering came from Sapienta's entourage. They had seen this
behavior before: Prince Sanglant had a mania for washing
himself. But to be without clothing in such a public setting was
to be without the dignity and honor granted one by noble birth.
Only common folk making ready to wash themselves or to
labor on a hot day would as unthinkingly strip before all and
sundry as kneel before God to pray.

The prince left his clothing on the ground and scrambled
down the slope into the water. He had an astonishing number
of white scars on his body, but he had begun to fill out. Alain