"Quickening - 02 - Blood And Memory" - читать интересную книгу автора (McIntosh Fiona)

УIТm glad to have you back, Commander Liryk,Ф she said formally, turning from her window. She crossed the room, and after he had straightened from his bow, she fell back into her less regal manner, taking both his hands in her own. УNow, ease my worry,Ф she said. УTell me it all went smoothly.Ф

Liryk glanced toward the departing Krell, who was passing behind her majesty, carrying papers. The Chancellor shook his head slightly and Liryk felt the weight of his task settle like a stone in his throat. Krell was following protocol. He had left the bad news entirely for Liryk to deliver.

Valentyna was searching his face, a confused smile on her lips now. УWhat is it? Krell tells me you have news that cannot wait. I presume you wish to report that Romen Koreldy was seen safely to a border. But which border? I must know,Ф she said, her words coming out in a rush.

LirykТs eyes came back to rest sadly upon her own. УMay we sit, your highness?Ф

УOh, of course, how remiss of me. YouТve obviously been riding through the night to be back here so fast.Ф She gestured toward one of the comfortable armchairs. УPlease.Ф

УThank you.Ф He sat, taking every last moment he could before he had to share his tidings with the lovely young Queen. So much grief around her. He wished Krell had remained but knew once again the man had done the right thing and given them privacy.

Valentyna joined him in the opposite chair.

УYou look very pale, your highness.Ф He blurted out his thoughts.

She nodded. УYou know me too well. I did sleep badly. IТve anguished over yesterdayТs decision, Liryk. It was the appropriate action to take for MorgraviaТs king and the dutiful thing for Briavel. But oh, it was a poor decision for me personally. I miss Koreldy more than most would realize.Ф

He was shocked. He sensed the friendship had run deep but had no idea it had progressed so far and so quickly. Her carefully chosen words could not mask the true admission. Liryk leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, risking her further confusion while he gathered up his anguished thoughts.

УMy apologies, sir. I should not burden you with my heart,Ф Valentyna said to fill the awkward pause, sorry that she had said as much as she had.

She noticed the sad expression on LirykТs face when he opened his eyes and sat forward again. He even took her hand, held it gently but firmly in his large, gnarled, soldierТs hands. Liryk sighed heavily, and when he said Уyour majesty,Ф as though his shoulders carried the very weight of the realm, her intuition suggested she did not want to hear whatever it was he had to report. She had to bite her lip to prevent herself from begging him to say no more.

He began to speak, his tone measured, his words carefully chosen.

Valentyna looked at LirykТs hand covering hers, trying to shut out the voice, concentrating on the gingery hair on the back of his, which made her think of Wyl Thirsk, of all people. Poor, lovely Wyl Thirsk with his thatch of orange hair and freckles. She recalled the way he blushed whenever her eyes glanced toward his, and his smile, so hard to win but bright and joyful when it came. He should never have died. He had fought courageously for a realm not his own, to save the life of his enemy. She had liked him the instant they had met, had felt a connection to him somehow that was hard to shake. Curiously the young man entered her mind at the oddest of times to this day and there were momentsЧnone that she would admit openly toЧwhen FynchТs suggestion, that Wyl Thirsk was still among them, rang true with her.

It was an odd situation. Normally she did not take to people so readily; she was wary of folk by nature and downright suspicious of strangers from Morgravia. But Wyl was not what she had expected. He was forthright and humble. Just a little in awe of her father, which she had appreciated because it showed respectЧeven between enemies. And her father had liked him and, more importantly, trusted him. That much was obvious. She recalled how Romen had admitted that Wyl had fallen desperately in love with her on that first meeting. How shocked she had been and, strange though it sounded, how flattered she had felt. There was something about Wyl ThirskЧsomething special. Despite his lack of stature, which she had gently poked fun at, he certainly possessed a presenceЕand there had been a chemistry between them. Valentyna recalled how he had not felt ashamed to weep in front of them or accept her comfort. She had admired that about him.

LirykТs voice spoke on.

The Queen heard, as though from a distance, Liryk talking about a place called the Forbidden Fruit. It sounded like no establishment she would ever visit. Apparently Romen had gone with a woman. She knew what this meant but she tried to ignore it. She wanted to believe that the bathing and smoothing was an innocent activity to help ease the tension of that strange and joyless day. But it was more than a smoothing. She could read as much in the way Liryk said it.

Hildyth was her name. Hateful name. She suddenly despised the womanЕa stranger she had never met or ever would meet. A whore.

RomenТs whore.

She imagined the stranger laughing with him; unself-conscious at being naked with this private and yet playful man. The whore would feel his fingers over her body, his tongue, his lipsЕand Valentyna tried to convince herself, as these visions raged, that Romen was using the woman because he could not have his queen. His queen had banished him. Expelled him. Marked him as no friend of hers, or of BriavelТs. He had to drown his sorrows somewhere and he had drowned them at the Forbidden Fruit, sheathing himself within a woman called Hildyth. Is this what Liryk seemed so hesitant to tell herЕthat Romen had spent the night with a paid woman?

It seemed not. There was more to the tale. As Liryk continued, her throat caught, and then began to close, as though it meant to stop her breathing. Liryk was speaking of being stabbedЕsomething about a fingerless hand.

She looked up suddenly. He stopped speaking, disturbed by her sudden attention.

УIЕLirykЕI donТt understand.Ф There was a tremor in her voice and she hated it. Hated it almost as much as she hated Hildyth for taking the pleasures of RomenТs body when they were meant for a queen.

It broke every protocol but Liryk did not care for that right now. The little girl of Briavel, loved by all, needed comfort. He put his arm around his young sovereign and pulled her toward his broad chest in the manner a dear uncle might. She allowed him to because she was scared. She had heard the words but did not believe him. She would need him to say them again.

He spoke in a near whisper this time, his lips close to her hair, which smelled of fresh lavender. УYour highness,Ф he said gently, УRomen Koreldy was murdered last night. We have nothing more than the womanТs description of a man running down the hall. She was understandably distraught, so the details are vague, to say the least.Ф He stopped, not sure of what else to say or even whether she had paid attention.