"Shirley Meier & S. M. Stirling - Fifth Millenium 05 - Shadow's Son" - читать интересную книгу автора (Meier Shirley)

Smoothtongue, had gone as expected. Even the ending, not quite: in her rage at what heтАЩd done to so
many of her old shipmates, not to mention her, sheтАЩd planned to put him in a cage welded shut, and hang
it up in this very atrium. That hadnтАЩt worked out. But every now and then, pacing in the gallery, she
would imagine it was there, the room echoing with his screams, or perhaps mad laughter, instead of
SovaтАЩs carefree noise, and know it would have been for the worse. For one thing, it would have made
the house unfit for raising children.
Back to work. She ground a fist into the small of her back as she straightened; this sedentary life was
making her stiff. Only a bit more, she promised herself as she went back to the packet on her desk.
Examined closer, the writing seemed familiar. She broke the seal.

To MEGAN called Whitlock, Slaf Hikarme (House of the Sleeping Dragon), FтАЩtalezon.
Third Iron-Cycle, Tenth Day, Year of the Lead Cat.
My investigations regarding your expatriate son LIXAND, heretofore futile for the year that I have
undertaken your contract, have suddenly borne substantial fruit. It seems very likely he is in Arko the City
Itself. An agent of mine discovered a dancing boy owned by the AITZAS Family TEMONEN, of
Fidelity Street, who fits his description perfectly: blond, black-eyed, small of build, about ten years old.
Probing revealed that RASAS, as he is called there, was bought at the age of two in the slave-market of
Arko, which matches well with the time he was abducted from you.
By all indications, he is healthy and well-fed, being prized as a lead performer in NUNINI-BAS
TEMONENтАЩs troupe of dancing boys. I made the utmost attempt to purchase him, but was refused
absolutely; it seems he is also a favorite of the Lord.
I await your instructions.
Hoping you find this information of great value, I am your faithful agent,
TIRPAS ORREN, fessas
Avenue Aven
Arko, the City Itself.

She read it three or four times, her hands shaking, pulse pounding in her ears, barely believing. After
eight years, she knew where her son was. After eight years wondering, then this last year, when it had
finally become possible, feverishly searching through a network of spies hired in every major city in the
Empire of Arko, there was a house and a city to pin him to, circumstances to imagine, a setting to make
his life seem real to her. A place to track him to, to find him, to buy or steal or carve him free of ... no,
not buy. SheтАЩd stated clearly from the start, the maximum price Tirpas was authorized to offer: all she
had, short of destituting the family. That was rather a lot. Tirpas had obviously offered that and been
turned down. How rich is this fish-gutted bastard, that my son isnтАЩt worth that amount? Or how ...
besotted ...
Steal or carve, then. SheтАЩd considered going into the Empire personally before, despite the
riskтАФforeigners were accorded no right to freedom there, and slave-catchers knew itтАФbut had decided
against. A hireling who knew the ropes in Arko and didnтАЩt need to run and hide had been a better bet,
for such a needle-in-a-hay-stack search.
But now the search was done. She ran back down the stairs, and called into the atrium. тАЬShkaiтАЩra!
How soon can you be ready to leave on a long trip?тАЭ
The Kommanza lowered her sword, wiped one forearm across her face. тАЬTwo days, traveling light.
Where to? Business or pleasure?тАЭ
Rilla, MeganтАЩs second wife and cousin, came down the steps with a basket of flower bulbs over her
arm. She was taller than Megan by almost a hand-width, mink brown hair trimmed short and sharp
around her face, giving her an elfin look, making her dark amber eyes seem much bigger. тАЬDark Lord,
Sova,тАЭ she said. тАЬWeтАЩll have to buy a warehouse of tunics; if you want to play with the dogs, wear an old
one! Go change, now!тАЭ
Sova thumped on the ribs of the puppy who held her down, making a bang like a drum. тАЬI want to