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

At SalamanderтАЩs inn the portly landlord moaned and wrung his hands over the very thought of having
traveling acrobats in his common room, but the juggler talked him into serving wine and little cakes, such
good wine that Marka was impressed. As they sat on cushions round a low table and made awkward
conversation, she noticed that Vinto was already beginning to defer to him, only in little ways, but she had
the feeling that sooner or later this stranger was going to end up managing the entire troupe. Since they
were sitting off to one side, she could whisper to Delya.

тАЬDo you mind everything changing like this?тАЭ

тАЬMind? Oh, if Keeta thinks itтАЩs a good idea, IтАЩll go along with it. What do you think of this juggler?тАЭ

тАЬI donтАЩt know. HeтАЩs awfully good-looking.тАЭ

тАЬI suppose so. HeтАЩs certainly used to taking charge. He said he had a companion, didnтАЩt he? I wonder
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what sheтАЩs like?тАЭ

Marka felt so bitterly disappointed that she nearly wept. SheтАЩd forgotten that a man like this would have
women following him round wherever he went, that he would most certainly never be interested in a
gawky girl like her.



Jill first heard of SalamanderтАЩs newly acquired troupe of acrobats from the innkeep, who came rushing
upstairs to tell her as soon as he had the wine served. All quivering jowls and flapping hands, he bowed
repeatedly while he blurted.

тАЬThere must be ten of them! TheyтАЩre probably all thieves! I donтАЩt have room! I donтАЩt know what
yourтАФuhтАФfriend was thinking of!тАЭ

тАЬThinking? He probably wasnтАЩt, knowing him. All right, IтАЩll go down.тАЭ

By then several pitchers of wine had gone round, and everyone was giggling and talking a little too loudly
as they lounged on cushions round the low table. Jill stood in the doorway for a moment and watched
Salamander, beaming at his own generosity, playing host like a Deverry lord. Opposite him sat a pretty
young woman who studied him in such a fervent mix of desire and misery that she might well have loved
him in her last life.

тАЬOh, Jill, there you are!тАЭ Salamander called out. тАЬCome join us! My friends, this is Gilyan of Brin
Toraedic, a wandering scholar, who has honored my humble self by traveling with me as she searches out
rare manuscripts. SheтАЩs on a special commission from the scholar-priests of Wmmglaedd, a mysterious
and magical isle in the far-off kingdom.тАЭ

The troupe greeted this cascade of blather with honest awe, the men rising to bow to her, the women
bobbing their heads her way, except for Marka, who merely stared. The gray-haired fellow sitting next to
Salamander started to get up and cede her his seat, but Jill waved him back.