"Pierce, Tamora - Daughter of the Lioness 01 - Trickster's Choice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pierce Tamora)

Like most who lose such struggles, the raka declared that only war in the Divine
Realms explained the failure of their patron god, Kyprioth, to defeat the
luarin. The luarin priests taught, and the raka people believed, that KypriothТs
divine brother and sister, the war god Mithros and the Great Mother Goddess, had
overthrown him. It was these gods, the priests of both races said, who took the
right to govern the islands, while they gave Kyprioth lordship only over the
local seas, to keep him occupied under their eyes.
Soon after the last battle of the luarin conquest, an ancient priestess gave
voice not to her own prayers, but to the banished god Kyprioth. His promise was
passed from raka slave to raka freeman, from raka mothers or fathers to their
part-luarin children. Kyprioth told his people that the efforts of the luarin
kings to erase the Haiming line had failed. One branch of the old royalty yet
survived. The QueenТs prophecy is his promise that, from that surviving branch,
the One Who Is Promised would come. She would be the Queen with two crowns,
chosen by the god to lead the Isles and those who love them to freedom once
more.

1
PARENTS
March 27ЦApril 21, 462H.E.
PirateТs Swoop, Tortall, on the coast of the Emerald Ocean
George Cooper, Baron of PirateТs Swoop, second in command of his realmТs spies,
put his documents aside and surveyed his only daughter as she paused by his
study door. AlianneЧknown as Aly to her family and friendsЧposed there, arms
raised in a PlayerТs dramatic flourish. It seemed that she had enjoyed her
monthТs stay with her Corus relatives.
УDear Father, I rejoice to return from a sojourn in our gracious capital,Ф she
proclaimed in an overly elegant voice. УI yearn to be clasped to your bosom
again.Ф
For the most part she looked like his Aly. She wore a neat green wool gown,
looser than fashion required because, like her da, she carried weapons on her
person. A gold chain belt supported her knife and purse. Her hazel eyes
contained more green than GeorgeТs own, and they were set wide under straight
brown brows. Her nose was small and delicate, more like her motherТs than his.
SheТd put a touch of color on her mouth to accent its width and full lower lip.
But her hair . . .
George blinked. For some reason, his child wore an old-fashioned wimple and
veil. The plain white linen covered her neck and hair completely.
He raised an eyebrow. УDo you plan to join the Players, then?Ф he asked mildly.
УTake up dancing, or some such thing?Ф
Aly dropped her pretense and removed her veil, the embroidered cloth band that
held it in place, and her wimple. Her hair, once revealed, was not its normal
shade of reddish blond, but a deep, pure sapphire hue.
George looked at her. His mouth twitched.
УI know,Ф she said, shamefaced. УForest green and blue go ill together.Ф She
smoothed her gown.
George couldnТt help it. He roared with laughter. Aly struggled with herself,
and lost, to grin in reply.
УWhat, Da?Ф she asked. УApart from the colors, arenТt I in the very latest
fashion?Ф