"Quickening - 01 - Myrren's Gift" - читать интересную книгу автора (McIntosh Fiona)

Vicious whispers at the court, of course, accused her of choosing Thirsk for his connections but she had relentlessly proved that the colorful court of Morgravia held little interest for her. Helyna Thirsk had had no desire for political intrigues or social climbing. Her only vanity had been her love of fine clothes, which Fergys had lavished on his young wife, claiming he had nothing else to spend his money on.

Wyl interrupted his thoughts. УGueryn, what do we know about this Celimus?Ф

He had been waiting for just this question. УI donТt know him at all but heТs a year or two older than you. and from what I hear he is fairly impressed with being the heir.Ф he answered tactfully.

УI see,Ф Wyl replied. УWhat else do you hear of him? Tell me honestly.Ф

Gueryn nodded. Wyl should not be thrown into this arena without knowing as much as he could. УThe King. I gather, continues to hope Celimus might be molded into the stuff Morgravia can be proud of. although I would add that Magnus has not been an exceptional father. There is little affection between them.Ф

УWhy?Ф

УI can tell you only what your father has shared. King Magnus married Princess Adana. It was an arranged marriage. According to Fergys. they disliked each other within days of the ceremony and it never got any easier between them. I saw her on two occasions and it is no exaggeration that Adana was a woman whose looks could take any manТs breath away. But she was cold. Your father said she was not just unhappy but angry at the choice of husband and despairing of the land she had come to. She had never wanted to come to Morgravia. believing it to be filled with peasants.Ф

The boyТs eyes widened. УShe said that?Ф

УAnd plenty more apparently.Ф

УWhere was she from?Ф

УParrgamynЧI hope you can dredge up its location from all those geography lessons?Ф

Wyl made a face at GuerynТs disapproving tutorly tone. He knew exactly where Parrgamyn was situated, to the far northwest of Morgravia. in balmy waters about two hundred nautical miles west of the famed Isle of Cipres. УExotic then?Ф

УVery. Hence CelimusТs dark looks.Ф

УSo she would have been of Zerque faith?Ф he wondered aloud, and Gueryn nodded. УGo on.Ф Wyl encouraged, glad to be thinking about something other than the pain of his fatherТs death.

Gueryn sighed. УA long tale really, but essentially she hated the King, blamed her father for his avarice in marrying her off to what she considered an old man. and poisoned the young CelimusТs mind against his father.Ф

УShe died quite young, though, didnТt she?Ф

The soldier nodded. УYes. but it was the how that caused the ultimate rift between father and son. Your father was with the King when the hunting accident happened and could attest to the randomness of the event. Adana lost her life with an arrow through her throat.Ф

УThe KingТs?Ф Wyl asked, shifting in his saddle. УMy father never said anything about this to me.Ф

УThe arrow was fletched in the KingТs very own colors. There was no doubt whose quiver it had come from.Ф

УHow could it have happened?Ф

Gueryn shrugged. УWho knows? Fergys said the Queen was out riding where she should not have been and Magnus shot badly. Others whispered, of course, that his aim was perfect, as always.Ф He arched a single eyebrow. It spoke plenty.

УSo Celimus has never forgiven his father?Ф

УYou could say. Celimus worshiped Adana as much as his father despised her. But in losing his mother very early thereТs something you and Celimus have in common and this might be helpful to you,Ф he offered. УThe lad. IТm told, is already highly accomplished in the arts of soldiering too. He has no equal in the fighting ring amongst his peers. Sword or fists, on horseback or foot, he is genuinely talented.Ф

УBetter than me?Ф

Gueryn grinned. УWeТll see. I know of no one of your tender years who is as skilled in combatЧexcluding myself at your age, of course.Ф He won a smile from the boy at this. УBut, Wyl, a word of caution. It would not do to whip the backside of the young Prince. You may find it politic to play second fiddle to a king-in-waiting.Ф