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

7

While the sun shone through a high and thin haze, the chill breeze out of the northeast reminded Secca that,even in Encora, the season was not yet spring. She and Alcaren rode at the head of the column, preceded only by four of the Matriarch's guards, and followed immediately by Wilten and Richina, with a company of lancers in the green of Loiseau bringing up the rear.

Wearing her green leather riding jacket over the blue gown was practical, if not terribly elegant, but Secca had no alternatives, besides freezing. She shifted her weight in the saddle of the gray mare, then glanced sideways at Alcaren, riding beside her in the darker blue dress uniform of an overcaptain of Ranuak--- a much warmer outfit than the blue consorting gown Secca wore under the riding jacket.

"I've never seen that uniform," she said.

"Neither had I, until yesterday. It was a gift from the Matriarch. She said she owed more than a uniform to me, but that the uniform would have to do for now."

"She wants you consorted and out of Ranuak," Secca suggested, "and she might gift her favorite cousin more-once you're safely away."

"Her problem cousin is more accurate," Alcaren replied. "But I' m about to become more your problem than hers. Are you ready for that?"

"More than ready. You've already been the problem. We're past that" Secca smiled, broadly, trying to conceal some of the nervousness she felt.

"You're worried still." His voice carried the understated concern that it had taken her, seasons to recognize.

"A little. In a way, I'd given up hope of finding a consort I could love. Getting that feeling back . . ."
"I know." Alcaren laughed gently, warmly. "I do know. I didn't expect to find myself drawn to you. Then . . . I couldn't lose you, and I didn't realize it until I had to act."

I know. I' m glad." Secca appreciated both his words and the warmth behind them.

The last half-dek of the avenue leading to the Matriarch's palace was lined with lancers--- women lancers in the red and blue of the SouthWomen. As Secca and Alcaren rode past, each SouthWoman lifted her sabre in salute, holding it unwaveringly long after the couple had passed.

"They don't have to . . ." Secca murmured. "They do," replied Alcaren in a low voice, leaning toward her. "The Council of SouthWomen will ask the Matriarch to allow all five companies of the SouthWomen to accompany you to Dumar."

"They told you this?"

Alcaren shook his head. "They were talking about it from the day after the battle with the Sea-Priests. All of the South Women lancers are packing, and all have made arrangements for others to handle their crafts or work."

Secca swallowed.

"You have become their champion, and they will follow you where they would follow no other."

"Me? I'm not even from Ranuak."

"All have seen your work with a blade, and all know that you have slain Sea-Priests with both sorcery and blade."

Secca smiled, ruefully. "You told them?"

Alcaren shook his head. "Delcetta did. Since the time of the Great Sorceress, they have felt they failed, and they would follow you to redeem themselves."

Secca still felt strange hearing Anna referred to as the Great Sorceress. "Redeem themselves for what? What they did created the Free City, and that began to change everything in Ebra."

"Only because Anna defeated Bertmynn and forced the Ebrans to recognize the city as a place of refuge. They feel they owe both of you."

Even after Alcaren's brief explanation, Secca couldn't say she understood, but she wasn't going to pursue it on her consorting day.