"Fancher, Jane - Rings 2 - Ring Of Intrigue" - читать интересную книгу автора (Fancher Jane S)

sorry her heart had already been swallowed by his older
brother.
"I thought you were promised to that young Giephaetum
womanNethaalye," she reminded him.
"Well, there is that." His face took on a mournful look,
then brightened. "Would you consider being a second?"
"Khyel," she said reprovingly. "I've been first wife to
Garetti of Mauritum for fifteen years. Much as I love you,
I'd have to decline."
"Better to be the Rhomandi's mistress, than the Rho-
mandi's brother's second, eh?"
"Sad, what the standards of the world are coming to,
isn't it?"
He laughed outright this time, which drew a startled look
from the guards.
"Rings," he muttered, and his head turned away from
her. When he turned back, his face was grim.
"The man in charge?" His lips barely moved, but she
caught the question and nodded. "Sironi gorTarim."
GorTarim. A surname that indicated a man sworn for
life to Tarim Ferricci. More than a hired guard. Much more.
GorTarim meant that Sironi, if faced with conflict between
Rhomatumin law and Tarim's direct orders, would follow
Tarim's orders without question.
Tarim's orders. Lidye's father's. Not Lidye's.
And Sironi gorTarim had deliberately avoided staling the
reason for their arrest, for all his allusions to imposters.
Sironi would have stood at Tarim's back at all public events
here in Rhomatum. Sironi should recognize Nikki, even if
he didn't recognize the other two.
"It has to be an arrest because of who you are," she
murmured back.
He raised a brow. "One would think. On the other hand,
considering my rather . . . befuddled answers, he might well
believe he was dealing with a half-wit, if not an outright
imposter. With all due respect, my charming almost-sister,
this most recent demonstration of filial rapport only verifies
my conviction that when the time comes for me to face the
Councilor any other official body, singular or pluralmy
two brothers are going to be as far away as possible. Prefer-
ably alone. Preferably asleep."
"Ah, but sleep brings dreams," she pointed out.
"True. Math, perhaps? A good set of calculus problems
would keep them occupied."
"Or put them to sleep."
"Drugged!" He lifted a finger for emphasis. "That would
be . . . nice."
His voice trailed off. He was staring straight ahead, a
rather puzzled expression in eyes that were quite, quite
unfocused.