"Dean Ing - Firefight Y2K" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ing Dean)

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There were some who could have answered Thyssa's riddle. One such was the gaunt emissary Averae,
whose dignity had been in such peril as he stood up in his Moessian canoe. Not until evening, after an
aurochs haunch had been devoured and a third flagon of Lyrian wine was in his vitals, did Averae
unburden himself to Boerab. "You could've knocked me into the lake when I spied your friend, the
shaman," Averae muttered.

"Or a falling leaf could've," Boerab replied with a wink. "You're a landlubber like me. But be cautious in
naming my friends," he added with a sideways look across the table where Dirrach was tongue-lashing a
servant.

"You've no liking for him either?"

"I respect his shrewdness. We serve the same king," Boerab said with a lift of the heavy shoulders. "You
know Dirrach, then?"
 "When your king was only a pupтАФI mean no disrespect for him, Boerab, but this marvelous wine
conjures truth as it willтАФhis father sent Dirrach to us in Moess to discuss fishing rights near our shore."

"I was building an outpost and only heard rumors."

"Here are facts. Dirrach had full immunity, royal pardons, the usual," Averae went on softly, pausing to
drain his flagon. "And he abused them terribly among our servant girls."

"You mean the kind of abuse he's giving now?" An ashen-faced winebearer was backing away from
Dirrach.

A weighed pause: "I mean the kind that leaves bite scars, and causes young women to despise all men."

Boerab, a heavy womanizer in his time, saw no harm in a tussle with a willing wench. But bite scars? The
old warrior recalled the disappearance of several girls from farms near Tihan over the past years, and
hoped he could thrust a new suspicion from his mind. "Well, that explains why we never arranged that
fishing treaty," he said, trying to smile. "Perhaps this time Lyris and Moess can do better."

"Trade from Obuda to the Phoenician coast is more important than punishment for a deviate," Averae
agreed. "Do you suppose we'll find Shandor's folk amenable?"

"Likely; they have little to lose and much to gain."

"Even as you and I," Averae purred the implication.

"Even as your king and mine," Boerab corrected. "Just so we'll understand one another, Averae: I'm
happy as I am. Wouldn't know what to do with presents from Moess or Shandor, even without strings
attached. If Lyris and the ladтАФah, King BardelтАФprosper, I'm content."

"Fair enough," Averae laughed. "I'm beginning to be glad your mana was strong during our border
clash."

Boerab, startled, spilled his brimming flagon. "Mywhat? Save that for commoners, Averae."