"Glenda Larke - Heart of the Mirage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Larke Glenda)

'Of course, Domina.' The tiniest of pauses, then, 'Legata!
I resisted an impulse to throttle him. 'I do want to know what you think about
the posting to Kardiastan, however.'
'Ah.' Serious now, he considered a moment before replying. 'I think the
Magister Officii fears you.'
I nodded. 'And I fear you are right. I'll be a long time away. How do you feel
about it, Brand?'
'Slaves don't have opinions on matters like that, er, Ligea. Where you go, I
go, unless you will it otherwise.'
I gave him a sharp look, but I could not penetrate the mask he wore. He
ignored my glance with unruffled urbanity. Gods above, I thought, twenty years
as a slave, eighteen of them as my guard-servant, and none of it has destroyed
either your dignity or your bloody pride, has it? Brand still knew his own
worth, and he showed the world he valued himself. It often came as a shock to
strangers when they noted his bronze slave collar. My friends warned me of the
dangers of allowing helots too many liberties; I took no notice. My less
charitable acquaintances spread the rumour I was besotted with my own thrall.
I was far from besotted. In fact, at moments like this, I felt more inclined
to strangle the man. 'I should sell you before I go, preferably to the Domina
Aurelia,' I growled, naming the highborn wife of the Prefect Urbis of.Tyr, a
woman as stupid as she was frivolous. Her male slaves dressed in pink, had
their hair curled and their faces plastered with cosmetics. She'd made me an
offer for Brand once, after I visited her villa with him in attendance. I'd
enjoyed telling him that, just for the rare joy of seeing his expression
qhange.
He pretended to consider the suggestion. 'No, I don't think so, if you don't
mind. However, a position as a guard in that whorehouse for the highborn in
Via Dolce, now ...'
I rolled my eyes. All I had heard from the slave quarters of the Villa Gayed
over the years suggested Brand didn't much like to sleep alone. 'Sorry to
thwart your amorous tendencies, Brand, but you are coming with me to
Kardiastan. Naturally.'
'Naturally.' His tone was as dry as crumbled brick dust.
More veiled mockery, I supposed. I sighed inwardly and changed the subject.
'Something else, um, interesting happened today.'
He raised an eyebrow and waited, alert to my altered tone.
'The Oracle asked to see me.'
Everything about him stilled. When I didn't immediately explain, he said, 'As
you say, interesting. From what I have heard, it is more normal for people to
beg to see the Oracle, than the other way around.'
I nodded again. 'Indeed. And as I understand it, there is quite often a
considerable ... donation to the temple involved before the Oracle obliges.'
тАв┬╗! He gave a half-smile. And you are not known for your generosity to
religious cults.'
'No.'
'There was a deputation from the Meletian Temple at the door today, asking for
donations for the Moon Festival. A coincidence, do you think?'
'Probably. They come every year. And are disappointed every year. They take
enough from me at normal service collections.' Even as I spoke, though, I was
wondering. Was this all a trick to increase my donation? Show the power of