"Mercedes Lackey - Dragon Jousters 2 - Alta" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

"SoтАФmind, now, Kiron, son of Kiron. Put yourself in the attitude of a freeborn man, or even one of
wealth or noble birth. Recall how the masters of your master held themselves, and hold yourself in like
manner. Behave in all ways as the Jouster-in-training of Tia would, and within Alta you will be taken as
one who has authority by right. Behave in all ways in that manner, and as this becomes second nature,
your spirit will come to believe what your body tells it." A pause, as those dark, enigmatic eyes gazed at
him. "To begin with, you might raise your head that you may look down your nose at those who are
inferior to you. Such a posture conveys a great deal."

He blinked at that, and self-consciously straightened. No more hunched shoulders; no more deference.
He must look people in the eye as if they were at least his equals, and possibly his inferiors. And, yesтАФ
down his nose.

"Good," said the Mouth approvingly. "Another thing. The Jousters of Alta, like those of Tia, are

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permitted to take what they need within reason. If you offer to pay for anything, once you cross that
border, there will be suspicion. If your dragon hungers then, find a great estate, land, and take what she
needs. Do not permit anyone to question you. Say you are a Jouster in training if need be, but no more."

"ButтАФam I properly garbed for such a thing?" he asked doubtfully. Doubt; it still ate at him, made him
think, Sooner or later, they're going to find out I'm an imposter, a thief. Sooner or laterтАФAfter all, he
had no armor, no helm, nothing but a selection of common kilts. He did not look the partтАФ

Although he could not see anything but the eyes, there was a softening there that suggested the Mouth
was smiling. "The chances are, the larger the estate, the less likely there will be anyone of rank about
who might even consider questioning you or your rights. Go in, demand food and water, and even
clothing if you will, and leave. Jousters of Alta are ranked as lesser nobles; there are fewer of them, and
they are valued higher." The Mouth's eyes closed for a moment, as if listening to a voice only the Mouth
could hear. "I believe," the Mouth added, "Although I do not know, that this is the only way, save
through the priesthood, that a man of the common folk may become ennobled."

Vetch nodded; this was more good advice, and not something he would have thought of.

"If I were in your positionтАФ" A pause. "This is speculation. But if I were in your position, I would feign
to be offended if anyone were to question my rights."

Vetch sighed. That was going to be hard; what were the odds he'd be able to continue this charade for
very long? He wasn't ready for this. He had been so long the lowest of the lowтАФ

Yet, for Avatre's sake, he would try.

No, he would not try. He would succeed. He must succeed; he had nowhere else to go right now. She
was barely half grown, and they could not continue to live in the wilderness. She was doing all right, but
she wasn't prospering, and the bigger she got, the more food she would need. To raise her properly, he
either needed to turn her loose among others of her kind, or take her to a Jouster's Compound. There was
no other choice.