"Liaden Universe - 04 - Plan B" - читать интересную книгу автора (Miller Steve)

"You disappoint me. Don't you have the least wish to know who the devil Tiazan is and where we'll be meeting my wretched brother?"

"But I was certain you were about to tell me."

"Unkind, Priscilla. I can't think why I lifemated you."

"Because I let you talk as much as you want."

"Do you? How odd. Especially as I have the distinct impression that I'm talking less than I ever have. But, I perceive you a-quiver with curiosity and hasten to explain."

He set his glass aside with a flourish and sat up straighter in the chair, humor vanishing from face and emotive grid.

"Tiazan is First Line of Clan Erob," he said; "which has its seat upon Lytaxin. So to go to 'Miri's people' as directed by my brother and delm-to-be, we need merely go to Lytaxin. Very simple, once one has the proper information. What astonishes me particularly is that for once in his life Val Con seems to have done exactly as he ought."

Priscilla blinked. "He has?"

"As I said, astonishing. Though, to be just, Val Conoften does as he ought. Of course, he just as often does precisely as he pleases. I expect there's a deliberate pattern involved, calculated to a hair's breadth to appear random. One afternoon when I'm bored I'll feed the parameters to the tactical computers and see what they make of it. But to continue! Erob is Korval's most ancient ally. The family diaries speak of Rool Tiazan and his lifemate, leaders of the dramliz, who chose to evacuate the Old World on the ship piloted by Cantra yos'Phelium."

Priscilla allowed a wisp of inquiry to escape her and Shan nodded.

"Rool Tiazan had read the luck, you seeЧand the luck sent him to Cantra yos'Phelium."

"Rool Tiazan was a full wizard, then," Priscilla murmured. "He had the Sight."

"Apparently so, sinceQuick Passage and her passengers eventually came safe to Liad."

"And all that time since the ship came to Liad, Korval and Erob have been allies?"

"Actually a bit longer than that," Shan said. "Cantra's log indicates that she and JelaЧher partner before she took on the revered yos'Galan ancestorЧhad known Rool Tiazan and his lady some time prior to the evacuation. If it comes to thatЧrecall that I promised to amaze, Priscilla!Чwe're a bit more than allies. More accurate to say cousinsЧor half-clan, there's a word! Ever since the ship landed on Liad, Tiazan and Korval have been sticking to an arrangementЧactually a protocol, all properly signed and sealedЧa schedule of a contract-marriage every three generations, with the child going, in unfailing sequence: Erob, Korval, Erob, KorvalЕ"

Priscilla frowned. "You said Tiazan and KorvalЧ"

"So I did, and so it was. Korval seems to have sent equally from yos'Phelium and yos'Galan, but Erob seems only to have sent from Tiazan, never from the subordinate Line. In any wise, the schedule demanded a contract wedding this generation. yos'Galan was sent last time, and the child came to Korval."

"And Val Con knew all this?" Priscilla demanded.

Shan shrugged and reached for his glass. "Now that's a different question. Unless he's knocked his head rather sharply, he certainly recalls our long association with Erob. That a mating was mandated and that yos'Phelium must sendЧI doubt he did know that. I only know it because when I was First Speaker in Trust, I received a note from Great-great-great Aunt Wayr yos'Phelium, dated one hundred ten Standard years ago." He sighed. "I sent it forward a little time more, to Val Con's thirty-fifth Name Day: a puzzle for him to solve on the day he becomes delm."

"But Miri Robertson is Line Tiazan, and she and Val Con arelifemates Е"

Shan nodded. "The child of a contract-marriage would have gone to Erob. But the children of a lifemating will come to the clan sheltering both partners."

"And Val Con will not leave Korval for another clan." She made it a half-question, and Shan answered with unwarranted soberness.

"Val Con is Korval HimselfЧthe one who will be delm. Hecan't leave. There's no clan in the Book who would have him." He sighed. "Korval has this certainЧreputation. Even among our allies." He stared into the dregs of his glass, then all at once seemed to shake himself and looked over to her with a wry smile.

"It's been a long day, Priscilla. Will you join me for a nap?"

"Certainly." She came gracefully to her feet, despite the weariness that grated behind her eyes and pulled at her back. "Ken Rik has shift-authority and will call if there's a problem."