"Melanie Rawn - Dragon Prince 1 - Dragon Prince" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rawn Melanie)

"Rohan has no heart for fighting dragons," Milar admitted unhappily.
"But he's warrior enough with heart enough," Andrade pointed out. "Dressing in
common trooper's uniform that last campaign against the Merida when you'd
forbidden him to leave StrongholdтАФ"
"We've never worried about his spirit. But you know he spends too much time at
his books and talking with the most unlikely people. I've defended him in the
past, but now I'm beginning to agree with Zehava. Rohan ought to learn how to
be the kind of prince his forefathers were."
"That's precisely what he doesn't need to learn! Building a princedom is fine
work for a soldier, and Zehava's done very well. He consolidated what his
grandfather began, strengthened his hold on what his father grabbed from the
Merida, and enlarged the whole through his own efforts. Actually," Andrade
said in thoughtful tones, "one can't blame him for wanting to show off. He's
worked wonders, especially against the Merida."
"If I required a history lesson, I would send for my bard," Milar snapped.
Andrade ignored her remark. "Zehava's problem is that he's run out of things
to do. All he can think of is to spend money on you and Tobin and this pile of
rock we're sitting inтАФand to waste his time killing dragons. Believe me,
sister dear, Roelstra can think of many occupations for his own time, and none
of them healthy as far as you're concerned."
"I fail to seeтАФ"
"You usually do," Andrade interrupted. "Let Rohan read his books and talk with
the ambassadorsтАФyes, and even with the servants of the ambassadors! He'll
learn things that Zehava could never teach him."
"Why don't you go back to your duties in that moldy old keep of yours, and
leave the work of the world to the people who can do it?"
"What do you think I do in my moldy old keepтАФ knit?" Andrade snorted and
picked out another fat grape. "While I'm training silly boys and girls to be
good faradh'im, I listen to them. And what I hear these days
isn't pleasant, Mila." She began ticking off points on her long, slender
fingers, each one circled by a gold or silver nng with a different gemstone.
The rings were linked by tiny chains across the backs of her palms to the
bracelets of her office as Lady of Goddess Keep. "One, Roelstra doesn't plan
to make war against anyone, so Zehava's show of strength and skill in hunting
dragons counts for nothing. Two, the High Prince has agents in every courtтАФ
including yours."
"Impossible!" Milar scoffed.
"Your wine steward has a nasty look about him, and I wouldn't vouch for your
assistant stablemaster, either. Three, the High Prince has seventeen
daughters, some of them legitimate off poor, dead Lallante. All of them need
husbands. Where will Roelstra find eligible men for them? I'll tell you where:
from the most important courts, even for the bastard girls."
The princess sat up straight on the blue velvet lounge. "Do you mean an offer
might come for Rohan?"
"Good for you!" Andrade exclaimed in a voice that dnpped sarcasm. "Yes, an
offer will be made. Can you think of a more eligible young man than your son?
He's rich, of the noblest blood, he'll rule this wasteland somedayтАФwhich,
though not a recommendation in itself, does imply a certain amount of power.
And he's not all that difficult to look at."
"My son is the handsomest young man on the continent!" Milar defended. "He's