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

Morchison swaggered away, sniggering loudly. Adrella sighed in resignation and marched off with
Rorken to the nursery, where Askinadon's newest wife, Shamana, abducted by the takatak last year,
was watching over several harem babies. Shamana looked up as Adrella entered the room, greeting her
with sad eyes.

"Hello, Adrella."

Her voice had become cheerless these past months, undoubtedly due to the hideous monotony of
relentless yielding. Poor thing. She had just turned seventeen when she'd been stolen from the village.
Shamana was small and had a baby face, making her appear even younger.

"Will you watch Rorken for me, Shamana? I have been summoned."

Shamana's eyes filled with a look of pity, but she said nothing. She flipped her long, thin hair behind her
shoulders, reached out, and lifted Rorken from Adrella's arms. She set him in a large cradle with the
other babies.

"Thank-you," Adrella whispered.

Shamana glanced at Adrella before turning her somber attention back to the babies. With one hand
affixed to the cradle, she rocked it stiffly as her body moved back and forth, joined in the motion. Adrella
stole out the door and headed to the palace courtyard where Askinadon received his wives. She slipped
through the towering gates, which had been left open for her, and spotted Askinadon pacing across the
yard. The tall, rectangular castle loomed behind him with its three, red interlocking circles emblazoned
across the facade. Askinadon stopped as she drew near and looked her over. She thought she spied a
hint of anxiety flicker across his face, but it was so quick she could not be sure.

"Hello, Adrella." He smiled.
"Hello, God of Parallon and Husband of my Heart. Greatness be yours." Adrella bent her head before
him as she spoke.

"Yes, yes." He flapped his hand, dispensing with the formality. "I have summoned you because…I need
to ask you…uh…"

There it was again. Adrella swallowed her surprise. Askinadon sounded…insecure. Could it be?

"Yes, Master?"

Adrella knew he could not hear her thoughts while he was with her. How it was possible, she did not
understand. Yet, it was true. She had slipped more times in her thinking while he had grunted over her in
his bed, moving her body to suit his pleasure, yet he'd never suspected her loathing. As she stood before
him with her head hung low, she struggled against an urge to sneer in the face of his weakness.

"You have a sister, do you not?" he asked, gruffly.

Akka Ya. She had not expected this question. Why would he be asking after her sister? A wave of
nausea rose to her throat.

"I do, Master. She is very disobedient," she said, hoping to deter any interest he may be fostering toward