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

Arondael's face whitened. He opened his mouth, worked it silently for a moment, closed it.

"Or," Karl Cullinane said as he rose to his feet, "you and Nerahan, under General Kevalun's overall
leadership, will jointly carry out the first joint Holtun-Bieme military maneuvers."

Karl had planned that, but the next thing out of his mouth surprised even him. "I'm about to call a barons'
council of both Holtun and Bieme. I want to see some cooperation between an opposite pair of baronies
before. It'll make me look good."

The baron bit his lip, then shrugged.

"Spit it out, Arondael."

"A joint council? Are you sure that is wise?"

"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't call one, would I? You're stalling, Arondael; take your pick, Baron. Joint
maneuvers, or do we flatten your keep?"

"He's geeking.*

Surprise, surprise.

"I'll take the first alternative, sire," Arondael said calmly, pleasantly, as though he'd been offered a choice
between two sweetmeats.

I'll take one from Column A, Socrates. Still, Karl had to admire Arondael's composure; under the proper
threat, the baron had simply folded his hand, giving no apparent look of regret toward the pot Karl was
sweeping in.

Best to remind him of the pot. And of the penalty for overbetting. But first things first.



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"Very well," Karl said. "Now, the thing I'll want you to concentrate onтАФboth you and NerahanтАФis
making sure that no fights break out. None. Even a fistfight won't look good." Karl rose from his chair
and deftly plucked the cup from Arondael's hands. "Do you mind? The tea does look good," He sipped at
it. A bit more honey than he would have put in, but better leaf tea than he usually had at Biemestren, if
not quite the sassafras of Home.

Not to mention coffee.

He tried not to mention coffee, not even to himself; he hadn't really had any for close to twenty years,
although he could still almost taste the imaginary cup that Arta Myrdhyn had served him, almost ten
years before.

"Understood, sire." Arondael deliberately suppressed a knowing smile. "I'll happily take another taste, if