"Jerry Pournelle - 02 - Clan and Crown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pournelle Jerry)

them, you know that.тАЭ
тАЬYeah. Sorry. All right, letтАЩs go.тАЭ He led the way to the thick nail-studded door
and pulled. It opened slowly. It ought to, Rick thought. The damn thing must
weigh five hundred pounds in this gravity. One heavy mother. There were men
outside the door. Rick nod-ded to Jamiy, his orderly, and the brace of Guardsmen.
Then he turned to the fourth man who stood stiffly aloof from the others. тАЬCaptain
Caradoc.тАЭ
тАЬMy lord.тАЭ Caradoc was dressed in bright-colored kilts. He wore a jewel-handled
dirk at his waist. A bow and quiver hung over his shoulder. He was no older than
Rick. Caradoc bowed deeply, and waited until Rick returned the greeting before
straightening.

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тАЬItтАЩs good to see you again,тАЭ Rick said. тАЬHow went your journey?тАЭ
тАЬWell enough, my lord. I had fast horses and Ya-tarтАЩs favor.тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩm pleased to hear it.тАЭ Rick put as much warmth in his voice as he could. More
than once Caradoc had saved Rick and his family. Caradoc was really Ty-laraтАЩs
man, henchman of her father, son of one of her fatherтАЩs subchiefs. Loyal men high
in the Tamaerthan clan system were rare...
тАЬWeтАЩll go down to audience hall,тАЭ Mason said. One of the guards went ahead at a
trot. The second walked ahead of Rick. Mason walked alongside Rick, with Jamiy
and Caradoc following.
All this rigmarole just to go downstairs, Rick thought. Places of honor and all.
And yet there really are damned few I can trust to walk behind me with weapons.
They went down a narrow stone stairway to a broad hall hung with tapestries, then
along that to an arched entry into a much larger chamber.
Rick had just gotten inside when he heard a grav-elly voice call, тАЬMake way.
Make way for the Wanax of Drantos.тАЭ A party came through another entrance.
First two men-at-arms. Then the KingтАЩs Companion, Morrone, a lordling Rick
found a bit pretentious. Next came Camithon, the scar-faced Lord Protector.
тАЬWho ranks who?тАЭ Mason asked in English.
тАЬIтАЩll have to think,тАЭ Rick said. It was a hell of a complex question. As Protector,
Camithon ranked everyone except the king. On the other hand, before he became
Lord Protector heтАЩd been TylaraтАЩs general, and he held most of his lands as a mere
bheroman in her service. If that wasnтАЩt complex enough, Rick and Tylara were
technically host and hostess here, since Wanax Ganton had generously offered his
palace to Tylara during her confinement and delivery. Which made Camithon
guardian to RickтАЩs honored guest- тАЬMy lord,тАЭ Camithon growled. He bowed
slightly.
Rick bowed in return, then bowed even deeper to Gan-ton as the boy came in.
тАЬMajesty,тАЭ Rick said. тАЬI trust you have enjoyed the celebrations.тАЭ
тАЬWe have,тАЭ Ganton said. He looked around at the minor nobility and others who
had come into the hall.
The boyтАЩs all right, Rick thought. Got a pretty level head. And he listens to Tylara.
Then thereтАЩs the rest of these. Half of тАШem want to make me a god, and the other
half want to put a knife in my ribs. тАЬMajesty, I would ask a favor,тАЭ Rick said.
тАЬThe use of your hall to receive these starmen.тАЭ