"Melanie Rawn - Dragon Prince 2 - The Star Scroll" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rawn Melanie)

The princess shook out her thin silk gown and settled on a bench, not wishing
to interrupt Pol's game until she had found the right phrases for what she had
to tell him. But all at once the deerhide ball shot past her, propelled by an
enthusiastic kick, and the boy skidded to a stop before her. Surprised by her
presence, he nevertheless gave her a bow worthy of the most elegant young
lord. "Your pardon, my lady. I didn't mean to disturb you." "It's all right,
Pol. Actually, I came here looking for you and thought I'd sit in the shade
for a little while. It's quite hot this spring, isn't it?"

He was not yet skilled enough in the art of polite conversation to take her
lead on to further chat about the weather. "Do you have news for me, my lady?"

Audrite chose to be as direct as he. "Your father has asked permission to take
you away from us for a time.

He wants you to go home to Stronghold by way of Rad-zyn, then to the Rialla
with him and your mother."

Excitement shone in the young face. "Home? Really?" Then, realizing that his
reaction might be taken amiss, he hurried on, "I mean, I like it here and I'll
miss you and my lord Chadric and my friendsтАФ"

"And we'll miss you, Pol." Audrite smiled her understanding. "But we'll bring
you back to Graypearl with us after the Rialla so you may continue your
training. It's unusual, you know, for a squire to be allowed a holiday from
the work he must do in order to become a knight and a gentleman. Do you think
what you've learned thus far is enough to uphold Prince Lleyn's reputation?"

Pol gave her a cheerful grin. "If it isn't, then Father will know it's my
fault, not anyone else's!"

Audrite grinned back. "Yes, we had a long letter about you when you first came
to us."

"But I was just a child then," he assured her, blithely forgetting the
transgression of the previous day. "I won't do anything to embarrass anyone.
I've outgrown all that." He paused, glancing at the sea far below. "ExceptтАФ
I'll have to cross water, won't I? I'll try to behave better than I did the
first time."

The princess ruffled his blond hair. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Pol.
Indeed, you ought to be proud. AH Sunrunners lose their dignity along with
their breakfast when they cross water."

"But I'm a prince, and I should be in better control of myself." He sighed.
"Oh, well. Once to Radzyn and once coming backтАФI suppose it won't be too bad."

"There's a silk-ship leaving in two days for Radzyn port, and Prince Lleyn has
bespoken a place for you on it. He's sending Meath with you for company."