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

prize dangle to get dragged along like a reluctant puppy on a leash, would
we?"
Anger flooded him, but it had no heat, no bite. It was like his blood was
being clogged with ashes instead of flowing with fire. And there was
something very wrong with the way he wasn't responding to the presence of a
witch, broken or not. A sour taste filled the back of his mouth, and he
started to shake. The woman stepped forward, reaching out to him. "Are you
still sick?"
Jared recoiled from her touch.
"He was doing fine until you came in," Tomas snapped. Her eyes frosted over
until they were green ice. "Be careful, little man," she said in an awful,
quiet voice before she turned around and walked out.
"Are you still sick?" Tomas asked, looking anxious. "Should I tell the Lady
you need to ride in the wagon?"
Jared continued to shake. When Tomas darted for the door, he managed to grab
the boy's arm.
"No," Jared said, forcing the word out. "I'd-I'd rather walk." He took a
deep breath. Took another. "That was Thera?"
Tomas sighed. "That was Thera."
With one hand on Tomas's shoulder to steady himself, Jared left the guest
servants' quarters and slowly followed the pedlar's wagon and the wary
slaves who trailed behind it. Thera had done him a favor without realizing
it. At least he understood now. He was still male. He still had the strength
of the Red Jewels. He still had his skill in using Craft. What he had lost,
what the wild stranger had taken away, was the fire and passion that made a
Jeweled male a Warlord.

Chapter Six

Krelis didn't stare at Dorothea SaDiablo, nor did he avert his eyes. One
action would have been considered a challenge; the other, a lack of
appreciation. Either error could cost a man freedom or flesh. Instead, he
looked at the disheveled young Warlord lying on the chaise lounge with
Hayll's High Priestess. Not a pleasure slave, Krelis decided as he studied
the young Warlord's kiss-swollen, sulky mouth. Must be one of the toy-boys,
maybe even an aristo youth from one of the Hundred Families who had been
given the honor of serving in Dorothea's court. Didn't really matter,
pleasure slave or toy-boy, except the toy-boys had social status so they
couldn't be physically mistreated that much, and were still considered men.
Pleasure slaves were considered geldings who still had their balls. At least
some of them did. Dorothea gave the young Warlord one more throat-swabbing
kiss before leisurely rising from the chaise lounge. "Did she take the
bait?" she asked as she buttoned her gown, her hands smoothing the material
over her firm, small breasts. Krelis took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Yes, Priestess-"
She cut him off with a sharp, restrained hand gesture.
Krelis's face tightened as the young Warlord smirked at him. He understood
the youth's need to make some attempt at superiority, however temporary it
might be, but a Master of the Guard was considered the dominant warrior in a
court, and any undermining of his authority might lead to actions that could