"Modesitt,.L.E.-.Spellsong.05.-.Shadow.Singer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"Were it not Encora," asked Palian quietly, "would you be consorted at all?"

Secca didn't even have to think about that. She'd already met most of the men anywhere near her own age and position in Defalk. A rueful smile crossed her face, but before she could speak, there was a knock on the chamber door.

"Lady Secca, there is a messenger here," Gorkon announced.

Secca frowned. "A messenger?"

"There are two, with a guard. They're from the Matriarch." There was a hint of laughter in Gorkon's voice. "They very much need to see you, and I would say you should see them."

Neither Gorkon nor any of her lancers acting as guards---had ever presumed to suggest whom she should see. Secca glanced at Palian. The chief player shrugged, her lace also expressing puzzlement.

"They . . . can enter without the guard." The "messengers" were two girls, and they carried something thin and almost as long as the older girl was tall---something obviously very light and wrapped loosely in dun cotton.

"I'm Ulya, Lady Secca," offered the dark-haired girl, bowing. She was not quite as tall as Secca.

"I'm Verlya." The younger and smaller blonde also bowed.

"Mother said that we could bring these. They're consorting gifts from Mother, Father, and us," explained Ulya.

"Mother?" Secca asked, although she suspected who the two must be.

"She's the Matriarch, but we call her Mother still," said the younger blonde--- Verlya. She added quickly, "You have to open these now."

"Thank you."Secca smiled as she glanced at Palian. You re all very kind."

The girls had mentioned gifts, but she saw only the one, carried by both. Ulya lifted it toward the sorceress.

Secca took the light bundle and laid it across the conference table, then slowly peeled back the dun cotton until she had revealed a gown shimmering blue fabric, but the blue of Loiseau, not the pale blue of Ranuak---with three-quarter-length sleeves and a high-collared neck. Looking at it, as she lifted the garment and held the shimmer-silk before her, she realized it had been somehow tailored for her. She studied the gown closely then smiled. It was a gown in appearance only, with a full skirt over three-quarter-length trousers, clearly designed to let her ride.

She glanced at Palian, inquiringly. Palian shook her head.

"Lady Richina let us borrow one of your gowns while you were riding one day," explained Ulya.

"And some trousers. Mother said you would need to ride to the ceremony. Lady Richina promised she wouldn't tell," Verlya said, asking quickly, "Can we come to your consorting? Mother said we had to ask you."

Secca smiled softly. "If your mother agrees, you may come."

"Good!" exclaimed the small blonde. "She said we could come if you said we could." She paused. "Oh . . . I forgot the second gift." She fumbled in her leather jacket and brought out a rectangular box of polished white oak and extended it. "The real gift is inside, but the box is for you, too

Secca slipped the bronze catch and opened the box gingerly. Her mouth opened. Inside was a necklace a choker-of white gold. She studied the design of interlocking sections, noting almost belatedly that on one side---set inside a framed gold diamond shape were a miniature sabre crossed with the symbol for a half note. Where the two crossed was inset with a small diamond. On the other side was a thunderbolt crossed with a note, and the jewel was a small emerald.

"This is gorgeous," Secca said slowly. "I do not think---"

"You have to," insisted Verlya. "It was made for you and Alcaren. He was the best of Mother's guards."

"I gather I have no choice." Secca smiled at the two sisters. "I thank you both . . . and your mother and father for being so thoughtful and generous."

"Mother says a consorting like yours happens but once in the life of a land," offered the older and dark-haired girl.