"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 06 - A Time Of Omens" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

тАЬMy apologies, my lord. Oh, here, donтАЩt cry. I truly am sorry.тАЭ

Elyc looked up, his eyes murderousтАФthen he laughed.

тАЬI feel as weepy as a wench, true enough, Your Highness. You have sharp eyes for one so young.тАЭ

тАЬIt comes from living here, actually. YouтАЩd have them, too, if you had to grow up in the palace.тАЭ

тАЬNo doubt. But listen, lass, for lass you are though a royal one, it doesnтАЩt do to tread on menтАЩs hopes
when hope is all they have. Remember that.тАЭ

тАЬIndeed? Well, how do you think I feel, knowing IтАЩll probably get smothered before IтАЩm fifteen and even
betrothed, much less married to anyone?тАЭ

Elyc winced, and for a moment she was afraid that he truly would cry this time.

тАЬYour Highness,тАЭ he said at last. тАЬCerrmor can still field an army of over three thousand loyal men . . . тАЭ

тАЬAnd CantraeтАЩs got close to seven thousand. I heard you telling Lord Tammael that.тАЭ

тАЬYou little sneak! What were you doing, dreeping around the great hall when we thought you were in
bed?тАЭ

тАЬJust that. ItтАЩs my hall, isnтАЩt it, since IтАЩm the heir and all, and so IтАЩll sneak around in it if I want to.тАЭ

All at once he laughed in genuine good cheer.

тАЬYou know, Your Highness, at times you truly do have the royal spirit. But listen to me. Once the true
king comes, a good thousand of those Cantrae men are ours again. Their lords have gone over to Dun
Deverry out of fear and naught else, and they have a hundred yearsтАЩ worth of reasons to hate the Boars
and their false king. Give them hope, and theyтАЩll flock to our banner.тАЭ

тАЬWell and good, my lord.тАЭ She suddenly remembered that she was supposed to act regally at moments
like these, not slang her cadvridoc like a fishwife. тАЬTruly, we have great faith in your understanding of
matters military.тАЭ

Although it seemed to her that Elyc was suppressing a smile, he did make her a passable bow.

тАЬNow, good regent, did you want me for some reason?тАЭ

тАЬNot truly. I was just worried, wondering where youтАЩd got to.тАЭ He paused to glance round at the
towering rise of stone. тАЬYouтАЩre probably safe enough out here.тАЭ

тАЬUnless an assassin comes creeping under the walls.тАЭ

тАЬOh, indeed? Has the bard been amusing you with lurid tales?тАЭ

тАЬHe hasnтАЩt. Look, see where the stream comes out from under the wall over there? Well, that water
comes from the dairy room, where they store the cheeses and suchlike. The running water keeps them