"Mindy L. Klasky - Glasswright Journeyman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Klasky Mindy L)

never come to open rebellion. She was more skilled than that.

After all, she had been born into a merchant family. In her earliest days, she had learned how
to manipulate her older brothers and sisters, how to lure customers into the family shop, how
to hone the barest edge of a bargain. Negotiating was in her blood.

"In any case," Mair conceded, "the king says he wants you there tonight."

"Tonight! He's meeting with the Holy Father. He'd banish me before a messenger from the
Pepper Isles but permit me to stand before the worldly representative of all the Thousand
Gods?"

"Of course the king wants you there. You were the First Pilgrim."

Rani had been selected for that honor almost five years ago, when she had been caught up in
the mystery of Prince Tu-vashanoran's death. She had been snared by the evil Brotherhood of
Justice, a cabal that had conspired to get her taken into the royal household, to have her
adopted by the then-king as the First Pilgrim. The Brotherhood had wanted her to execute
Halaravilli, to end his life and advance the cause of so-called justice. Rani had freed herself
from the Brotherhood a long time ago. A lifetime ago.

"The church hardly needs to be reminded of mistakes it made five years ago."

"The church made no mistakes. They got you in the palace."

"For all the good it's done Moren these past few weeks! Why does Hal want me? The Holy
Father's so old that you could go in my place and he wouldn't know the difference."

Mair ran her fingers through her always-tangled dark hair as she peered at Rani's blond
tresses. "I think he'd notice."

"He might," Rani admitted. "But Hal certainly wouldn't. He's forgotten what I look like."

"Is that what this is all about?" Mair clicked her tongue as she crossed the room. When she
perched on top of a high stool, she looked like a benevolent bird of prey. "Rai, he's worried for
the kingdom, for all of Morenia's future."

"Worried enough that he had to entertain that slattern of a princess from Brianta?"

"Worried enough that he sent her away." Mair's voice was surprisingly gentle. "She's not able
to give him the funds he needs; her dowry isn't enough. He was put out with her, Rai,
outright rude. He'll be lucky if her father doesn't revoke our right to travel along the Great
Eastern Road. She left the palace this morning, and the rumors say the guards at the city
gates learned a few new words, listening to her swear."

Rani had not heard that the princess was gone. Even as a victorious smile began to curve her
lips, she managed to shake her head in a simulation of disgust. "That's what we need.
Warfare on the western front. Any fool could see that this is not the time to provoke our
neighbors."