"Patricia A. McKillip - Riddlemaster 3 - Harpist In The Wind" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKillip Patricia A)

here.тАЭ
тАЬI didnтАЩt kill him.тАЭ
тАЬSomehow I am not surprised.тАЭ His voice sounded
husky, like a voice out of a barrow. He drew Morgon
forward toward the great moonlit house. тАЬTell me.тАЭ
Morgon told him much more than that before they
reached the hall. He found himself talking a little about
even the past seven days, which were so precious to him
he wondered if they had even existed. Mathom said little,
only making a faint noise deep in his throat now and then,
like a blackbirdтАЩs mutter. As they entered the inner
courtyard, they saw horses, trembling and sweating, being
led to the stables. Their saddlecloths were purple and
blue, the colors of the kings household guard. Mathom
cursed mildly.
тАЬRood must be back. Empty-handed, furious,
wraithridden, and unwashed.тАЭ They entered the hall,
which was a blaze of torchlight, and Rood, slumped over a
cup of wine, stared at his father. Duac and Raederle were
beside him, their heads turning, but he got to his feet first,
drowning their voices.
тАЬWhere in HelтАЩs name have you been?тАЭ
тАЬDonтАЩt shout at me,тАЭ the king said testily. тАЬIf you had
no more sense than to roam through this chaos searching
for that harpist, I have no pity for you.тАЭ He switched his
gaze to Duac, as Rood, his mouth still open, dropped back
into his chair. Duac eyed the king coldly, but his voice
was controlled.
тАЬWell. What brought you home? Dropping out of the
sky like a bad spell. Surely not distress over the shambles
you have made of your land-rule.тАЭ
тАЬNo,тАЭ Mathom said imperturbably, pouring wine.
тАЬYou and Rood have done very well without me.тАЭ
тАЬWe have done what very well without you?тАЭ Rood
asked between his teeth. тАЬDo you realize we are on the
verge of war?тАЭ
тАЬYes. And An has armed itself for it in a remarkably
short time. Even you have turned, in less than three
months, from a scholar into a warrior.тАЭ
 Rood drew an audible breath to answer. DuacтАЩs hand
clamped suddenly down on his wrist, silencing him.
тАЬWar.тАЭ His face had lost color. тАЬWith whom?тАЭ
тАЬWho else is armed?тАЭ
тАЬYmris?тАЭ He repeated it incredulously, тАЬYmris?тАЭ
Mathom swallowed wine. His face looked older than
it had under the moonlight, grim and worn with travel. He
sat down beside Raederle. тАЬI have seen the war in Ymris,тАЭ
he said softly. тАЬThe rebels hold the coastal lands. ItтАЩs a
strange, bloody, merciless war, and it is going to exhaust
Heureu YmrisтАЩ forces. He can never hope to contain it