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

ministers had called was not the brother Alroy wanted to see. The Haldane Ring of Fire shifted under his
fingers, for Alroy had refused to set it aside, even in his illness, even though loss of weight had made it
loose on his hand and likely to fall off-though somehow, it never did.
тАЬPrince Rhys Michael is without, Sire,тАЩ Oriel murmured, choosing his words with care, lest young Fulk
relay it back to his father as some criticism of the royal ministers┬┤ handling of the situation. тАЬShall I ask
him to come to you?тАЩ
At the same time, he set the psychic suggestion that Alroy should make his request of Rhys Michael, for
Oriel dared not- and Rhys Michael was the one person who might be able to insist that the king┬┤s wishes
were carried out.
Alroy gave no outward sign that the suggestion had registered, but he gave a weak nod. тАЬYes. Please. I
should like to see Rhys Michael.тАЩ
Bowing over the royal hand, Oriel pressed his lips to it briefly, then laid it gently at die king┬┤s side.
тАЬStay with the King┬┤s Grace, Fulk,тАЩ he said to the squire, тАЬand continue changing the compresses. I┬┤ll
summon his Highness.тАЩ
He braced himself for almost certain unpleasantness as he withdrew, at least pulling his sleeves into place
and doing up the wrists before he went into the anteroom outside the king┬┤s bedchamber.
Lord Tammaron, young squire Fulk┬┤s father, was there, along with Archbishop Hubert and one of
Hubert┬┤s nephews, Lord Iver MacInnis. Rhys Michael, the king┬┤s younger brother, was standing before
the dark opening of an empty fireplace, one arm laid along the cool stone of its mantel and chimney
breast, and looked up anxiously as Oriel came in.
тАЬHow is he?тАЩ Tammaron demanded, before the prince could speak.
тАЬHe┬┤s resting as peacefully as may be expected, my lord,тАЩ Oriel replied. тАЬHowever, he┬┤s asked to see his
brother.тАЩ He turned his gaze pointedly toward Rhys Michael, three months short of his fifteenth birthday,
but already nearly grown to the adult stature his elder brother would never live to achieve. тАЬIf you┬┤d care
to come with me, your Highness?тАЩ
Before any of his elders could forbid it, Rhys Michael was bolting toward Oriel and the door, slicking his
sweat-damp hair back over his ears and tugging at a fold of his long, belted tunic of royal blue. The wide
sleeves were rolled to his elbows against the heat, and Oriel could see the clean-limbed flash of long,
bare legs and sandals through the high-slit sides-sensible attire in the heat, even for a prince. Archbishop
Hubert looked to be stifling in a cassock of purple silk buttoned right up to his multiple chins, sweat
darkening a streak down the center of his chest and extending crescentwise underneath both heavy arms.
тАЬYour Highness, please allow me to accompany you,тАЩ Hubert began, the edge to his voice quite belying
the formal words of courtesy-though he did not manage to set his own bulk into motion until Rhys
Michael was already halfway across the room.
A cringing look of apprehension flashed across the prince┬┤s face at the words, though only Oriel could
see it, but Rhys Michael did not turn until he had reached the Healer┬┤s side.
тАЬActually, I┬┤d prefer to see my brother alone, if you don┬┤t mind,тАЩ he said, lifting his chin in an uncustomary
show of spirit. тАЬI-may not have many more chances.тАЩ
He turned away at that, eyes averted, anxiety for his brother clouding the handsome Haldane face. Oriel
made a point of not meeting the eyes of any of the others in the anteroom as he stood aside to let the
prince pass-though he expected he would answer for the defiance later-only following close behind and
closing the door.
The prince was already at the royal bedside as Oriel turned, picking up Alroy┬┤s slack left hand to kiss it.
The king┬┤s eyes opened at the touch, his grey gaze locking on his brother┬┤s as Oriel slipped in on his
other side-unobtrusive as possible, but knowing he must remain nearby, for Alroy almost certainly would
begin coughing if he said very much. The Healer had no need to resort to Deryni perceptions to perceive
the brothers┬┤ genuine love for one another. The squire Fulk had withdrawn to a side table with the basin
of water and cool compresses, trying not to look as if he were watching and listening.
тАЬAlroy?тАЩ Rhys Michael whispered.
The king managed a thin, taut smile.