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

"Father has a pleasant voice. He was the one who first taught me to play, but he dislikes sorcery, perhaps even more so than Mother, and I've never heard him sing."

Secca winced. "What do they think about your consorting to a sorceress?"

"Nedya thinks that it's for the best . . ." Alcaren grinned. "She said that it would be good for me to have someone who can understand me and keep me riding in the right direction."

"How about your father?" Secca wasn't sure she wanted to ask about what Alcaren's mother thought.

"He hasn't said much. He never does. He didn't even shake his head or curse when I broke chisels and ruined stone blocks and broke clay molds. He knew I was trying, and that I just didn't have the talent." Alcaren's lips curled ruefully.

"What did he say when you told him about us?"

"He just smiled, and said it was about time I found someone who could take care of me."

"Take care of you?" blurted Secca.

"Remember? I've never proved particularly adept at what they think is important. My hands can finger a lumand or a mandolin, but not work clay or stone. I get sick on ships in rough water, and I never enjoyed counting up golds."

The sorceress almost shook her head, thinking about how well Alcaren rode, how accomplished he was with a blade, how effectively he seemed to organize and lead people, and how much he knew. "And your mother?"

"She said that I was consorting well above my station, and that it was for the best, but that I should thank the harmonies and not get airs about it." He was the one to shake his head. "She said that being your consort would be the most difficult task I'd ever tried." The warm smile followed. "She might be right in that"

"Now I'm difficult?" Secca raised her eyebrows.

"What you will attempt in attacking the Sturinnese has never been successful," he pointed out "Then, what you've already done has never been done, either."

Secca frowned. Anna had done far greater sorceries and become the first woman regent truly to rule a northern land in Defalk.

"No one else has ever destroyed a Sea-Priest fleet at sea. Even your lady Anna only destroyed them at anchor in the harbor."

"No one else was ever foolish enough to try." Secca glanced toward the windows. "I suppose we should go. You said we would be there by midmorning?"

"Before midday."

Secca turned toward her bedchamber to gather her riding jacket and her sabre, but Alcaren intercepted her and drew her into his arms.

"We do have to go," she whispered.

"In a moment."

It was a very long moment before he released her-or she released him.

By the time they had gotten their mounts from the stables, which were a good hundred yards behind the guest quarters and past the barracks that housed her lancers and the two companies of South Women commanded by Alcaren, the cold rain had turned into an even finer mist. The formless gray clouds had lightened, and a cooler breeze swirled through the long, stone-paved courtyard. Infrequent light gusts of cool air alternated with warmer damper air.

"It will be colder tonight," Alcaren said, as Secca mounted her gray.

"I like that better than rain," she replied.

A discreet cough interrupted their conversation. "Lady, Overcaptain.. ."