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

years before, Glyn had found him a wife from a noble clan that was willing to ignore his bastardy in return
for royal favor. Although Garaena had died of childbed fever, the baby had been born healthy. Now
Cobryn was four years old, and already chattering of weapons and warfare. That afternoon, Dannyn
took him out of the royal nursery and into the ward to see the horses. Since the warbands were returning
after a dayтАЩs exercises on the roads, the ward was full of men and horses. Dannyn picked his lad up and
settled him against his shoulder like a sack of grain. He was a pretty child, his hair as fair as flax, his eyes
dark blue like his fatherтАЩs. Cobryn threw his arms around his fatherтАЩs neck and hugged him.

тАШI love you, Da.тАЩ

For a moment Dannyn was too surprised to answer, because heтАЩd grown up hating his own father.

тАШDo you now?тАЩ he said at last. тАШWell, my thanks.тАЩ

As they strolled through the ward, Cobryn chattering about every horse he saw, Dannyn saw
Gweniver talking to a group of lords by the main gate. When they went over, Cobryn twisted in his arms
and pointed her out.

тАШDa, thatтАЩs a lady!тАЩ

When everyone laughed, the lad turned shy and buried his face in DannynтАЩs shoulder. Gweniver
strolled over to get a better look at him.

тАШWhat a beautiful child!тАЩ she said. тАШHeтАЩs not yours, is he?тАЩ

тАШHe is. I was married once.тАЩ

тАШNow, thatтАЩs a surprise. I thought you were the kind of man who never marries.тАЩ

тАШYou misjudge me badly, my lady.тАЩ

Gweniver went as wary as a startled doe. As he watched her, as the moment dragged on in awkward
silence, Dannyn was cursing himself for stubbornly wanting this woman beyond his reach. At last Cobryn
piped up and rescued him.

тАШYou know what? The KingтАЩs my uncle.тАЩ

тАШSo he is.тАЩ Gweniver turned her attention to the child in some relief. тАШDo you honor him?тАЩ

тАШI do. HeтАЩs splendid.тАЩ

тАШMore splendid than this cub of mine can realize at his age,тАЩ Dannyn said. тАШOur liege has formally
taken my lad into the line of succession, right after his own sons. ItтАЩs not often a bastardтАЩs spawn gets to
be a prince.тАЩ

тАШBy the black ass of the Lord of Hell! Well, young Cobryn, youтАЩre right enough. HeтАЩs very splendid
indeed.тАЩ

During the evening meal, Dannyn found himself watching Gweniver greedily, even though his very
thoughts were impiety. An old proverb neatly summed up his plight: a man who loves a lass sworn to the