"Raymond E. Feist - Empire Saga 2 - Servant Of The Empire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

Mara fluttered her fan before her face. Unexpectedly
self-conscious, she felt both regret and relief that Hokanu
was departing. She nodded with the appearance of poise. 'I,
too, look forward to that time. Fare well upon your road.'

'Fare you well, too, Lady Mara.'

The younger of the two Shinzawai sons threaded his way
through the benches and left the upper gallery. As he
stepped into the sunlight on the stair, his profile showed the
straight nose, high forehead, and firm chin that had
captured the attention of many a noble's daughter in his
home province of Szetac. Even to Lujan's overcritical eye,
the man was as well favoured as he was socially well placed.

The sound of raised voices drifted up from the slave
compound. Mara's attentions turned from the retreating
figure of Hokanu. She pressed close to the gallery rail to
view the cause of the commotion. Since archers could not be
concealed among bands of naked slaves, Lujan did not urge
her to stay back within the shadows, but he did continue to
observe nearby rooftops.

Mara was surprised to discover that the unseemly shouting
came from the factor overseeing the barbarians. Short,
plump, and swathed in costly yellow silk, he stood shaking
his fist under the chin of an outworlder. Facing him stood
the red-haired Midkemian Mara had glimpsed before, his
naked body gleaming in the afternoon light. He seemed to

17

be desperately smothering laughter as he endured the
factor's tirade. Mara was forced to admit the tableau was
comic; the factor was short, even for a Tsurani, and the
barbarians towered over him. In a vain attempt to look
threatening, their overlord was forced to stand upon tiptoes.

Mara studied the outworlder. Although at any moment
he might be savaged by a whip, he stood with arms crossed,
a study in self-confidence. He was a full head taller than any
of his betters, the overseer and the two assistants who
rushed to the factor's aid. The outworlder looked down on
their agitation like a boy noble bored by his jesters. Mara
felt a sudden twist within her as she studied the man's body,
made whipcord-lean by meagre rations and hard work. As
she forced herself to calmness, she wondered if Hokanu's
presence had affected her more deeply than she had
imagined. The men she needed to be most concerned with at