"Sharon Green - Lady Blade, Lord Fighter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Sharon)

been informed that the lady Sofaltis is here, in company with members of the Silver

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Sharon Green

Gleaming, whose presence, if fact, could scarcely be missed. Their purpose in coming here was kept from
me, in a deliberate attempt at vindictiveness, 1 believe, yet was I specifically

told . . ."

"The Silver Gleaming?" the woman interrupted, a faint, very attractive frown suddenly shadowing her
face, "Of course there are members of the Silver Gleaming here. We happen to be very popular with the
Blades because of the balanced variety our house offers, just as we're popular with the other Sword
Companies. 1 happened to see a few Fists arriving, but there were noтАФladiesтАФwith them."

The woman pronounced the word "ladies" as though it were nearly off-color and entirely loathsome, an
attitude Timper couldn't quite understand. Not that he was able to understand most of the rest of what he'd
been told. The north, it seemed, was far more different from the south than he'd imagined.

"What are Fists?" he asked almost warily, wondering if he would next be able to ask about the "balanced
variety" the woman had also mentioned. He wasn't quite sure, but somehow he had the distinct impression
the concept of variety was one he ought to be familiar with.

"Fists are special units of Sword Companies," the vision answered, staring at him in an odd manner as she
reseated herself. "The units consist of five Blades, usually the best Blades the Company has, and in battle
they carry out initial or crucial thrusts. Where did you say you come from?"

"A gentleman scarcely has the time to investigate every unimportant facet of such things as Sword
Companies." Timper returned stiffly, this time stung into trying to defend himself. He could also feel the

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flush in his cheeks, and nearly began shifting in place like an ignorant child caught by his tutor. "Are you
absolutely certain there were no women with thoseтАФFists?"

"I said there were no ladies with the Fists," the woman corrected, her face smooth and serene despite the
twinkle of amusement in her eyes, her hands holding lightly to the arms of her chair. "Ladies do badly as
members of a Fist, but female Blades are another story entirely. Most Companies have their share of
females, and although the majority of Fists are all male, one or two have ..."

Her voice trailed off as she stared at Timper again, but this

LADY BLADE, LORD FIGHTER

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time he could see she stared thoughtfully. Something had obviously occurred to her, and her next words
proved the point.