"Kay, Guy Gavriel - Fionavar Tapestry 1 - The Summer Tree" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kay Guy Gavriel)

Diarmuid was on his feet again by then, seemingly unable to be still for any length of time. УLoren,Ф he said, Уyou know the King wonТt come tonight. Did you\a151Ф
УHe must! I wonТt let Gorlaes have\a151Ф
УSomeoneТs here,Ф Paul said sharply. He had quietly ended up in MartТs post by the door. УFive men, three with swords.Ф
У\iDiarmuid\a151\iФ
УI know. You havenТt seen me. I wonТt be far,Ф and the heir to the throne of Brennin leaped in a rustle of cloth and a moonlit flash of yellow hair through the window, reaching out, almost lazily, for a handhold on the wall outside. For GodТs sake, Kevin thought.
Which was all he had time for. Vart, the surly guard, appeared in the doorway. When he saw that Matt was nowhere to be seen, a thin smile flicked across his face.
УMy lord the Chancellor,Ф Vart announced.
Kevin wasnТt sure what heТd expected, but it wasnТt what he saw. Gorlaes, the Chancellor, was a big, broad-shouldered, brown-bearded man of middle years. He smiled generously, showing good teeth as he came sweeping in. УWelcome back, Silvercloak! And brightly woven, indeed. You have come in the very teeth of time\a151as ever.Ф And he laughed. Loren, Kevin saw, did not.
The other man who came in, an armed aide close beside him, was stooped and very old. The King? Kevin wondered, for a brief, disoriented moment. But it was not.
УGood evening, Metran,Ф Loren said deferentially to this white-haired new arrival. УAre you well?Ф
УWell, very well, very, very,Ф Metran wheezed. He coughed. УThere is not enough light in here. I want to see,Ф he said querulously. A trembling arm was raised, and suddenly the six wall torches blazed, illuminating the chamber. \iWhy\i, Kim thought, \icouldnТt Loren have done that?\i
УBetter, much better,Ф Metran went on, shuffling forward to sink into one of the chairs. His attendant hovered close by. The other soldier, Kim saw, had placed himself by the door with Vart. Paul had withdrawn towards Jennifer by the window.
УWhere,Ф Loren asked, Уis the King? I sent Vart to advise him I was here.Ф
УAnd he has been so advised,Ф Gorlaes answered smoothly. Vart, in the doorway, snickered. УAilell has instructed me to convey his greetings to you, and your\a151,Ф he paused to look around, У\a151four companions.Ф
УFour? Only four?Ф Metran cut in, barely audible over a coughing fit.
Gorlaes spared him only the briefest of glances and went on. УTo your four companions. I have been asked to take them under my care as Chancellor for the night. The King had a trying day and would prefer to receive them formally in the morning. It is very late. IТm sure you understand.Ф The smile was pleasant, even modest. УNow if you would be good enough to introduce me to our visitors I can have my men show them to their rooms . . . and you, my friend, can go to your richly deserved rest.Ф
УThank you, Gorlaes.Ф Loren smiled, but a thin edge like that of a drawn blade had come into his voice. УHowever, under the circumstances I count myself responsible for the well-being of those who crossed with me. I will make arrangements for them, until the King has received us.Ф
УSilvercloak, are you implying that their well-being can be better attended to than by the Chancellor of the realm?Ф There, too, Kevin thought, his muscles involuntarily tensing: the same edge. Though neither man had moved, it seemed to him as if there were two swords drawn in the torchlit room.
УNot at all, Gorlaes,Ф said the mage. УIt is simply a matter of my own honor.Ф
УYou are tired, my friend. Leave this tedious business to me.Ф
УThere is no tedium in caring for friends.Ф
УLoren, I must insist\a151Ф
У\iNo\i.Ф
There was a cold silence.
УYou realize,Ф said Gorlaes, his voice dropping almost to a whisper, Уthat you offer me little choice?Ф The voice came up suddenly. УI must obey the commands of my King. Vart, Lagoth. . .Ф The two soldiers in the doorway moved forward.
And pitched, half-drawn swords clattering, full-length to the floor.
Behind their prone bodies stood a very calm Matt S\a246ren, and the big, capable man named Coll. Seeing them there, Kevin Laine, whose childhood fantasies had been shaped of images like this, knew a moment of sheer delight.
At which point a lithe, feral figure, shimmering with jewelry, swung easily through the window into the room. He landed lightly beside Jennifer, and she felt a wandering hand stroke her hair before he spoke.
УWho makes this noise at such an hour? Can a soldier not sleep at night in his fatherТs palace without\a151 why, Gorlaes! And Metran! And here is Loren! You have returned, Silvercloak\a151and with our visitors, I see. In the very teeth of time.Ф The insolence of his voice filled the room. УGorlaes, send quickly, my father will want to welcome them immediately.Ф
УThe King,Ф the Chancellor replied stiffly, Уis indisposed, my lord Prince. He sent me\a151Ф
УHe canТt come? Then I must do the family honors myself. Silvercloak, would you . . . ?Ф
And so Loren carefully introduced them again. And У\iA peach!\iФ said Diarmuid dan Ailell, bending, slowly, to kiss JenniferТs hand. Against her will, she laughed. He didnТt hurry the kiss.
When he straightened, though, his words were formal, and both of his arms were raised in a wide gesture of ritual. УI welcome you now,Ф he began, and Kevin, turning instinctively, saw the benign countenance of Gorlaes contort, for a blurred instant, with fury. УI welcome you now,Ф Diarmuid said, in a voice stripped of mockery, Уas guest-friends of my father and myself. The home of Ailell is your home, your honor is ours. An injury done you is an injury to ourselves. And treason to the Oak Crown of the High King. Be welcome to Paras Derval. I will personally attend to your comfort for tonight.Ф Only on the last phrase did the voice change a little, as the quick eyes, malicious and amused, flashed to JenniferТs.
She flushed again, but he had already turned. УGorlaes,Ф he said softly, Уyour retainers appear to have collapsed. I have been told, in the few hours since IТve been back from South Keep, of entirely too much drinking among them. I know it is a festival, but really . . . ?Ф And the tone was so mild, so very reproachful. Kevin fought to keep a straight face. УColl,Ф Diarmuid went on, Уhave four rooms made ready on the north side, please, and quickly.Ф
УNo.Ф It was Jennifer. УKim and I will share. Just three.Ф She resolutely avoided looking at the Prince. Kimberly, watching him, decided that his eyebrows went higher than they had any right to go.
УWe will, too,Ф said Paul Schafer quietly. And Kevin felt his pulse leap. Oh, Abba, he thought, maybe this will do it for him. Maybe it will.
УIТm too hot. Why is it so hot everywhere?Ф Metran, First of the Mages, asked, of no one in particular.

The north side of the palace, opposite the town, overlooked a walled garden. When they were finally alone in their room Kevin opened the glass doors and stepped out onto a wide stone balcony. The moon, waning, was high overhead, bright enough to illuminate the shrubs and the few flowers below their room.
УNot much of a garden,Ф he commented, as Paul came out to join him.
УThereТs been no rain, Diarmuid said.Ф
УThatТs true.Ф There was silence. A light breeze had finally come up to cool the evening.
УHave you noticed the moon?Ф Paul asked, leaning on the parapet.
Kevin nodded. УLarger, you mean? Yes, I did. Wonder what effect that has?Ф
УHigher tides, most likely.Ф
УI guess. And more werewolves.Ф
Schafer gave him a wry look. УI wouldnТt be surprised. Tell me, what did you think about that business back there?Ф
УWell, Loren and Diarmuid seem to be on the same side.Ф
УIt looks that way. MattТs not very sure of him.Ф
УSomehow that doesnТt surprise me.Ф