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

"Attending to his interests, then? Sparing time for a loyal supporter of the king?" Rani
grinned. "Is that better?"

"He's a good man, Rai. He's a good man who cares for his king and his kingdom."

"And he just happens to care for dark-eyed wenches with hair to match."

Mair laughed, running a stiff-fingered hand through her hair. "You say that as if it's a
failing."

"No failing, Mair. No failing at all. The green in your gown sets off your eyes." She bit off a
laugh as those eyes flashed re-belliously. "Mair, there's nothing wrong with making yourself
attractive to a man! Nothing wrong with snagging his attention as he moves between his
soup and his meat."

"A man's meat, I know. Now where's his soup?"

Rani smothered a laugh, reminding herself that she was about to enter the king's apartments
as an advisor, as a lady.

She had to swallow a few choice comments, as she and Mair wound through the palace
hallways. The Touched girl tugged at her green gown repeatedly, jerking the fabric about as
if it had offended her in some way. She might have lived in the palace for five years, but she
had yet to leave behind all the ways of a street urchin.

Rani found it easier to remember her mission when she stepped into the king's receiving
room. A great candelabra blazed against the wall, the finest beeswax candles giving off a
gentle fragrance. Farsobalinti inclined his head graciously as Rani entered the chamber. "My
lady," he said, taking the hand that she offered and raising it to his lips as he helped her over
the threshold. "Lady Mair."

Rani read unspoken volumes in the glance that the knight gave to Mair, in the hand that
lingered on the Touched girl's arm as he gestured both of the women into the chamber.
Farsobalinti had been elevated from squire to knight the year before, and little remained in
his voice or his bearing of the boy who had served his king so well for the first five years of
Halar-avilli's reign.

Giving Mair a chance to respond to the man's attentions, Rani crossed the room, pausing by
the door to the inner chamber and catching her breath, the better to hear the conversation
within. She recognized Hal's voice immediately, knowing well its serious, earnest tones. But
the response was not made by the ancient Holy Father. It was a younger man, a strident
man. Rani knew that she had heard that voice before; she knew that she'd met the speaker.
She started to turn to Farsobalinti to inquire about his identity, but the door to the inner
chamber crashed open.

"My lord," a page gasped, "the king is demanding to knowтАФLady Rani!" The boy stopped
his breathless question and managed a quick bow. "King Halaravilli is demanding to know
where you are."