"Laurell K. Hamilton - Ravenloft - Death of a Darklord" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Laurell K)

Elaine seemed too tired to notice. тАЭYes,тАЭ she said. Konrad turned around. His darkly handsome face
was set in a frown. Because he was looking for it, Blaine saw the wince in ElaineтАЩs eyes. It distressed her
that Konrad frowned at her. Darn. That KonradтАЩs opinion mattered to her that much bothered Blaine. It
was silly, but he was jealous. The moment he realized it, Blaine pushed it away from him. He let it go. If
the dour Konrad could bring his sister happiness, then who was he to complain? Of course, if Konrad
hurt her, that was a different matter. Keeping oneтАЩs sister safe was a brotherтАЩs job, wasnтАЩt it?

Konrad pulled back the covers. Elaine drew the robe closed over her gown. Without being asked, he
picked up her slippers from the floor and slipped them on her stockinged feet. It was a curiously intimate
gesture. He tied the robeтАЩs sash with abrupt hands, as though she were yet a child. Two bright spots of
color burned on ElaineтАЩs cheeks. She was careful not to look directly at KonradтАЩs face; she couldnтАЩt
bear to meet his eyes. He lifted her in his arms, as if she weighed nothing. Elaine put her arms around his
neck, face pressed against his shoulder. She looked pale and ill and lovely in KonradтАЩs arms. And
entirely too much at home for BiaineтАЩs liking. тАЭCan you make the stairs by yourself, Blaine? If not, I can
come back up and help you down.тАЭ

Blaine shook his head. тАЭI can make it.тАЭ He would make it down the stairs by himself, or with someone
elseтАЩs help. Blaine would have taken anyoneтАЩs help in the house before Konrad BurnтАЩs, right now.

Konrad nudged the door open and walked out with Elaine in his arms. He never glanced back or asked
again whether Blaine needed help. Blaine had said no. It would never occur to Konrad it might not be
true. Blaine levered himself up from the chair, hopping, leaning on the heavy frame. A sharp pain slapped
him every time he jarred his injured leg. His arm hurt with a persistent, bone-numbing ache. A crutch with
cloth wrapped around the top leaned against the wall. He grabbed it and placed it under his arm. It was
his crutch, carved for his height. Monster fighting tended to be hard on a body. As Tereza said, they
were all temporarily able-bodied.

Blaine hobbled out the door. Konrad and Elaine were out of sight down the stairs. He balanced a
moment in the empty hallway, letting the pain in his leg subside. It hurt to stand with the leg dangling, but it
hurt much more to move. He stood, getting his breath back, preparing himself to hop down the stairs. It
had been childish to refuse KonradтАЩs help. He would pay for it in pain. But it was his pain, his privilege
not to accept help from the man who made his sisterтАЩs eyes flinch. He doubted Konrad even realized
how Elaine felt. Blaine wasnтАЩt sure if that made things worse or better. Probably neither. He balanced at
the head of the stairs, one hand tight on the bannister. A deep breath, and he took the first step. The pain
flared up his leg like fire. By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, he would be nauseated, weak,
and feeling almost as badly as Elaine. What price, pride? Blaine hopped another step down, gritting his
teeth to keep from crying out. HeтАЩd make the same choice again. A slow, unreasonable anger had settled
in his heart against one Konrad Burn.




┬л^┬╗

FOUR
A strange man sat before the kitchen fire. His hair was white as snow, his face dominated by a yellowish
beard and a beaklike nose. He smiled at Elaine, gray eyes gentle.

Elaine sat in a chair on the other side of the fire. Mala had put another cup of tea in her hands. The cook