"Katherine Kurtz - Heirs 02 - King Javan's Year" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)

underdrawers the monks were allowed.
тАЬI have to face realities, though,тАЩ he continued as Charlan knelt at his feet and began unbuckling the
special boot. тАЬI hope that doesn┬┤t sound disloyal. But if he┬┤s to die before he gets an heir-тАЩ
Charlan shot him an appraising look before returning his attention to the buckles.
тАЬBetter you than Rhys Michael,тАЩ he said shortly, not looking up. тАЬOh, I have no quarrel with your
younger brother, Sire, but you┬┤re the heir. And you have the backbone to stand up to the lords of
state-which I don┬┤t think your brother does. The king certainly doesn┬┤t.тАЩ
Anger flared in the grey Haldane eyes, and Javan kicked his good foot free of its sandal.
тАЬIt isn┬┤t Alroy┬┤s fault that he┬┤s been under their thumb,тАЩ he said sharply. тАЬHe┬┤s always been frail. And
once the regents had driven Lord Rhys and Bishop Alister from Court, the court physicians had orders to
keep him just slightly sedated all the time, even when he was healthy otherwise. I didn┬┤t want to believe it
at first, but I saw it for myself, the last few times I had a chance to be alone with him.тАЩ
Charlan freed the last buckle, glancing up as he eased the boot from Javan┬┤s crippled foot and rocked
back on his heels. тАЬDid Master Oriel tell you that, Sire?тАЩ
The question could be taken many ways. That Charlan was even here bespoke a loyalty to all three
Haldane brothers that went beyond whatever duty he might feel he owed the former regents; but Javan
was not certain he liked having Charlan link him with the Deryni Oriel. It skirted too close to the truth
about Javan┬┤s own growing talents.
Of course, Javan could use those talents to make sure of Charlan, here and now. Kneeling there at
Javan┬┤s feet, the young knight could never get out of range in time to prevent Javan touching him and
triggering old controls. But if Javan was about to be king and must use those talents to keep his throne,
he would rather not force loyalty that appeared to be freely offered.
Careful not to show his concern, Javan pulled the breeches to him and thrust his feet into the legs,
standing long enough to pull them up and do up the fastenings. He stepped back into the special boot
before sitting back down again, so that Charlan could do up the buckles while he pulled the mate onto his
good left foot.
тАЬAs a matter of fact, Master Oriel did tell me about it,тАЩ he said, taking the slight gamble-for he could
always seize control later, if Charlan proved treacherous. тАЬHe didn┬┤t approve, and he thought I should
know-as Alroy┬┤s brother as well as heir presumptive. As you┬┤ll recall, the terms of his service don┬┤t
permit open disagreement with his employers,┬┤ regardless of his professional opinion.тАЩ He cocked his
head at Charlan, who was doing up the last buckles.
тАЬWhat about you, Charlan? You were open enough, when you first entered my service, to confess that
you were obliged to report to the regents concerning me. I┬┤d like to think that you told me that out of a
personal loyalty that went beyond official duty. But all of that changed when I left Court. You became the
king┬┤s squire-which means that any oaths you swore to him were essentially to the regents and then the
great lords, as well.тАЩ He drew a deep breath.
тАЬSo I guess what I┬┤m trying to ask is, where are your personal loyalties now? I need to know, before I
leave here with you.тАЩ
He was extending his Truth-Reading talents as he asked the question, and to his relief, Charlan┬┤s reply
was open and guileless.
тАЬSire, I am your man,тАЩ he said, dark eyes locking fearlessly with Javan┬┤s grey ones. тАЬI think I always have
been. I suppose I began to realize that oaths were more than mere words at about the time you left
Court, and it┬┤s become increasingly clear since I was knighted.
тАЬYou have other loyal men, as well, that you don┬┤t even know about-others of the younger knights,
mostly, who served you and your brothers as squires and such, but there are a few of the older men at
Court whom you can trust. The ones waiting for you in the abbey yard would all die for you, if need be.тАЩ
тАЬIndeed,тАЩ Javan murmured, wide-eyed, for while he had been reasonably confident of Charlan┬┤s ultimate
loyalty, he had not expected the rest of the young knight┬┤s revelation. тАЬWill they live for me, though,
Charlan? That may be far harder, in these next weeks and months. The great lords have been in power
long enough to entrench themselves into the next generation. Some of their sons hold high office. If I┬┤m