"Jane Lindskold - Firekeeper Saga 3 - The Dragon of Despair" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lindskold Jane)

He had come from New Kelvin the previous year, self-exiled for choosing to act against the policies of
the government he had served for the previous decade and a half.

A solid hit from a crossbow bolt had forced the amputation of Grateful Peace's right arm. While he
recuperated, he had wintered at the Surcliffe family vineyards east of Duchess Kestrel's holding.
However, when the snowmelt had begun, Duchess Kestrel had invited Peace to join herself and her
family at their residence├╣deliberately waiting to offer her invitation until the White Water River was so
swollen that there would be no easy commerce between the Norwood Grant and New Kelvin for at least
a moonspan. Grateful Peace was an outcast from his homeland, and no one doubted that there was a
price on his life.

Nor, Firekeeper thought, would Peace be easy to hide. Even though he has stopped painting his
face, nothing can hide the tattoos. Though he styles his hair more as men wear it here, still his
very bearing and manner of standing is different. He walks awkwardly in trousers, as if his legs
still need to feel the touch of robes to know when to break his stride.

Duchess Kestrel did not keep them waiting long after Grateful Peace had taken his seat.

"I assume that all of you have already heard about the courier who arrived today. 'Courier' may be too
polite a term," she added with wry smile. "However, it will do.

"One item of his news was rather shocking," the duchess continued. "Before I reveal it, I must ask that
you not speak of it to anyone other than those gathered here. I have chosen to reveal it to you because I
would like your advice regarding what course of action I should take."

Nods around the semicircle facing the duchess's desk confirmed the willingness of the gathered to keep
her confidence. When Firekeeper realized that this was no general gossip session├╣as she had first
imagined when Derian had spoken to her out on the grounds├╣she wondered why Duchess Kestrel had
wanted her here.

Duchess Kestrel did not offer to answer this unspoken question, only accepted their unspoken promises
of silence with a nod of her own.

"Very well," she said with a slight, involuntary sigh. "Melina, once of House Gyrfalcon, has married. Her
new spouse is the Healed One, the hereditary monarch of New Kelvin."

Saedee Norwood declaimed these words as if she expected them to cause a sensation, nor was she
disappointed. After a moment of shocked silence, there was a tumult of questions and expressions of
dismay. Firekeeper believed that she herself had kept silent, but after a moment she realized that the
rumbling growl she heard was coming from her own throat.

No wonder. If there was a human Firekeeper hated and despised, it was Lady Melina Shield. She had
trouble thinking of the woman by another name, although Lady Melina had been disowned and exiled
and so lost both title and right to her House name. Melina had tricked and used Firekeeper├╣a thing for
which the wolf-woman blamed herself as much as she blamed Melina, though this realization made her
feel no less bitter.

Earl Kestrel had raised a hand to still the babble and, with a glance at his mother, took it upon himself to
answer some of the questions.