"Mercedes Lackey - Obsidian 02 - To Light A Candle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

Idalia came and seated herself, taking care that her damp buckskins didn't touch Ashaniel's
elaborate velvet gown.

"It would be good to hear all of what Imriban had to say," she offered carefully.

Learning to speak in accordance with the dictates of Elven politeness was one of the hardest
lessons for the humans who came to live among them to learn. The closest it was possible to get to
asking a question was to announce your desire to know something, and hope your hearer took pity
on you.

"Imriban said..." Ashaniel paused, and for the first time seemed to be choosing her words with
great care. "Imriban said that they do not travel alone."

"Not alone - " It was a struggle to keep from turning her words into a question, but Idalia
managed. "It puzzles me to hear that," she finally said.

"It puzzles me as well," Ashaniel admitted. "The one who rides with them rides cloaked and hooded
beyond all seeing. And it occurs to me to wish that perhaps Imriban had been less... impetuous."

And maybe stopped and spoken to them, instead of just tearing back to Sentarshadeen to bring
the news that they were on the way. Idalia finished the Queen's unspoken thought silently. It was
hard to imagine who Kellen and Jermayan could have run into on their quest, and why they'd bring
whoever it was back to Sentarshadeen.

"I suppose we'll know soon enough," she offered reluctantly.

"Indeed," Ashaniel said with a sigh. "And yet... it will be well should we meet them as close upon
the road as we may, so Andoreniel has said. Even now, a place is being prepared at the edge of
the Flower Forest, where we may receive them in all honor."

"LOOKS like they couldn't wait to meet us," Shalkan said dryly, dipping his head to indicate the flash
of yellow in the distance with his horn.

"What's that?" Kellen said superfluously.

Jermayan cleared his throat warningly before answering. "A pavilion."

Kellen took the hint. On the road, their manners had been free and easy - War Manners, Jermayan
had called it. The Elven Knight had set aside the elaborate code of Elven formality; he'd asked
Kellen direct questions, and Kellen had been allowed, even encouraged, to question Jermayan
directly in return.

But they were back in Civilization now, and he guessed he'd have to get used to it all over again. It
hardly seemed fair. He'd gone through so much - and why must he be burdened with this stifling
formality now, when it was all he could do to pretend that he was certain he would be all right?

Well, he'd better warn Vestakia.

He was trying to figure out the best way to phrase it when Jermayan beat him to it.