"Jacqueline Lichtenberg - Dushau Trilogy 01 - Dushau" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lichtenberg Jacqueline)

"I couldn't agree more," he said. "But I must ask a favor, or a boon, depending on the dialect you prefer."
The music had ceased. Rantan was on his throne giving a speech.

She laughed and tried to perform the obeisance she'd spent hours in a Court Manners Class trying to
perfect, but stumbled into him, off balance. "You see? I can't do it!"

"Would you be willing to try? In public?"

"What?"

"Krinata, we're not sure Kamminth can hold us together out there. Stand with us before the Emperor. If I
revert to Receptor and can't speak, or if something happens to Fedeewarn, make excuses for us. That's
all I'm asking."

"But I..." she began to protest. Then, seeing his genuine need graven on his napped face, and his absolute
determination to go through with this, she said, "If you don't mind the risk that I'll blurt out something
stupid, or trip on my own feetтАФ sure."

The midnight eyes searched hers. "We'll risk it."

He turned to Kamminth, and she formed them into a marching square with herself at the center, Jindigar
at the rear left corner, moving them into position before the carved whitewood doors of the audience
chamber. Jindigar drew Krinata to his side. "If you will hold my position here, I will take the Outreach
position."

Just like that, she stood in the Receptor's Office, as if she were Dushau. Before she could object, Jindigar
advanced to center front. The position behind him, just in front of Kamminth, was vacantтАФtheir Inreach,
Fedeewarn, unconscious in the infirmary.
Jindigar had once moved in these circles. Surely he knew she had no business marching in an Oliat
formation. No human did. He doesn't mean anything by it. It's just protocol. Something inside her
squirmed at this real life replay of one of her favorite fantasiesтАФher Oliat returning to the Allegiancy in
triumph. She told herself, Act your age! and straightened up.

The whitewood doors opened majestically. In the bright rectangle stood eight Honor Guards, of eight
bipedal species, carrying Dushaun gold-and-white banners bearing the Oliat device, crossed wands
balanced on the tip of an arrow at the point where they intersected.

The Lehiroh who seemed to be their leader saw her red and black, frowned in offense, and asked
Jindigar, "What is the Zavarrone doing among you? It is not permitted to..."

Jindigar interrupted. "She's not of us, but is essential to our well-being."

The escort glanced over his shoulder, then hissed, "Let her meet you at your seats, not march in the
formation!"

She was about to step out of place when Jindigar grabbed a floor-length white cloak from the rack. It
had a fully enveloping hood. He whisked it about her shoulders, flipping the hood up. Then he returned to
his place. "The Oliat is an integrated team, serving the Emperor. We will not be separated, nor will we
keep The August Personage waiting."