"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 11 - The Fire Dragon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

room it refers to.тАЩ

тАШAh, indeed. IтАЩm curious about it myself, actually. If you could let me
know what you find?тАЩ

тАШI will. But youтАЩd best hurry. MarynтАЩs been looking for you.тАЩ

Nevyn bowed, then hurried through the double doors of the central
broch. The great hall covered the entire ground floor, a huge round room
scattered with wooden tables, benches, and a small collection of chairs at
the table reserved for the prince himself. At either side stood enormous
stone hearths, one for the princeтАЩs riders and the servants, the other, far
grander, for the noble-born. Despite the spring warmth outside, fires
smouldered in each to drive off the damp.

Nevyn wove his way through the tables and the dogs scattered on the
straw-strewn floor. About halfway between doors and hearths a stone
staircase spiralled up the wall. Hed climbed only a few steps when
someone hailed him from below. He turned to see Councillor Oggyn just
mounting the stairs himself. He was a stout man, Oggyn, and egg-bald,
though he sported a bristling black beard. He was carrying an armful of
rolled parchments.

тАШGood day, Nevyn said. тАШAre those the ledgers?тАЩ

тАШThey are, my lord,тАЩ Oggyn said. тАШIтАЩve recorded all the dues and taxes
owed our prince by the royal demesne IтАЩm cursed glad he can count on the
Cerrmor taxes for a while longer.тАЩ

тАШSo am I. Getting the army fit to march would strip his local holdings
bare.тАЩ

тАШJust so. WeтАЩll have to wait for provisions from the south, and that s
that. I just hope our prince sees reason. I know heтАЩs impatient to be on the
move тАШ
тАШOh, IтАЩm sure he will. IтАЩm hoping that our enemies are as badly off as
we are.тАЩ

They climbed in silence to the first landing, where Oggyn paused to
catch his breath. He looked out over the great hall below while he mopped
his bald head with a rag.

тАШSomewhat else I wanted to lay before you, my lord,тАЩ Oggyn said. тАШI
saw our princess going about her investigations just now. Is that wise?тАЩ

тАШWell, the midwives all swear that the walking will do her naught but
good.тАЩ
тАШSplendid, but thatтАЩs not quite my meaning. That bard. Is he fit
company for her?тАЩ