"Sean Russell - The Swan's War 2 - Isle of Battle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Sean)

she thought. She glanced over at Baore, who looked like a man who had lost a brother
in battle. He had met Sianon. He knew.
"I must find Alaan, " she said.тАЭ Will ATM know where he is?"
She could see the big Vale man shrug in the firelight.тАЭ We were, all of us from the Vale,
to help Alaan in his plot against HafyddтАФ
"Hafydd lives, " she said.тАЭ Alaan failed.тАЭ
Baore put a callused hand to his brow.тАЭ WhoтАФWho knows what's become of the others,
then? They've not returned here, where we were to meet.тАЭ
"Alaan will not let them come to harm if he can help it. Don't be concerned. We will wait
here, but not too long. When Elise's body is not found, Hafydd will become suspicious.
Best not to be near the river then.тАЭ She looked out at the passing stream.тАЭ Best we draw
the boat up, Baore. I don't want to be found just yet. When Caibre learns that I've come
back, let it be too late.тАЭ
Prince Michael climbed up the embankment, which was slick with dew. Costumed
onlookers still stood about gawking at the river hidden in fog. At the height of the road
the mist thinned, as though a river of haze flowed beneath the bridge that arked over the
Westbrook. The onlookersтАФnobles returning from the Renn├й BallтАФwere being told that
Lady Elise had been thrown from her horse over the bridge rail. Prince Michael wondered
if any believed it.
One thing was certain: there had seldom been a Renn├й Ball that provided gossips with
more fodder.
The Prince found Lord Carral, wrapped now in a heavy wool cloak but still sitting upon a
horse, his mask discarded, replaced with a look so wretched and pitiable that it tore at
Michael's heart.
'Is there any news, sir?" the servant who held the lead to Car-
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ral's horse asked as the Prince emerged from the fogтАФlike a man walking ashore, Prince
Michael thought.

Michael shook his head, and then remembering Lord Carral's affliction, said, "Neither
good news nor bad.тАЭ He remembered Hafydd's odd reaction when he put his blade in
the river, but as he had no idea what it meant, he said nothing.

"Prince Michael?" Lord Carral said, as though there could be some doubt. The Prince
knew that Carral Wills never forgot a voice.

"At your service, " Prince Michael said.

The slightest hesitation.тАЭ Do you mean that or are you merely being polite?"

"Of course I mean it, sir.тАЭ

"That's good, for I'm about to ask a favor. Can you find your horse and ride with me a
short distance down the road?"

"Certainly. I shall escort you all the way to the Wills encampment, if you wish.тАЭ