"C. S. Friedman - Coldfire 1 - Black Sun Rising" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friedman C. S)

hanging garments and treelike accessory displays; Damien had to push aside a
rack of beaded belts to get far enough back from the mirror that the whole of his
bulk could be reflected within its narrow confines.
He glanced at Ciani - who was managing not to smile - and then at the
fluttering moth of a proprietor who picked at his clothes periodically, as though
searching for pollen between the patterned layers. And back at the mirror.
And at last said: тАЬI hope youтАЩre joking.тАЭ
тАЬItтАЩs the height of fashion.тАЭ
The image that stared back at him was draped in multiple layers of purple
cloth, each of a slightly different hue. The layered ends of vest over half-shirt
over shirt proper, triple-tiered upper sleeves and cuffed pants - each in a
different shade of plum, or grape, or lavender, some in subtle prints of the same
- made him look, to his own eyes, like a refugee from some dyerтАЩs scrap heap.
тАЬWhat all of those in the know are wearing,тАЭ the proprietor assured him. He
plucked at DamienтАЩs vest front, trying to pull the patterned cloth across the bulk
of the stout manтАЩs torso. The thick layers of muscle which comprised most of
DamienтАЩs bulk had been further padded by the eastlandтАЩs rich foods and
seductively sweet ale; at last the man gave up and stepped back, diplomatically
not pointing out that fashions such as these were designed for considerably
smaller men. тАЬSubtly contrasting hues are the fashion this season. But if your
taste runs more to the traditional,тАЭ he stressed the word distastefully, as if to
indicate that it wasnтАЩt normally part of his vocabulary, тАЬI can show you
something with more color perhaps?тАЭ
тАЬI doubt that would help.тАЭ
тАЬLook,тАЭ Ciani was grinning. тАЬYou told me that you wanted to dress like a
Jaggonath cleric-тАЭ
тАЬA Jaggonath cleric with taste.тАЭ
тАЬAh. You didnтАЩt say that.тАЭ
He tried to glare, but the obvious merriment in her eyes made it difficult.
тАЬLet me guess. You got paid by some pagan zealot to make me look like a fool?тАЭ
тАЬNow, would I do that?тАЭ
тАЬFor the right price?тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩll have you remember IтАЩm a professional consultant; First coin, sound
contracts, reliable service. You get what you pay for, Father.тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩm not paying you for this.тАЭ
тАЬYes.тАЭ Her brown eyes sparkled mischeviously. тАЬThere is that to consider.тАЭ
тАЬPlease!тАЭ the proprietor seemed genuinely distressed by their exchange.
тАЬThe lady Ciani is well known to us, your Reverence. SheтАЩs helped clothe some of
the most important people in Jaggonath-тАЭ
He stared at her in frank astonishment. тАЬA fashion consultant? You?тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩm helping you, arenтАЩt I?тАЭ
тАЬBut, for real? I mean - professionally?тАЭ
тАЬYou donтАЩt think me capable?тАЭ
тАЬNot at all! That is - yes, I do . . . but why? I mean, why would someone pay
an adeptтАЩs consulting fee just to have you help pick out their clothing? One
hardly needs the fae to get dressed in the morning.тАЭ
тАЬAh, you are a foreigner.тАЭ She shook her head sadly тАЬEverything here
involves the fae. The mayor runs for reelection, he wants his sartorial
emanations assessed. Some power-hungry businessman itches to close the deal
of a lifetime, he needs someone to tell him which outfit will best serve that