"H. Beam Piper - The Space Viking" - читать интересную книгу автора (Piper H Beam)

more, they'd take a long space-trip. He hadn't mentioned that to her, yet. To
some of the other Sword-Worlds-Excalibur, of course, and Morglay and Flama-
berge and Durendal. No, not Durendal; the war had started there again. But
they'd have so much fun. And she would see clear blue skies again, and stars
at night. The cloud veil hid the stars from Gram, and Elaine had missed them,
since coming home from Excalibur.

The shadow of an aircar fell briefly upon them and they looked up and turned
their beads in time to see it sink with graceful dignity toward the
landing-stage of Karvall House, and he glimpsed its blazonry-sword and
atom-symbol, the badge of the ducal house of Ward. He wondered if it were Duke
Angus himself, or just some of his people come ahead of him. They should get
back to the guests, he supposed. Then he took her in his arms and kissed her,
and she responded ardently. It must have been all of five minutes since they'd
done that before.

A slight cough behind them brought them apart and their heads around. It was
Sesar Karvall, gray-haired and portly, the breast of his blue coat gleaming
with orders and decorations and the sapphire in the pommel of his dress-dagger
twinkling.

"I thought I'd find you two here," Elaine's father smiled. "You'll have
tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow to-

6

gether, but need I remind you that today we have guests, and more coming every
minute."

"Who came in the Ward car?" Elaine asked.

"Rovard Grauffis. And Otto
Harkaman; you never met him, did you, Lucas?"



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"No, not by introduction. I'd like to, before he spaces out." He had nothing
against Harkaman personally; only against what he represented. "Is the Duke
coming?"

"Oh, surely. Lionel of Newhaven and the Lord of Northport are coming with him.
They're at the Palace now." Karvall hesitated. "His nephew's back in town."

Elaine was distressed; she started to say, "Oh, dear! I hope he doesn't"

"Has Dunnan been bothering Elaine again?"