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

just the barest hint of yellow in it by contrast with his steel-gray eyes. He was wearing a strange sort of
tunic, with long, full sleeves, and gathered into a yoke at the shoulders and belted over a peculiar garment
that encased his legs in baggy tubes of blue cloth. So he was indeed one of those fabled barbarians from
the savage kingdoms far to the north! It took Marka a few moments to recover from his appearance
before she could appreciate his skill.

And skill he had. In his long, slender hands the silk scarves seemed to come alive, whisking through the
air, floating up only to plummet down, circling round and round or weaving in and out while he kept up
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his stream of jokes and snatches of song. Watching him, she was bitterly aware of what a beginner she
was at juggling and how clumsy she was going to look when her turn came to perform. When he paused,
looking significantly at the crowd, a rain of coins flew his way. Laughing and bowing, he flicked the
scarves into his sleeves, then hunkered down to pick up the coins, making them fly round his head in a
little stream before they all disappeared into his clothes.

тАЬThe Great Krysello is pleased!тАЭ he announced. тАЬAllow him to delight your noble selves with his humble
tricks for a little while longer.тАЭ

When he bowed again, three eggs seemed to appear out of nowhere and settle into his hands. Before he
began this new routine, he happened to glance MarkaтАЩs way. His eyes widened; he broke into a smile of
pure delight; then he wiped the smile away and turned firm attention to his performance. Marka felt
utterly flabbergasted. Although she knew that she was a pretty girl, sheтАЩd never had a man look at her
that way before, as if the very sight of her had made him happy beyond dreaming. Her second thought
was that there was powdered sugar all over her face. Blushing furiously, she elbowed her way through
the crowd and fled the Great Krysello and his smiles.

She found the public fountain and washed the sugar off, then headed for the city-owned caravanserai at
the edge of town. The troupe had four tents and two wagons of its own, set up in a circle under some
palm trees at the edge of the campground. It was better to stay away from other travelers, always quick
to accuse wandering showmen of being thieves. The five acrobats were practicing their tumbling turns
behind the tents, while their leader, Vinto, watched and commented. Out in the middle of the tent circle a
big cooking fire was burning. MarkaтАЩs stepmother, Orima, along with the two other women in the troupe,
Delya and Keeta, were stewing spiced vegetables in a hanging pot and slapping rounds of thin bread
onto an enormous iron griddle. They fell silent when Marka came up.

тАЬWhatтАЩs wrong, Rimi?тАЭ

тАЬNothing. What makes you say that?тАЭ

Marka hesitated on the edge of forcing a confrontation. OrimaтАЩs dark eyes turned narrow. In the silence
Marka could hear the sea booming on the nearby shore and the men chanting out practice cadences.

тАЬWhereтАЩs Father?тАЭ

тАЬSleeping.тАЭ She turned away, frowning into the pot. тАЬHeтАЩs resting before the show tonight.тАЭ