"Joel Rosenberg - 04 - The Heir Apparent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rosenberg Joel C)

Very good, Socrates. "Rules, as we say, are rules, Baron." Karl gave a genial smile. "I don't mind your
testing my authority, once. This was once, understood?"

"Yes, sire," the baron said.

How clever, Socrates.

*He's wondering what would happen if you happened to disappear here tonight*

Karl sighed. Sometimes these damn barons were so predictable. "Mmm... I know you have grievances
against the Holts. I know about how Arondael was taken by the Holts during the war."

The baron's face clouded over. The Holts hadn't been as gentle conquerors as Karl Cullinane
hadтАФsomewhat laterтАФinsisted that the Biemish be; men, women and children had been chained, hauled
off by guild slavers. Some had made their way back in the nine years since the end of the war; most had
not.

And then there was the baron's family....

Karl didn't like thinking about the baron's family. "Well, Baron, like it or not, we're all part of the same
empire now. Granted, the Biemish barons have more independence; Furnael can run his barony as he
pleasesтАФ"

"As his mother pleases."

Karl Cullinane stared long and hard into the baron's eyes. "I believe I was speaking?"

"Sorry, sire."

My mistake, Socrates. "Better. As I was sayingтАФwe've had to be very restrictive of the Holts. Baron
Nerahan, like the rest of the Holts, hasn't been allowed to have even a small detachment of soldiers under
his own command; they've all been occupation troops."

"As well they should be."



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"Until now, Baron. Like it or not, Nerahan and his people have been the most loyal of the Holtish; I've
rearmed them, and ordered the occupation troops into Nerahan's service. And unless IтАФpersonallyтАФstop
them, an army under Barons Nerahan and FurnaelтАФ"

*AndтАФahemтАФme.*

"тАФand Ellegon, which is even now marching on Arondael, is going to lay siege to your keep, bring down
the walls, and not leave a stone standing on a stone." That wasn't true; there was no army marching on
Arondael. But it could be made true, quickly, if need be.