"L. E. Modesitt - Corean Chronicles 1 - Legacies" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

'I might not."
'You should win," Alucius said. "But could we play another tomorrow?"
'I think I could manage that, if I'm not late bringing in the flock." Royalt
stood. "Before long, you'll be besting me." Royalt laughed. "Time to wash up,
boy."
Alucius followed Royalt to the washroom off the kitchen where Roy-alt took
the lever of the hand pump and put it through several cycles, until the chill water
was flowing into the basin. Alucius waited and then took his turn, before
returning to the kitchen.
Royalt sat at the head of the table, at the only chair with arms, facing into
the kitchen, while Veryl sat at his left, closest to the serving table. Lucenda set a
wide platter of mutton--from a town sheep bought the week before--on the
table, and then seated herself at the end of the table, with Alucius on her left.
Veryl cleared her throat gently, and the other three bowed their heads.
'In the name of the One Who Is, may our food be blessed and our lives as
well. And blessed be the lives of both the deserving and the undeserving that
both may strive to do good in the world and beyond." Veryl smiled and looked
up, glancing at Royalt.
The herder returned the smile, and then speared a slab of the mutton and
set it on his wife's platter before serving himself and passing the platter to Veryl,
who in turn passed it to Lucenda. Lucenda served Alucius and herself. The
gladbeans, doused and lightly fried in sweet oil, followed. Alucius took one
biscuit after his grandfather passed the basket to him.
'You can have two," offered Veryl. "You're a growing boy, and there's more
than enough. We got some of the best honey from Dactar last week."
Alucius grinned. "Thank you, Grandma'am." He knew about the honey,
having already snitched the smallest of samples several times during the week.
'Of course," his grandmother continued, "there isn't quite so much honey as
there might have been."
Alucius flushed.
Lucenda shook her head, in what Alucius knew was mock-disapproval--or
almost mock-disapproval.
'It was awfully good," Alucius admitted, "and I only had a little."
At the end of the table, Royalt coughed to smother a smile.
'You might have asked," suggested Lucenda.
'You would have said no."
'Sometimes that happens," his mother replied. "We can't always have what
we want. You know that. Get too greedy, and you might get a Legacy of the
Duarches."
'Yes, ma'am." Alucius wasn't too sure what that meant, but it didn't sound
good.
 After the momentary silence, Royalt spoke. "Been wondering if we'll be
having a long and cold winter this year." He took another slab of mutton, and
ladled gravy over it.
'You think so, dear?" asked Veryl.
'Haven't seen a sander in near-on a month. Not many sandwolves, either. Or
even scrats. Saterl says the sandwolves have moved closer to the town, that
folks there are losing dogs, and the wolves are going after food sheep. They all
forget that the wolves don't leave a scent, and that food sheep don't sense
them. Most times, sandwolves don't like town sheep, unless they're starving. Last