"Jennifer Roberson - CotC 4 - The House of Homana" - читать интересную книгу автора (Roberson Jennifer)

"RujhoтАФ" so quickly he slipped into the Old TongueтАФ
"are you ill?"

"No." Abrupt answer, too abrupt; I inspected the bow
again, for want of another action to cover my brief slip.
"No, onlyтАФ " I sought a lie to cover up the pain '*тАФonly
disappointed. But I should know better than to match
myself against you in something soтАФ" I pausedтАФ"so
Cheysuli as hunting a stag. You have only to take lir-
shape, and the contest is finished."

lan indicated the arrow. "No fir-shape, rujho. Only
human form." He smiled, as if he knew we joked, but
something told me he knew well enough what had
prompted my discomfiture. "If it pleases you, Niall, I
will concede. Without Tasha's interference, you might
well have taken the stag."

I laughed at him outright. "Oh, aye, might have. Such
a concession, rujho\ You will almost have me believing I
know what I am doing."

"You know what I taught you, my lord." lan grinned.
"And now, if you like, I will- go fetch the horses as a
proper liege man so we may escort the dead king home
in honor."

"To Homana-Mujhar?" The palace was at least two
hours away; rain threatened again.

"No, I thought Clankeep. We can prepare the stag
there for a proper presentation. Old Newlyn knows all
the tricks." lan bent down and with a quick twist re-
moved the unbroken arrow from between the ribs of the
stag. "Clankeep is closer, for all that."

I shut my mouth on an answer and did not say what I
longed to: that I much preferred the palace. Clankeep is
Cheysuli; liriess, I am extremely uncomfortable there. I
avoid it when I can.

lan glanced up. "Niall, it is your home as much as
Mujhara." So easily he read me, even by my silence.

I shook my head. "Homana-Mujhar is my place.
Clankeep is yours." Before he could speak I turned
9

away. "I will get the horses. My legs are younger than
yours."