"Michael A. Stackpole - Dragon Crown Saga 3 - When Dragons Rage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stackpole Michael A)

be allowed.тАЭ
MablyтАЩs nostrils flared for a moment, then he picked up a small steaming bowl of mulled
wine. тАЬHe was not mistaken. The Traitor is to be allowed no visitors.тАЭ
Alexia frowned and turned her head partway to the left. She let her own gaze fall over a
few of the tavernтАЩs patrons near the fireplace. As they abruptly looked down, pretending to
mind their own business, she spoke softly. тАЬIf I heard you correctly, Magistrate, you said
Crow would be allowed no visitors.тАЭ
тАЬI did, Princess.тАЭ
тАЬAnd you are under the mistaken impression that rule would apply to me?тАЭ
тАЬI am.тАЭ
Alyx walked over to him, the golden mail surcoat she wore rustling as she went. She
leaned down, her gloved hands pressed firmly to the table, her nose a gnatтАЩs length from his.
тАЬI noted your impression was тАЪmistaken.тАЩтАЭ
MablyтАЩs eyes hardened as much as they could, which meant they avoided looking as
runny as soft-boiled eggs тАФ but not by much. His voice tightened, rising in register. тАЬI recall
that. It was not.тАЭ
тАЬAh, very good. Then consider this. I am a Princess of Okrannel. I am of the same rank
as your King Scrainwood. King Augustus is married to a cousin of mine. If I were to choose
to deem your prohibition an insult, then demand satisfaction of you, what do you think would
happen? Do you think any of your people would stand against me? And do you think that if I
slew the lot of them, you included, I would be censured or punished in any way at all? DonтАЩt
nod, Mably. You might not be the smartest man alive, but you are not that stupid. I want to
see Crow. I will see Crow. Now!тАЭ
She straightened up and hooked her thumbs behind the round buckle of her belt.
Mably reached for his wine coolly, but the ripples in the liquid as he grasped the bowl
revealed his fear. He raised his left hand, flicking it casually toward the back of the tavern.
тАЬThe princess wishes to see the prisoner. Let her pass.тАЭ
тАЬYou are most kind.тАЭ
MablyтАЩs voice grew cold. тАЬEven you would not imagine you would be allowed to wear a
weapon.тАЭ
Her eyes tightened. тАЬYou have my word of honorтАжтАЭ
тАЬYours, yes, but not his. You see my predicament, Princess. Your sword belt, please.тАЭ
 Alexia unbuckled it and slid it off. Then she rebuckled it and hung it from a peg on one of
the tavernтАЩs wooden columns. Unrestrained by the belt, the mail hung on her like a girlтАЩs
summer shift, rustling loudly as she crossed to the back corner. There, a corpulent guard
struggled to his feet, pried a wooden chair off his ample buttocks, then moved it aside from
the trapdoor leading down into the cellar.
As the man opened the door, she took a lantern from a wall peg and turned the wick up.
The opened trapdoor revealed a steep set of ladderlike steps, and cold and moist air
washed over her as she descended. The guard closed the door over her head and the
scraping sounds from above indicated heтАЩd resumed his post. She listened closely to see if
Mably was ordering him to keep her imprisoned, but she heard nothing. A pity. While she
hoped the magistrate would do something stupid, he was too much of a coward to strike
openly.
Since it was a small town, Tolsin didnтАЩt have much need of a gaol to house prisoners.
When Crow had arrived someone had decided they needed a place to keep him тАФ and the
best option turned out to be the root cellar below the Thistledown. Alexia was fairly certain
that Mably owned the tavern or had an interest in it, and that the Oriosan government would
be charged for keeping Crow safe.
As nearly as she could tell, the preparations for housing Crow had been kept to a