"Sharon Green - Brat 1 - Princess Brat" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Sharon)

Princess Brat 1




Princess Brat

Chapter 1


copyright 1999, 2002 by Sharon Green

Derand du Bahr, High King of the Federated Kingdoms of Arvin, strode along the hall of
the palace in Sollera, one of his neighboring kingdoms, trying very hard not to laugh. The
minor official he followed scurried ahead of him and his escort as though pursued, and
those people they passed stared at him and his men as though they were seeing their
own deaths coming. Granted they wore black leather beneath the ring mail of their light
protection and they all had swords, but a single man and an escort of twenty was not the
usual sign of a full-scale invasion.

"I would guess that these people are not fighters, my king," Listan murmured from his
place at Derand's right. Listan was Derand's advisor and good friend, and he trusted the
man completely. "They stare at us as though they expect to be eaten for lunch."

"Yes, they've always been that way," Derand agreed in a matching murmur. "But they're
also very pleasant people, which is why my father signed that compact with King Ostrin
all those years ago. My father and Ostrin are close personal friends, and my father
wanted to make sure that these people never have to stand alone against invading
forces."

"The chances of that happening are now a good deal less likely," Listan said, the words
filled with satisfaction. "Is that why we've come here? To reassure the good friend of your
father?"

"For that and another reason," Derand agreed with a private smile. "I've also come to
collect my bride."

"Your what?" Listan nearly yelped, then he regained control of himself. "What I meant
was, I hadn't known you were planning to look for a bride here. The women in our own
lands will be crushed."

"Not as crushed as they would be if the point was never brought up," Derand told him
dryly with continuing amusement. "And the point I mean is that I'm not looking for a
bride here, I already have one. I was married to the only daughter of King Ostrin many
years ago, when she and I were both still children. She was a lot younger so she might
not even remember, but I do. My father really wanted the match, and I saw no reason
not to agree. I still see no reason."

"Yes, I wish I were as close to my own father as you are to yours," Listan said with a
sigh. "He never stopped supporting and believing in you, even when you began the