"Jennifer Roberson - CotC 6 - Daughter of the Lion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Roberson Jennifer)

and lodged itself, but gently, in the buckle of my
belt.
"Dead," he said calmly. "On your feet, but dead.
And all your royal blood spilling out of those proud
Cheysuli veins."
Ordinarily I might have cursed him cheerfully, or
retorted in kind, or made him try me again. But I
did not, this time, because of the eyes that watched
in such mute, distinct despair.
"Dead," I agreed, and left him to gape in surprise
as I walked past him to the woman.
She watched me come in silence, saying nothing
with her mouth but screaming with her eyes. Green
Erinnish eyes, born of an island kingdom very far
 from my own. But born into similar circumstances;
bound by similar rules.
Though foreigners, we were kin. She had married
my brother. I would marry hers.
Aileen of Erinn, now Princess of Homana, looked
up at me as I stopped. Standing, we are similar in
height; Cheysuli are taller than other races, but she
comes of the House of Eagles, where men are often
giants. But she is red-haired to my tawny, green-
eyed to my blue. Equally outspoken, but without
knowing the frustration I so often faced, because we
wanted different things.
But now, she did not stand. She sat solidly on the
bench, as if weighted by stone, with both hands clasped
over her belly. Looking at her, I knew.
"By all the gods," I said, "he has you breeding
again!"
I had not meant it to come out so baldly, not to
Aileen, whom I liked, and whom I preferred not to
harm with hasty words. But I am not a person who
thinks much before speaking, being ruled by temper
and tongue-; inwardly I cursed myself as I saw the
flinch in her eyes.
And then her chin came up. I saw the line of her
jaw harden, that strong Erinnish jaw, and knew for
all she was wife to the Prince of Homana, he did not
precisely rule her.
But then, being Brennan, I knew he would not
try.
Aileen smiled a little, though one corner curved
down crookedly. "In Erinn, bairns often follow the
bedding. 'Tis the same in Homana, I think."
I glanced over my shoulder at Griffon, due more
honor than I gave him, but I was thinking of Aileen,
and of things better kept private. "You may go," I
told him. "But come again tomorrow, at the same