"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 08 - A Time Of Justice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

'Well, I never thought Beryn would send men from his own war-band.' Dwaen gave him a
black-humoured grin. 'He might as well hire a herald to proclaim his intent as do that. But I can't think of
another man in the world who'd want me dead. Unless, captain, I'm just being vain?'

'Not in the least, my lord,тАЩ Lallyc said with a firm nod. 'I've never known you to harm anyone. Why, you
wouldn't even cheat in a horse race. Besides, if anyone else felt injured, they'd know they could come sit
by our gates and starve in safety. I can't see you breaking the holy laws by driving them away.'

'True enough. Well, looks like I've got a hire for you, silver daggers.'

When Cadlew returned, the two lords worked out what struck Rhodry as a sensible plan. If Dwaen
rode to the gwerbret in Ebonlyn, he would be vulnerable out on the road, because his rank only allowed
him to bring an honour guard of fifteen men into the gwerbret's presence, fewer than Beryn kept in his
warband. If Cadlew accompanied him, however, the young lord could bring ten men of his own, and
since it seemed clear that Beryn had no intention of murdering Cadlew if he could help it, having him
along would doubtless be the best protection Dwaen could have. They could also bring the two silver
daggers in addition to the honour guard, because Jill and Rhodry qualified as witnesses.

тАШIтАЩll take Laryn, too,' Dwaen said. 'But I don't want to risk bringing Ylaena in to give evidence.'

тАШYour Grace?' Rhodry put in. 'But will she be safe here as long as there's a traitor in the dun?'

'She won't, and that's true enough. Ah by the hells! To think that I got into this stinking mess out of
regard for the laws and naught more!'
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As she considered Dwaen's peculiar story, Jill grew more and more sure that the traitor had to be a
servant, not a rider, because members of the warband had no business being anywhere near the tieryn's
chambers. A servant seen near his bedroom, however, would be taken for granted. All afternoon she
wandered round the dun and introduced herself to the various servitors, the head groom, the blacksmith,
the pigkeeper, and finally, the cook, each of whom told her they thanked the gods daily for giving them
places in the dun of a lord who was, for a change, so generous and just. Jill found it very hard to believe
that any of them would ever betray their master.

Jill left the kitchen hut to find a battle brewing. A pair of kitchen maids were standing by the well, their
buckets forgotten beside them while they took turns sneering at a blonde lass who had her hands set on
her hips and her mouth twisted in sheer rage.

'You've got a man in the village,' said one of the mockers.

'And what business is it of yours?'

'None, I'm sure, but you'd best be careful, you with one bastard already.'

'You're naught but a slut, Vyna,' the other mocker joined in, and she was a severe sort with squinty eyes
at that. тАШI don't see how you can carry on like that, with never a thought for the consequences.'