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

disparaging what he saw. 'Are you up to such a task, Compeer?'
His scepticism did not worry me; the thought of leaving Tyrans did, but I knew
better than to allow any sign of my consternation to show on my face. 'I shall
do my best to serve the Exaltarchy, as ever, Exalted.'
'Rathrox will tell you the details. You are both dismissed.'
A minute later, still blinking from the abrupt end to the audience, I was
tying on my sandals at the entrance to the anteroom and wondering just what it
was the Exaltarch had not told me. There was much that had been withheld, I
felt sure.
I looked across at Rathrox who was just straightening from fastening his own
sandal straps. In the muted light of the hall he appeared all grey; a grey,
long-limbed, mantis-thin man, waiting for me. A man of prey. I said, 'Suppose
you tell me what all this is about, Magister?'
'What is there to say? The Exaltarch asked me to choose someone to send to
Kardiastan. When I mentioned you, he was a little surprised at my choice, and
wished to meet you before giving his approval. He found it difficult to
believe a woman could possess the тАФ the necessary toughness for the job, even
though I did tell him you have killed on Brotherhood business, just as all
Brotherhood Compeers must at one time or another.' His face was immobile, as
ever. As a mantis is without expression while it awaits its victim. Dedicated,
pitiless, patient... so very patient, waiting for the right moment to strike.
I did not like him, but he was my mentor and I admired and respected him for
his commitment and cunning.
Honesty was not, however, one of his virtues. He was skirting the truth,
reluctant to utter an outright lie, knowing I would identify it as such, but
equally reluctant to be completely honest. There was something lacking in his
explanation. I asked quietly, 'Why me? Why anyone? Why cannot those already in
Kardiastan deal with this?'
He looked around. We had moved away from the imperial guards in the anteroom,
but apparently not far enough for Rathrox. He took me by the elbow and guided
me through an archway into the deserted hallway beyond. Even so, he dropped
his voice. 'Ligea, the Exaltarchy is only as solid as the soil it is built on.
The situation in Kardiastan is far worse than the public here is given to
believe. There we have built on a cracked foundation and, unless something is
done soon, those cracks will become canyons large enough to swallow both the
legions and the civil administration. Worse still, cracks can spread.'
It was unlike Rathrox to be so frank, and even stranger for him to be so grim
about the state of the Exaltarchy. I said, carefully picking my way through
the conversational pitfalls of a chat with the Magister, who could be vicious
when tetchy, T would hardly have thought Kardiastan mattered enough to arouse
the personal concern of the Exaltarch. The place
produces nothing of essential commercial value to us. The only reason we ever
felt the need to invade in the first place was because we feared Assoria might
beat us to it, in order to gain ports along the Sea of Iss within striking
distance of Tyrans. But we've tamed Assoria since then; it has been our vassal
for, what? Twenty years?'
He interrupted. 'If a desert land inhabited by shabby, ill-trained peasants
can make a mockery of our legions, how long will it be before other subject
nations тАФ such as Assoria тАФ sharpen their spears? We must make an example of
these Kardi insurgents.'