"Ann Durand - Flight of the Gryphon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Durand Ann)

me…ever."

"My deepest apology, Master." Adrella knew how to appease this monster. She needed to stay on his
good side for the sake of her child, for the sake of all the children and their mothers. "Your great wisdom
is, as always, received in humble gratitude." She curtsied to the ground, her hands crossed over her chest
in supplication.

It had worked. Askinadon released her back to her hosta with an admonition. Yet, when Morchison
learned of her ridicule of him, and astonishingly, her subsequent release without a single hour in the
rocsadon's den, he openly fumed.

"One of these days," he promised her, "I will lead you personally to the rocsadons. And when I
do…when I do…"

Only Askinadon's merciless grip upon his Kastaks had kept the full effect of Morchison's wrath at bay.
That, however, did not prevent Morchison from deriding her at every opportunity. Even now, as she
jiggled Rorken in desperation to keep him quiet, the Kastak eyed her with undisguised contempt.

"So, great whore of Askinadon, why don't you hand over your little tot to me?" He asked, watching her
closely. "I'd like to start training him. Eventually, he's going to have to learn, so why don't we get started
early?"

The sneer on his face grew into a sickening grin, and Adrella's heart skipped a beat. The threat was real.
Only the sons of Askinadon were targeted for membership in this brutal band of slave-warriors, and
while their apprenticeship did not begin until the tender age of five, a Kastak could request a charge
early. Adrella rotated her hip, moving it and Rorken away from Morchison.

"Great Kastak Morchison, why should you bother with an interest in me and mine? I am not fit to stand
before you in all my humility."

Morchison snorted happily, consoled for the moment. "You got that right, whore."

Adrella lowered her head, hoping to appease him further. She heard him suck up his oral juices and spit
at her feet. She watched in disgust as a foamy gob plopped onto the dust and floated near her toes,
which were poking out the ends of her sandals.

"Go to Askinadon. He summons you to his chambers."

Adrella's eyes widened. "But I am eight months pregnant, Kastak Morchison. Why would the Great
Master need to see me? I already carry his seed."

Morchison laughed at her displeasure. "Dunno. Probably wants to try something new."

Adrella opened her mouth to speak, but decided against it. She would have to go to Askinadon. In that,
she had no choice. There was no sense in arguing with this ill-tempered Kastak who had little more
power to make an independent decision than she did. She curtsied before him.

"I shall take the child to the nursery and make haste to my Master's side."

"Go, whore. And have a great night."