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

Talent. That blessing and curse was present in all three of his offspring. But Risalla was once again with child, and if God pleased, Conrig
would know tonight if the unborn was a normal-minded heir and the Sovereignty secure.

==========

Much later, as the time of UllanothтАЩs visitation approached, Conrig and Risalla waited in the kingтАЩs private sitting room in the royal
apartments. The draperies were drawn against the still-bright sky, but open casements admitted both cool air and the sounds of laughter
and dance music rising from the gardens. Risalla had changed into a summer nightrobe of fine primrose-colored lawn and reclined on a
cushioned couch. The hypnagogic draft prepared by Vra-Stergos, which she had swallowed only a few minutes earlier, was already
making her drowsy.

тАЬI still donтАЩt see why this examination is necessary.тАЭ The queen did not bother to hide her resentment. тАЬYou required no such thing of me
when I was pregnant with the other children.тАЭ

тАЬUllanoth has fashioned a new spell,тАЭ Conrig prevaricated. тАЬIt will not only tell us the sex of our new child, but also whether or not it has
talent.тАЭ

тАЬTalent!тАЭ RтАЩisallaтАЩs tone was uncommonly peevish as she drifted between wakefulness and sleep and her usual invincible self-control
dissolved. тАЬWhat does it matter if this babe shares poor BramlowтАЩs arcane abilities? You have your precious heir to the throne in Orrion,
and there is always Coro in caseтАж in caseтАжтАЭ Her eyes closed, but she gave a start and was wide awake again. тАЬIn case of misfortuneтАФ
may heaven forfend, I donтАЩt see why I must sleep during this procedure, either. Why shouldnтАЩt I know what Ullanoth does to me and to
the child in my womb? I hate the notion of her casting a spell on us! I hate her, God forgive me, though I truly know not why.тАЭ



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 May, Julian - Boreal Moon 2 - Ironcrown Moon


Her vehemence startled Conrig. He was fairly certain that she was unaware of the long-standing liaison between him and the sorceress,
and the queenтАЩs temperament was ordinarily so coolly dutiful and tranquil that she seemed as incapable of jealousy as she was of sexual
passion. In contrast to his mercurial first wife Maudrayne Northkeep, whom Conrig had adored until he came to believe that she could not
give him children, Risalla Mallburn kept close custody of her emotions. It had never occurred to him to ask if she loved him; he deemed it
sufficient that she was gently mannered, reasonably attractive, intelligent, fertile, and a princess royal of CathraтАЩs traditional antagonist,
the vassal nation of Didion.

тАЬThe Conjure-Queen will do nothing to outrage your dignity,тАЭ Conrig reassured her. тАЬShe will only look at the child in a special way,
without even touching you.тАЭ

тАЬI still hate being in her power. Helpless.тАЭ

тАЬPerhaps itтАЩs your Didionite heritage that makes you uneasy. You have a natural distrust of magic, owing to your peopleтАЩs hostility to the
sorcerers of neighboring Moss. And itтАЩs only natural that you should still resent UllanothтАЩs role in DidionтАЩsтАж submission to the
Sovereignty.тАЭ

тАЬOur defeat!тАЭ Risalla sighed and her eyes slowly closed again. тАЬTo say nothing of the shame that most of our warriors died not in honest
battle, but as the prey of bloodsucking tiny monsters, commanded by your good friend, the Conjure-Queen. All Didion knows that she
invoked the Beaconfolk as well as the spunkies to ensure your victory. And so do many of your own nobles, here in Cathra. They believe
you are in league with the Lights.тАЭ