"Vance, Jack - Elder Isles 03 - Madouc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

УFather Umphred believes that Madouc is definitely in need of religious guidance and I agree.Ф

CasmirТs voice took on an edge: УYou are far too amiable with that fat priest! I will send him away if he does not keep his opinions to himself!Ф

Sollace said stiffly: УWe are concerned only for the salvation of Madouc's eternal soul!Ф

УShe is a clever little creature; let her worry about her own soul.Ф

УHmf,Ф said Sollace. УWhoever marries Madouc will be getting far more than he bargained for.Ф

King Casmir gave a frosty chuckle. УYou are correct on this account, for more reasons than one! In any event we will be off to Sarris in a weekТs time and everything will be changed.Ф

УLady Desdea will have more difficulty than ever,Ф said Sollace with a sniff. УMadouc will run wild as a hare.Ф

УLady Desdea must then give chase, if she is truly in earnest.ТТ

УYou minimize the difficulties,Ф said Sollace. УAs for me, I find Sarris tiresome enough, without added exasperation.Ф

УThe country air will do you a benefit,Ф said Casmir. УWe shall all enjoy Sarris.Ф


CHAPTER THREE

Each summer King Casmir moved with household and court to Sarris, a rambling old mansion about forty miles northeast of Lyonesse Town. The site, beside the River Glame, in a region of gently rolling parldand, was most pleasant. Sarris itself made no pretensions either to elegance or grandeur. Queen Sollace, for one, found the amenities at Sarris much inferior to those at Haidion, and described Sarris as Сa great overgrown barn of a farmhouseТ. She also decried the rustic informality which, despite her best efforts, pervaded life at Sarris and which, in her opinion, diminished the dignity of the court and, further, infected the servants with slackness.

There was little society at Sarris, other than an occasional banquet at which King Casmir entertained certain of the local gentry, most of whom Queen Sollace found tedious. She often spoke to King Casmir of her boredom: УIn essence, I do not enjoy living like a peasant, with animals braying through the windows of my bedchamber and every cock of the fowl-run crying out alarums each morning before dawn.Ф

King Casmir turned a deaf ear to the complaints. Sarris was sufficiently convenient for the conduct of state business; for sport he played his falcons and hunted his parldands, or at times, when the chase was hot, he ranged far beyond, sometimes into the fringes of Forest Tantrevalles, only a few miles to the north.

The rest of the royal household also found Sarris to their taste. Prince Cassander was attended by convivial comrades; daily they amused themselves riding abroad, or boating on the river, or practicing the sport of jousting, which recently had become fashionable. During the evening they fancied sport of another kind, in association with certain merry girls of the locality, using an abandoned gamekeeperТs cottage for their venue.

Princess Madouc also took pleasure in the move, which, if nothing else, delivered her from the attendance of her six maids- in-waiting. Her pony Tyfer was ready at hand; every day she rode happily out on the meadows, with Pymfyd for her groom. Not all circumstances were halcyon; she was expected to comport herself in a style befitting her place. Madouc, however, paid little heed to the circumscriptions imposed by Lady Desdea, and followed her own inclinations.

Lady Desdea at last took Madouc aside for an earnest discus sion. УMy dear, it is time and past time that reality enters your life! You must accept the fact that you are the Princess Madouc of Lyonesse, not some vulgar little ruffian girl, with neither rank nor responsibility!Ф

УVery well, Lady Desdea; I will remember this. Can I go now?Ф

УNot yet; in fact, I am barely started. I am trying to point out that each of your acts redounds to the credit, or discredit, not only of yourself and the royal family, but of the entire kingdom! It is awesome to think about! Are you quite clear on this?Ф

УYes, Lady Desdea. And yet-Ф

УAnd yet-what?Ф

УNo one seems to notice my conduct but you. So it makes little difference after all, and the kingdom is not in danger.Ф

УIt makes a great deal of difference!Ф snapped Lady Desdea. УBad habits are easy to learn and hard to forget! You must learn the gracious good habits that will make you admired and respected!Ф

Madouc gave a doubtful assent. УI do not think anyone will ever admire my needlework or respect my dancing.Ф

УNevertheless, these are skills and graces which you must learn, and learn well! Time is advancing; the days go by; the months become years while you are not even noticing. Before long there will be talk of betrothals, and then you and your conduct will be the subject of the most minute scrutiny and the most careful analysis.Ф