"Anne Bishop - Black Jewels 00 - The Invisible Ring" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bishop Anne)

distract her, might help tip the scales to his advantage while he tried to
figure out how much control this damned Invisible Ring had over him. His
stomach churned at the idea of encouraging the Gray Lady to enjoy him. But
if it made her lower her guard, it might be possible to slip away and ride
the Winds to Shalador. Without warning, the escort opened the door and
stopped short, unable to hide his surprise at the transformation of the
naked slave he'd left into the Warlord who turned away from the mirror and
smiled at him. Pleased that he'd managed to unsettle the man, Jared walked
toward him and held out his hands as if bestowing a favor. "If you're going
to chain me, get on with it. The Gray Lady's waiting to dance." He hoped the
escort would mistake the exhaustion in his voice for boredom.
"She didn't specify chains," the man said grudgingly.
"No, I didn't think she would. She strikes me as a discreet Lady, and chains
tend to call attention to themselves, especially when the sound they're
making becomes rhythmic. Don't you think?"
The escort's lip curled in a sneer. "I've never worn chains."
"I wasn't implying that you had worn them." Jared waited for the insult to
sink in and then shrugged. "Or that you needed them. I just thought that
since you earned a living restraining people, you might know a few
interesting positions that aren't considered common in the courts. But
perhaps not. Things like that are a bit like mounting a woman dog-style. It
isn't to every man's taste."
Fury blazed in the escort's eyes. "You know what I can do to you?"
"Not a damn thing." Jared bared his teeth and added softly, "Come on. Try
it. Let's see if this Ring really can hold the Red."
"Is there a problem?" Grizelle's voice settled over both men like a cold
rain. The escort reluctantly stepped into the hallway. "No, Lady."
"Then what's the delay?"
Jared gave the escort a smug smile, knowing it would infuriate the man
because there wasn't any way he could respond to it. Time to play the last
act. Mother Night, don't let my body fail yet.
Jared stepped forward, forcing the escort out of the way. He bowed to
Grizelle, making sure the bow was exactly what Protocol dictated as proper
for a Red-Jeweled Warlord to make to a Gray-Jeweled Queen. If the Warlord
wasn't a slave, that is. The escort growled in anger.
Grizelle stared at him, but Jared thought he caught a flicker of amusement
in the hard gray eyes. So she liked balls and sass. Thank the Darkness.
Draining the little psychic strength he could summon in order to project the
feel of a sensual man eager to please, Jared offered his right hand, palm
down. Grizelle hesitated a moment before lightly placing her left hand over
his and allowing him to escort her out of the building. Jared bit back a
grin. The escort was now trailing behind them like a resentful, forgotten
puppy. It was full dark by the time they hired a pony cart and headed out of
the auction grounds. Instead of going directly to the official landing
place, they took a side road that circled around the low, flat-topped hill
until they reached the ticket station, and the Coaches and drivers that
could ride the Winds.
"Wait with the others," Grizelle said, as Jared helped her from the cart.
She didn't bother to look at either of them as she walked toward the ticket
station. Jared held on to the cart, hoping the escort didn't notice how much