"Paul Thompson - [Elven Nations Trilogy 1] - Firstborn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Thompson Paul B)

His parents and brother began to discuss details of the wedding. A
tremor passed through Kith-Kanan. He resolved to stand up and declare
his love for Hermathya, declare that she was his and no one else's. Sithas
was his brother, his twin, but he didn't know her. He didn't love her. He
could find another wife. Kith-Kanan could not find another love.
He rose unsteadily to his feet. "IтАУ" he began. All eyes turned to him.
Think, for once in your life! He admonished himself. What will they
say to you?
"What?" said his father. "Are you ill, boy? You don't look well."
"I don't feel too well," Kith-Kanan said hoarsely. He wanted to shout,
to run, to smash and break things, but the massive calm of his mother,
father, and brother held him down like a thick blanket. He cleared his
throat and added, "I think all that flying has caught up with me."
Nirakina stood and put a hand to his face. "You do feel warm.
Perhaps you should rest."
"Yes. Yes," he said. "That's just what I need. Rest." He held the table
edge for support.
"I make the formal announcement when the white moon rises tonight.
The priests and nobles will gather in the tower," Sithel said. 'You must be
there, Kith."
"IтАУI'll be there, Father," Kith-Kanan said. "I just need to rest."
Sithas walked with his brother to the door. Before they went out,
Sithel remarked, "Oh, and leave your horn at the palace, Kith. One act of
impudence a day is enough." The speaker smiled, and Kith-Kanan
managed a weak grin in reply.
"Shall I send a healer to you?" asked Nirakina.
"No. I'll be fine, Mother," Kith-Kanan said.
In the corridor outside, Sithas braced his brother's shoulders and said,
'Looks as if I'm to be lucky; both brains and beauty in my wife."
"You are lucky," Kith-Kanan said. Sithas looked at him in concern.
Kith-Kanan was moved to say, "Whatever happens, Sith, don't think too
badly of me."
Sithas frowned. "What do you mean?"
Kith-Kanan inhaled deeply and turned to climb up the stairs to his
room. "Just remember that nothing will ever separate us. We're two halves
of the same coin."
"Two branches of the same tree," Sithas said, completing the ritual the
twins had invented as children. His concern deepened as he watched
Kith-Kanan climb slowly up the stairs.
Kith-Kanan didn't let his brother see his face contort with pain. He
had only a scant two hours before Solinari, the white moon, rose above the
trees. Whatever he was going to do, he had to think of it before then.
*****
The great and noble of Silvanesti filed into the open hall of the Tower
of the Stars. Rumors flew through the air like sparrows, between courtier
and cleric, noble clan father and humble acolyte. Such assemblies in the
tower were rare and usually involved a matter of state.
A pair of young heralds, draped in bright green tabards and wearing
circlets of oak and laurel, marched into the hall in perfect step. They
turned and stood on each side of the great door. Slender trumpets went to