"Katherine Kurtz - Camber 3 - Camber the Heretic" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)

carving while he considered his next move. Then he gave Evaine a hug and got
to his feet, letting the medallion dangle as he gave Evaine a hand and helped
her rise.
"See if you can find some writing materials, will you, love? We'll ask the good
bishop to come to his injured friend, the Earl of Ebor. We'll appeal to his duty
as a priest and bishop, as well as a friend, but I'll add another short message in
the seal that only he can read. The outward words will be enough to make him
come, and for Cinhil to let him go, and the seal will tell him why we really want
him. I'll have a messenger saddle up and prepare to ride, while you get started."
chapter two


And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the
honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom
by flatteries.
тАФDaniel 11:21


Cinhil Haldane coughed fitfully into a napkin, then moved an archer on the
inlaid gameboard, his glance darting quickly to his opponent's face as he
settled back in his chair. Across the board, the man the king knew as Alister
Cullen smiled and moved a mounted scout in reply.
Cinhil frowned.
"Now, why the devil did you do that, Alister? The caradot's lair is over there,
you know that. Sometimes I really don't understand you."
Camber shrugged and raised a shaggy Alister eyebrow, masking a smile with
one casually raised hand.
"I am aware of the caradot's location, Sire. I am also aware of the strength of
my archers and cavalry."
"Your archers? But, IтАФoh."
Cinhil's voice trailed off as he studied the formation of the pieces in
question, but then he seized another of his own archers and moved it in
counter-attack.
Slowly, almost languidly, Camber reached out and pushed his war-duke to
the next square. At Cinhil's gasp of surprise, he held up a forefinger.
"You have one chance, Sire, and one only, to extricate yourself from your
present situation. If you can find it, you can also win. If not, you must resign
the board."
"What?" Cinhil blustered. "You haven't got the strength toтАФoh. I see." He
sighed. "Damn you, Alister, do you have to be so bloody good at everything you
do?"
At Camber's repeated shrug, Cinhil furrowed his brow and leaned his chin
on his hands to stare at the board more intently, chewing at the edge of his
grey-streaked mustache in concentration. He stifled another cough, but he
could not entirely mask the pain the effort cost him.
Camber pretended not to notice, leaning back in his chair with half-lidded
eyes and twisting the amethyst ring on his right hand with his thumb, but he
knew the king had not fooled Joram, who sat reading quietly in a window seat
across the room, out of earshot but not sight of the man who was actual as well
as spiritual father to him.