"Kate Elliott - Jaran 1 - Jaran" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elliott Kate)

ancient emperors?''

Ishii blushed violet.

Violet and pink warred in the captain's face. Approval won. "Lady Terese, it is, as you
would call it—" A long pause. "A fable. A legend. Do you not have legends of ages past when
your lands ran with precious metals and all people of proper rank had sufficient wealth to
maintain their position, and then a traitor who would not adhere to right conduct brought ruin
to everyone by his selfish actions?''

Tess almost laughed. How often as a child had she and her classmates been told of that
time a mere two centuries ago when a consortium of five solar systems bound by inexplicably
close genetic ties and the enthusiasm of newly-discovered interstellar flight had invested their
League Concordance as law? A brief golden age, they called it, before the Chapaliian
Empire, in its relentless expansion, had absorbed the League within its imperial confines.

"Yes. Yes, we do," she replied. She felt a fierce exultation in confronting these
Chapaliians whom she now outranked, thinking of her brother's failed rebellion against the
Empire, ten years before her birth, because he was not a traitor to his kind, to humankind, but
a hero. Even now, when the Chapalii, for reasons only Chapalii understood, had ennobled
him. Even now, made a duke—the only human granted any real status within their intricate
hierarchy of power, given a solar system as his fief, endowed with fabulous wealth—Charles
Soerensen simply bided his time, and the Chapalii seemed not to suspect.

"The honored duke will be pleased to see his heir on Odys," said Hon Echido.

His colorless words shattered her thoughts, exposing her to her own bitter judgment: that
she was afraid, that her life lay in chaos around her, and that even what little her brother
asked of her she could not grant. She wanted only to retreat to the quiet, isolated haven of
the palace in Jeds and be left alone, with no one expecting anything of her. Suddenly she felt
oppressed by these Chapalii watching and measurin| her. She felt short and grossly heavy
next to the gaunt delicacy that swathes of fabric and flowing robes could not disguise. Ishii's
skin bore a blended shade that she could not recognize nor interpret. Yakii seemed torn
between ad dressing a duke's heir and Ishii's demands.

"Lady Terese," said Hon Echido, either sensitive to these currents or else simply
pressing his advantage, as a canny merchant must, "it would be a great compliment to my
house if you would allow me to escort you personally to the Oshaki. With Hao Yakii's
permission, of course." He bowed to her and acknowledged the captain with that
arrangement of hands known as Merchant's Favor.

With mutual consent, the parting went swiftly. Tess left Yakii and Ishii to their debate,
and walked to the shuttle with Hon Echido in attendance, the steward carrying her valise five
paces behind. There would be time enough to arrange with Hao Yakii that she was going to
Rhui, not to Odys. Both planets, being neighbors in the Dao Cee system were on the
Oshaki's scheduled run.

Hon Echido proved a pleasant and undemanding companion. His concerns were
material, his conversation pragmatic, and he seemed determined to treat her as he would any
duke's heir, despite the fact that she was both human and female.