"Sharon Green - [ebel 01 - Rebel" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Sharon)

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When Adair let Lethan lead her into a well-filled visiting room, it took an instant before she understood
that they werenтАЩt under attack again. The large number of people rushing at them were courtiers, all of
them intent on finding out the details of the actual attack from the man whoтАЩd been the object of that
attack.
тАЬYes, yes, of course I can tell you all what happened,тАЭ Lethan answered the babble of questions, moving
a few steps away after seating Adair in a
comfortable chair. Adair waited only until the crowd had followed Lethan away before leaving the chair
again, certain that no one would see her do it. There were servants ranged around the room ready to
dispense refreshments, and what she wanted right now was a good strong cup of tea.
It didnтАЩt take long before Adair had her tea, but the way the servant had looked at her was more than
just bothersome. The man had acted as if pouring tea for her was the greatest honor heтАЩd ever had, his
gaze above an adoring smile downright shining. Apparently everyone had heard things about the attack,
and her certainty that everyone would believe Lethan had stopped the assassin didnтАЩt seem to be
working out that wayтАж
тАЬAdair, are you all right?тАЭ Lisni demanded as she and Nossa practically ran Adair down hurrying to her
side. тАЬWe heard that Lethan was attacked by an assassin, but you threw things at the assassin and
knocked him out. Is that really what happened?тАЭ
тАЬOkay, I see it now,тАЭ Adair said with an inner groan. тАЬLethan should have taken all the credit instead of
telling the truth to everyone who came in, but he didnтАЩt. This is all his fault.тАЭ
тАЬYou sound as if youтАЩre blaming Lethan for speaking the truth,тАЭ Nossa observed as she studied Adair
with her head to one side. тАЬI donтАЩt understand why you would do that when the truth gives you credit for
saving the life of a prince.тАЭ
тАЬOh, I see,тАЭ Lisni said with satisfaction before Adair could think of a way to avoid going into long
explanations. тАЬAdair has been mounting a campaign against being chosen as one of the brides, and thatтАЩs
why she said what she did to the king last night. The fact that King Rodick flatly refused to talk about her
during the meal means her plans were going well, but nowтАжтАЭ
тАЬBut now sheтАЩs a hero,тАЭ Nossa said with a nod, showing that she, too, understood before turning her
attention back to Adair. тАЬDidnтАЩt you realize how foolish you were being when you saved LethanтАЩs life,
Adair? If youтАЩd helped the assassin instead of stopping himтАжтАЭ
тАЬItтАЩs not funny,тАЭ Adair stated, hating the way the two girls were grinning at her. тАЬEverything was going
well, but now IтАЩll probably have to attack someone myself before IтАЩm crossed off the bride list. And to
make matters even worse, not a single soul has come over to say how outraged they are about what IтАЩm
wearing.тАЭ
тАЬGive it a few minutes, and Dinra ought to oblige you,тАЭ another voice said, causing all of them to turn. It
was Elmini who had spoken, and the very faint smile on her surprisingly pretty face said she was actually
joking. Elmini had dark blond hair that wasnтАЩt styled at all, a situation that distracted the viewer from
noticing her big blue-green eyes.
тАЬIf this situation wasnтАЩt so interesting, IтАЩd be tempted to say it was getting repetitive,тАЭ Lisni commented as
she studied Elmini along with Adair and Nossa. тАЬFirst Nossa stops being a mouse in the background, and
now youтАЩre taking your own turn, Elmini. Nossa got tired of waiting for things to become as perfect as
sheтАЩd been promised they would be, so I canтАЩt help wondering if youтАЩre another victim of impatience.тАЭ
тАЬNo, I didnтАЩt get tired of waiting for something I never expected to happen,тАЭ Elmini answered, her smile
widening just a little. тАЬI kept away from you three just the way I kept away from Dinra and Aleena,
thinking you were just as bad as those two. Then last night and today I learned differently, so I thought
IтАЩd come over to offer Adair my condolences. Bad move, Adair, but maybe youтАЩll do better next time.тАЭ
тАЬAre you saying youтАЩre someone else who doesnтАЩt fit in, Elmini?тАЭ Adair asked, staring at the other girl
with surprise. тАЬWhy didnтАЩt anyone know about it before now?тАЭ
тАЬMainly because I donтАЩt enjoy being hurt,тАЭ Elmini answered, the smile disappearing as the look in her
light eyes grew hard. тАЬMy loving father never touched me himself, but his people made it very clear that if