"Dave Duncan - A Man Of His Word 2 - Faery Lands Forlorn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

svelte maiden image would have been the illusion, obviously. Sorcerers
lived a long time, but most likely this very tall and youthful sultan
was Rasha's son, or grandson.

A surge of exhaustion closed over Inos like a dark wave. She was in no
state to deal with sultans, or sultanas, or sorceresses. And then the
jeweled drape tinkled. Inos spun around as Aunt Kade came through. Kade!
Short and plump and blinking watery blue eyes at the brightness, but oh,
how welcome!

"Aunt!" Inos hugged her fiercely.

"Ah, there you are, dear! " She sounded tired, but quite calm. She
seemed blissfully unaware of her disreputable appearancerose and silver
gown all stained with tea, bedraggled snowy hair fluttering in the hot
breeze.

Inos took a deep breath and forced herself to display suitably ladylike
behavior. "How nice that you can join us, Aunt! Let me present you . . .
the Princess Kadolan, sister of my late father, King Holindarn of
Krasnegar. The sultan ... er. . . "

"Azak!" snapped Azak.

"Sultan Azak. " Inos was not at her best at the moment. "Your Majesty!"
Aunt Kade curtsied, with no perceptible wobble. She was again
demonstrating her astonishing durability. The sultan frowned,
registering aristocratic surprise at these two waifs appearing in his
domain. When he clenched his jaw, the fringe of red beard rippled. Of
course he could not possibly be as stupendous as he thought he was, but
Inos decided she would go so far as to class him as noteworthy. Again
making his curious gesture, he bowed to Kade-deeply, but less deeply
than before. Then he went back to staring at Inos.

"Your father? You are a queen in your own right?"

"I am."

"How extraordinary!"

Indignant, Inos opened her mouth and then firmly closed it again; a
queen with only two loyal subjects should be discreet. Which reminded
her of her other loyal subject--

"Aunt, where is Rap?" She turned back to the curtain of jewels and
pushed at it. It was still immovable from this side, a one-way curtain.

"Still in the chamber, I expect, dear."

"The slut is in there, I presume?" Azak inquired. Inos and her aunt both