"Elizabeth Vaughan - Chronicles Of The Warlands 01 - Warprize" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vaughan Elizabeth)

as usual.тАЭ

тАЬGoddess spare me from High Courts.тАЭ She grumbled, but I could see that his praise had pleased her.

Othur grabbed a chair and sank into it with a sigh. He snagged the last slice of bread and cheese. тАЬAnd
you, young lady.тАЭ He bit into the bread and chewed. тАЬHe is looking for you. And getting worked up
about it.тАЭ

I didnтАЩt have to ask who тАЬheтАЭ was. I sighed and started to wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
Anna smacked my head and bellowed something that resulted in a bowl of warm water and cloths being
set in front of me. тАЬChild, you are filthy. At least see to your face and hands. What is that on your jerkin?
тАЭ Anna pushed away from the table. тАЬNo, I donтАЩt want to know. LetтАЩs see if we can clean you up.тАЭ I did
not resist. Since I had been a child, and after the death of my mother, Anna had the raising of me. While
my smiles had no effect on her, she was always there with the warmth of her hearth and her love. I knew
better then to try to avoid her fussing.

Othur wisely sat quietly, with a mug of ale, while I

washed. He was always a quiet one, but when he spoke, you needed to pay attention. Anna tskтАЩed over
the state of my tunic, and took a wet cloth to the worst of them. The activity of the kitchen seemed less
frantic now that the meal was done, and the clean up started. After I passed AnnaтАЩs inspection, and been
given a quick hug, I swept up my basket and followed Othur out to the castle proper.

We kept to the back halls, passing the occasional servant. The cool quiet made for a relief from the busy
kitchen. I worried my lower lip with my teeth. Perhaps I should tell Othur about the brooch after all. But
all my reasons remained the same. I frowned as we walked. There was no one that I could really confide
in, no one to turn to for advice. Maybe at least Othur could advise me as to how toтАж

тАЬLara.тАЭ I looked up as he drew me to a stop.

тАЬI need to see to some of the guests that are staying. YouтАЩve heard about todayтАЩs events?тАЭ He placed a
hand on my shoulder. I nodded.

тАЬHe is in his study.тАЭ Othur squeezed my shoulder. тАЬTry not to anger him.тАЭ

That was like asking fire not to burn.

I grimaced, but nodded. Othur gave me a doubtful look, then hurried on his way toward the guest tower.
I continued on mine, up the spiral stairs to the KingтАЩs tower, shaking my head as I walked.

It was soon after XymundтАЩs mother died when the King married my mother and I was born. Xymund
had been well in his majority and acknowledged as heir at that time, but I was sure that his resentment of
me had started with the first coo from my fatherтАЩs lips, and intensified with every word of praise that
followed.

I still had no understanding of it. He had been the rightful heir, and anointed King since our fatherтАЩs death
these three years past. But the jealousy was still there, even when I had made it very clear that I would
not train for high office, that I would follow the healerтАЩs path. I smiled, thinking back to FatherтАЩs outraged
reaction to my decision. But he had come to accept it and was grateful at the end for my skills, even
though I could not defeat deathтАЩs shadow for him.