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

тАШMy thanks, then. Our liege is truly most generous.тАЩ

тАШHe is. IтАЩve got more reason than most to praise his generosity. How many bastard sons have ever
been given a title and a place at court?тАЩ

When she winced, he smiled. He liked getting the delicate subject of his birth out in the open and
shoving it into the faces of the noble born before they could use it against him. For a moment he
considered, remembering AmainтАЩs lecture on her worship, but something seemed to drive him to speak.

тАШThat moon on your cheek, does it mark a true vow?тАЩ

тАШAnd what else would it be?тАЩ

тАШWell, a ruse, I thought, a way to travel safely, and never would I blame you. A woman on the road
with a warband had better have the GoddessтАЩs protection - or make men think she does.тАЩ

тАШThatтАЩs true enough, but this crescent embraces my whole life now. I swore to Her, and I stay faithful
to Her.тАЩ

The quiet coldness in her voice was giving him a message.

тАШI see,тАЩ he said hurriedly. тАШWell, far be it from me to question how a priestess has her visions. ThereтАЩs
somewhat else I wanted to ask you. Does your sister have a suitor that you favor for her? IтАЩll speak to
the King on his behalf.тАЩ

тАШWould you? ThatтАЩs an enormous favor youтАЩre offering me.тАЩ

тАШWhat? What makes you say that?тАЩ

тАШOh come now, my lord, donтАЩt you see what a treasure youтАЩve got in the eyes of the court? YouтАЩve
got more influence with the King than any man alive. If you donтАЩt value it, it could turn into a curse.тАЩ

Dannyn merely smiled, puzzled by the urgency in her voice. It always amazed him when women
carried on about unimportant details.

тАШWell,тАЩ she went on, тАШthe suitor I favor is Lord Gwetmar of the Alder clan.тАЩ

тАШIтАЩve fought beside him, and heтАЩs a good man. IтАЩll mention him to the King.тАЩ

тАШMy thanks.тАЩ

With a little curtsy, Gweniver walked away, leaving him with a dark hiraedd for this woman he could
never have.

Lord Dannyn kept his promise about speaking to the King much sooner than Gweniver had expected.
That very afternoon, Saddar the councillor came to her chamber with the important news. As a deference
to his age, she sat him down in a chair by the hearth and poured him a small serving of mead, then took
the chair opposite.