"Kate Elliott - Crown of Stars 1 - King's Dragon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elliott Kate)

the younger Arnulf and Queen Mathilda. She is a learned woman. That is why she has the name,
Scholastica. She was baptized as Richardis." It was all there, in the city of memory, all the knowledge
that Da had taught her neatly lined up in niches, along avenues, under portals and arches, but what good
was it if she was utterly alone? She wanted to cry but dared not, for Hanna's sake. So she kept talking.
"Queen Mathilda retired to Quedlinhame after King Arnulf the Younger died and their son Henry became
king. All of Quedlinhame is under her grant, her special protection, so it is a very fine place, they say. I
believe the king holds court at Quedlinhame every year at Holy Week, when he can, to honor his mother.
There will be every opportunity for someone as clever as you to advance yourself in service. Perhaps you
can even attach yourself to the king's progress, to his household. He has the two daughters, Sapientia and
Theophanu, who are old enough now to have their own entourages, their own retainers."
Hanna laid her head on Liath's knees. The weight and warmth were comforting and yet soon to
be gone from her forever. "I'm so sorry, Liath. I would never leave you, but Inga will be coming back
from Freelas in the summer with her husband and child, so there isn't room for me. It must be marriage or
service."
"I know. Of course I know." But hope leached out of Liath like water from a leaking pail. She
shut her eyes, as if by being blind she could cause this all not to come to pass by not seeing it happen.
"Liath, you must promise me you won't lose hope. I won't desert you. I'll try every means to
secure your release."
"Hugh will never release me."
"How can you be so sure?" Hanna lifted her head. "How can you be so sure?"
She sighed deeply, without opening her eyes. She left the city of memory behind, left the jeweled
rose and Da's words. "Because he knows Da had secrets and he thinks I know them all. Because he
knows I have the book. He'll never give me up. It doesn't matter, Hanna. Hugh is to be invested as
abbot, as Father, at Firsebarg. We will leave as soon as it is possible to travel south." She opened her
eyes and leaned down, whispering, although there was no one to hear them. "You must take the book.
You must take it away from here. Because he'll get it from me if I have it. Please, Hanna. Then if I'm ever
free of him, I'll find you."
"Liath"
But she would never be free of him. He knew. Of course he knew.
She let go of Hanna's hands and stood. Hanna scrambled to her feet and turned just as Hugh
opened the door.
"Get out," he said coldly. Hanna glanced once at Liath. "Out!"
He held the door until Hanna left. Then he shut it firmly behind her. "I do not like you having
visitors." He crossed to Liath and took her chin in his left hand; his fingers cupped her jaw. He stared
down at her. The deep azure dye of his tunic brought out the penetrating blue of his eyes. "You will no
longer entertain any visitors, Liath."
She wrenched her face out of his grasp. "I'll see whom I wish!"
 He slapped her. She slapped him back, hard.
He went white, except where her fingers had left their red imprint on his fine skin. He pinned her
back onto the table, pressing her wrists painfully against the hard wood surface, and held her there. He
was pale with anger, and his breath came ragged as he glared at her.
"You will not" he began. His gaze shifted over her shoulder. He caught in a breath. He dragged
her off the table and shoved her away. Whatever will had momentarily possessed her was already
sapped. She stood numbly and watched as he brushed his palm over the tabletop. He inscribed his hand
in a circle, narrowing, spiraling in, to trace the outline of a rose burned lightly into the burnished wood
grain. His expression was rapt, avid. Finally he turned.
"What have you done?"
"I've done nothing."
He grabbed one of her hands and tugged her forward, placed her hand over the table where she
had to see, although the outline was almost invisible. The lines felt like fire along her skin.