"Paul Thompson - [Elven Nations Trilogy 2] - The Kinslaye" - читать интересную книгу автора (Thompson Paul B)

"There is another thing I must tell you тАж."
"Good news or bad?" he asked, idly curious.
"You will need to judge that for yourself, though I suspect you will be pleased."
He turned to look at her, holding both of his hands on her shoulders. That secret
smile still played about her lips.
"Well?" he demanded, feigning impatience. "Don't tease me all night! Tell me."
"You and I, great Speaker of the Stars, are going to have a baby. An heir."
Sithas gaped at her, unaware that his jaw had dropped in a most unelven lack of
dignity. His mind reeled, and a profound explosion of joy rose within his heart. He
wanted to shout his delight from the tower top, to let the word ring through the city like a
prideful cry.
For a moment, he truly forgot about everythingтАУthe war, the dwarves, the logistics
and weapons that had occupied him. He pulled his wife to him and kissed her. He held
her for a long time under the starlight, above the city that had so troubled him earlier.
But for now, all was right with the world.
*****
The next day, Than-Kar came to see Sithas, though the Theiwar dwarf arrived nearly
fifteen minutes after the time indicated in the Speaker's summons.
Sithas awaited him, impatiently seated upon the great emerald throne of his
ancestors, located in the center of the great Hall of Audience. This vast chamber occupied
the base of the Tower of the Stars, with its sheer walls soaring upward into the dizzying
heights. Above, six hundred feet over their heads, the top of the tower stood open to the
sky.
Than-Kar clumped into the hall at the head of a column of twelve bodyguards,
almost as if he expected ambush. Twoscore elves of the House ProtectorateтАУthe royal
guard of SilvanestiтАУsnapped to attention around the periphery of the hall.
The Theiwar sniffed his nose loudly, the rude gesture echoing through the hall, as he
approached the Speaker. Sithas studied the dwarf, carefully masking his distaste.
Like all Theiwar dwarves, Than-Kar's eyes seemed to stare wildly, with the whites
showing all around the pinpoint pupils. His lips curled in a perpetual sneer, and despite
his ambassadorial station, his beard and hair remained unkempt, his leather clothes filthy.
How unlike Dunbarth Ironthumb!
The Theiwar bowed perfunctorily and then looked up at Sithas, his beady eyes
glittering with antagonism.
"We'll make this brief," said the elf coldly. "I desire to know what word has come
from your king. He has had time to reply, and the questions we have sent have not been
formally answered."
"As a matter of fact, I was preparing my written reply when your courier interrupted
me with this summons yesterday. I had to delay my progress in order to hasten to this
meeting."
Yes, Than-Kar must have made haste, for he obviously hadn't taken time to run a
comb through his hair or change his grease-spattered tunic, thought Sithas. The Speaker
held his tongue, albeit with difficulty.
"However, insofar as I am here and taking up the speaker's valuable time, I can
summarize the message that I have received from Thorbardin."
"Please, do," Sithas requested dryly.
"The Royal Council of Thorbardin finds that, to date, there is insufficient cause to
support elven warmaking in the plains," announced the dwarf bluntly.
"What?" Sithas stiffened, no longer able to retain his impassive demeanor. "That is a
contradiction of everything our meetings with Dunbarth established! Surely youтАУyour