"Julian May - Boreal Moon 2 - Ironcrown Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

Conrig frowned absently. тАЬWhat is it, madam?тАЭ He had significant concerns of his own this evening, following a brief confidential talk
with Earl Marshal Parlian Beorbrook towards the end of the feast. And there was also UllanothтАЩs impending visitationтАж

тАЬIтАЩm concerned about our children. With so many special events going on today, I had no time to look in on them. Your Reverend
Brother dosed the boys with a physick he declared would surely cure them of their cattarh, and itтАЩs true that Bramlow and Corodon
seemed well on the road to recovery yesterday. But IтАЩm worried about little Orry. HeтАЩs so much more delicate than the others.тАЭ

тАЬSend a page to inquire how the lad does,тАЭ the preoccupied king said, only half-listening.

Risalla waved the maid away, rose from her stool, and came to stand beside her husband. She was a woman of five-and-twenty whose
face often seemed bland and plain in repose; but when she was animated, as now, her cornflower-blue eyes glowed with a disconcerting
vigor. For the festivities she was attired in a high-waisted gown that revealed nothing of her six-month pregnancy. It was made of violet
silk, embroidered about the low neckline with a pattern of vine leaves picked out in gold thread. A chain supporting a single large
diamond pendant hung at her throat. Her honey-colored hair was dressed in a high coil of braids adorned with tiny twinkling sprays of
gold wire and amethyst brilliants. A delicate golden diadem, yet to be pinned into place, waited on the dressing table.

тАЬNo, husband,тАЭ she said firmly. тАЬSending a page wonтАЩt do. I insist on going to the nursery myself, before Orrion and the others are put to
bed. Do come with me! You havenтАЩt visited the children all week.тАЭ

тАЬIt wonтАЩt be long before the dancing begins,тАЭ Conrig objected. тАЬWe have to step out first, as well you know. And after that we must
prepare for the special visitation of the Queen of Moss.тАЭ

RisallaтАЩs lips tightened in determination. тАЬThe housemen are only beginning to put up the lanterns around the dance ground. ThereтАЩs
ample time.тАЭ She took his hand, drawing him to his feet. тАЬSurely the Prince Heritor of Cathra is deserving of your sovereign attention.тАЭ

Something flickered in ConrigтАЩs dark eyes. But then he let a slow, wintry smile soften his face. He was a tall man and well built, still
youthful in appearance at thirty years of age, fine-featured with a short beard and hair the color of ripe wheat. The famous iron crown,
originally the rusty top hoop on a small cask of tarnblaze but now polished and given a handsome blue-heat finish, lay unobtrusively on
his brow.

тАЬDear madam, you defeat me once again. WeтАЩll surprise the little rascals at their supper, and I donтАЩt doubt that weтАЩll find all of them in
good fettle, save for their disappointment at having to miss the Solstice celebration.тАЭ He said to the valet, тАЬTrey, summon my escort. And
carry on scraping off that splash of gravy while IтАЩm gone.тАЭ

тАЬThank you, sireтАФdearest husband.тАЭ Risalla spoke with every evidence of humble diffidence before adding in a drier tone, тАЬAfter all, itтАЩs
not as though the dancing could begin without us. And Conjure-Queen Ullanoth is a very patient womanтАж or so IтАЩve heard.тАЭ

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Conrig Wincantor, Sovereign of High Blenholme, stood with his wife outside the closed door to the royal nursery. A look of contained
chagrin stiffened his features. Shrieks of childish laughter, furious shouts from an adult female, and the sounds of smashing crockery
were audible through the thick oaken planking. The household knights of the royal escort kept straight faces with difficulty, while the two
palace guards on duty in the corridor came to attention and smote their polished cuirasses in salute.

Inside the nursery, there was a jarring thud and someone began to scream hysterically. A shrill voice cried, тАЬIтАЩll catch him!тАЭ

тАЬOh, my,тАЭ Queen Risalla murmured, with a sidelong glance at the king.

Conrig scowled and addressed the senior door guard. тАЬWhat the devil is going on in there, Sergeant Mendos?тАЭ