"Kathy Tyers - Firebird 1 - Firebird" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tyers Kathy)

step on her other side as they approached the long table. Firebird drew a deep breath and looked up at
her mother.

She knew how precarious her situation was. She was the third child of a noble house, the QueenтАЩs
Wastling, and expendable.

The Wastling tradition, officially known as тАЬheir limitation,тАЭ had protected the ten noble families of Naetai
for generations against the breakup of wealthy estates. It dictated that a noble couple could have as many
as four children: two heirs, two Wastlings, the latter produced for insurance that the line would not die
out. When the elder heir married and had a child, the Electorate issued the younger Wastling his Geis
Orders: he was to find death as quickly and as honorably as possible. Outranked, outnumbered, and
watched constantly by the Electoral Police, the young Wastlings had little chance of escaping that fate. As
a third child, Firebird could expect to live until Queen Siwann had two grandchildren, but a Wastling who
made too much trouble could be disposed of early.

For spying now, she might have her Astronautics license suspended, or she could be publicly disciplined.
She shuddered at the memory of what theyтАЩd done to her last month, when sheтАЩd been caught practicing
on off-limit flight sims: injected her with Tactol, a sensory stimulant that had made every movement
torture for an hour. Legally, however, the Redjackets could do far worse. Even for a relatively slight
offense, a Wastling could be executed.

Firebird tried to look both submissive and innocent, although she felt neither.

Queen Siwann rose from the gilt throne. The golden coronet she wore for Electoral meetings rode
squarely on her coiffed silver hair; with her tailored dress suit of Angelo scarlet, the effect was that of a
formal portrait come to life. тАЬSo. You have been spying upon the Electorate, Firebird.тАЭ

Firebird was too proud to lie, and too loyal to betray another WastlingтАФparticularly Corey. She said
nothing, glancing side to side at the Redjackets who flanked her, elegant in their long, gold-edged
crimson coats and their black trousers and caps. She felt a perverse desire to kick the both of them.

Through the cascade of her auburn hair, loose over her shoulders, Captain Friel grasped her arm. тАЬLady
Firebird, answer Her Majesty.тАЭ

Firebird glanced cautiously at the Federates, who had stepped aside, waiting to resume their negotiations.
The one who had reported her stood a little apart from the others, as if observing a detail under his
command. Incongruously, he looked the youngest of the three, fine-featured and alert, with light brown
hair of a slightly warm, russet shade. He glanced in her direction, catching her gaze before she could look
away, and the unexpected brilliance of his blue eyes made her catch her breath.

Friel tightened his grip, and she turned her attention back to the situation at hand. Surely, the Electorate
wouldnтАЩt embarrass itself before the Federacy with the disciplining of a Wastling.

тАЬYour Majesty,тАЭ she said softly to her mother, lowering her eyes and praying that she had stalled long
enough for Siwann to wish to get on with businessтАФand for Corey to have escaped. тАЬI apologize for
interrupting, and I promise not to observe you again.тАЭ

The Queen still stood, visibly considering whether the breach of conduct merited a charge of espionage
or contempt. тАЬYou may go to your quarters,тАЭ she finally ruled. тАЬBut you are confined there for the week,
except for your schooling, to which you will be escorted.тАЭ Her voice echoed off the domed ceiling of the