"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 02 - Darkspell" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

тАШIтАЩm most mindful of that.тАЩ He hesitated, picking careful words. тАШIтАЩm informed that you have a sister.
Later, no doubt, when youтАЩve rested, youтАЩll wish to speak to me about the fate of the Wolf.тАЩ

тАШI will, my liege, and IтАЩm honored that you would turn your attention to the matter.тАЩ

тАШOf course. Will you shelter with me a while as an honored guest, or do you need to return
straightaway to your temple?тАЩ

Here was the crux, and Gweniver called upon the Goddess in her heart.

тАШMy liege,тАЩ she said. The most holy Moon has chosen me to serve Her as a Moon-sworn warrior.
IтАЩve come to beg you a boon, that youтАЩll let me keep the place I have as head of my warband, to ride
with you in your army and live at your command.тАЩ

тАШWhat?тАЩ He forgot all his ritual courtesy. тАШHere, you must be jesting! What would a woman want with
battles and suchlike?тАЩ

тАШWhat any man wants, my liege: honor, glory, and a chance to slay the enemies of the king.тАЩ

Glyn hesitated, staring at the tattoo as if he were remembering the old tales of those who served the
Darktime Goddess, then turned to the warband.

тАШNow here, men,тАЩ he called out. тАШDo you honor the lady as your captain?тАЩ

To a man, the warband called out that they did. At the back of the line, Dagwyn boldly yelled that
Gweniver was dweomer.

тАШThen IтАЩll take it as an omen that a Moon-sworn warrior has turned up at my court,тАЩ Glyn said. тАШWell
and good, my lady. I grant your boon.тАЩ

At a wave of GlynтАЩs hand, servants descended like locusts. Stableboys ran to take the horses; riders
from the kingтАЩs personal warband hurried over to Ricyn to take him and the men to the barracks;
councillors appeared at GweniverтАЩs side and bowed; two underchamberlains trotted up to escort her into
the great hall. The sight of it amazed her. Big enough to hold over a hundred tables for the warbands, it
had four enormous hearths. Red and silver banners hung among fine tapestries on the walls and, rather
than straw, colored slate tiles covered the floor. Gweniver stood gawking like the country lass she was as
the head chamberlain, Lord Orivaen by name, hurried to greet her.

тАШGreetings, my lady,тАЩ he said. тАШAllow me to find you accommodations in our humble broch. You see,
since youтАЩre both noble born and a priestess, IтАЩm honestly not sure what rank that gives you. Perhaps the
same as tieryn?тАЩ

тАШOh, my good sir, as long as the room has a bed and a hearth, anything will do. A priestess of the
Dark Moon cares not for rank.тАЩ

Orivaen kissed her hand in honest gratitude, then took her to a small suite in a side tower and sent
pages to bring up her gear. Once she was alone again, she paced restlessly around while she wondered if
the King would consider the Wolf lands worth holding now that the Stag clan had suffered such losses. In
a few minutes there was a knock at the door, and a possible weapon in her battle to save the clan
walked in. Lord Gwetmar was a lanky, lantern-jawed young man with an untidy mop of dark hair.