"Patricia C. Wrede - Lyra 1 - Shadow Magic" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wrede Patricia C)

troops vanishing inside without disrupting any of the gentler pursuits of the nobles who lived there.
The lines of the building were clean and practical, but the dark stone gave it a dignity lacking in the
airy palaces Maurin had seen in other cities. This was a strong place, an armored place, a home for a
soldier. Maurin found himself admiring the man who had built it.
A long whistle from Har brought MaurinтАЩs eyes down, and he blinked. The Styr courtyard was
full of activity. Servants were bustling about with buckets, rods, stacks of cloth, brooms and articles
of furniture. Everywhere people were cleaning, polishing, and scrubbing; the atmosphere fairly
reeked of soap, and the strong scent of Mindaran wood-wax.
тАЬLooks like weтАЩve arrived in time for spring cleaning,тАЭ Maurin observed as they threaded their
way through the crowd.
A shout from the doorway ahead spared Har from responding to this obvious comment. A tall
girl with pale gold braids hanging down nearly to her knees ran forward to throw her arms around
the young noble. тАЬHar, youтАЩre back!тАЭ she exclaimed.
тАЬJust barely,тАЭ laughed Har, swinging her off her feet in a wide circle. тАЬWe came straight here as
soon as the caravan got in.тАЭ He set her gently back on her feet and turned. тАЬMaurin, this is my sister,
Alethia.тАЭ
тАЬI am charmed,тАЭ Maurin said, bending low over AlethiaтАЩs hand. Privately he thought that the
introduction was nearly unnecessary; there was no mistaking those tilted green eyes and straight
black eyebrows. Alethia was clearly HarтАЩs sister.
Alethia returned his courtesy absently, and linked arms with her brother as they started for the
house. тАЬIтАЩm so glad you got back in time for my party,тАЭ she said as they mounted the stairs. тАЬBut you
could have sent some kind of warning, couldnтАЩt you?тАЭ
тАЬParty?тАЭ Har said blankly.
Alethia laughed. тАЬYou donтАЩt even remember! IтАЩm twenty tomorrow; it is my birth eve.тАЭ
тАЬWell, I didnтАЩt forget entirely,тАЭ Har said. тАЬI got something at our last stop in Karlen Gale. IтАЩll
give it to you tonight, after IтАЩve unpacked.тАЭ
тАЬThank you in advanceтАФI think!тАЭ Alethia replied. Then, turning to Maurin she added, тАЬYou
will come to the party too, wonтАЩt you? It wonтАЩt be more than dinner and songs, really; the Lords
Armih and Gahlon are coming at the end of the week to talk to Father, and it would be hard to have
two large feasts so close together.тАЭ
тАЬLord Armin and First Lord Gahlon, here? Together?тАЭ Har exclaimed. тАЬWhat do they want to
talk to Father for?тАЭ
His sister smiled mischievously. тАЬIтАЩm not supposed to know, so youтАЩd better ask him. The
Lithmern raids, I think,тАЭ she added innocently.
тАЬBut the raids have practically stopped!тАЭ Har said.
тАЬI know,тАЭ said Alethia, and grinned again.
тАЬYou must tell me all about it after he explains to you.тАЭ
тАЬWhat makes you think he will?тАЭ Har countered.
тАЬWell, aside from being his son and heir, youтАЩve just come back from three months with the
caravans, havenтАЩt you? And your last stop was Karlen Gale, which is the only Free City anywhere
near Lithra. So if Father wants to know about the Lithmern, who else would he talk to?тАЭ
тАЬWho indeed?тАЭ said a deep voice behind them, and Alethia jumped. The three turned to find a
tall, dark-haired man of middle years looking at them with a smile. тАЬFather!тАЭ said Alethia and Har
together.
The manтАЩs smile deepened. тАЬWelcome home,тАЭ he said to his son, and there was no mistaking
the deep affection in his tone. For a moment they stood silent, then Har shook himself and turned to
introduce Maurin.
тАЬI am honored; I have heard a good deal of you, Lord Bracor,тАЭ Maurin said when the
formalities were finished.
тАЬNothing too intimidating, I hope,тАЭ Bracor responded. тАЬCome into my study where we can