"Jennifer Fallon - Second Sons 02 - Eye of the Labyrinth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Fallon Jennifer)

Dirk had been ignorant of the true role of a consort, Kirsh reflected bitterly. As he was frequently
reminded by his brothers-in-arms in the Queen’s Guard, his role was to stand at stud, nothing more.

It was obvious that they considered him barely up to even that task.




It was two years since Kirsh had presented himself to the Lord Marshal the day he arrived on Kalarada
after an awkward reception held in the palace, to (supposedly) welcome him to Dhevyn. The Lord
Marshal had droned on, explaining his duties in the Queen’s Guard and the training regime he would
undergo before formally being given a commission as an officer. “You’ll find things a little different here
on Kalarada, your highness,” Rove Elan had explained to him. “You’ll be just another soldier, I’m afraid.
Rank is earned on merit in the Queen’s Guard. Your civilian rank, that of the Princess Alenor’s consort,
or even our future regent, counts for nothing here.” “I know that, my lord. I expect no special
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consideration because of who I am or who my father is.”

Rove Elan smiled faintly. “Oh, you’ll find yourself judged on who your father is, your highness, but it may
not be the reaction you imagine. This is the Queen’s Guard. The Queen of Dhevyn, not Senet, and you
would do well to remember that.”

“I’m not ignorant of the political situation, my lord,” he said, which was not entirely accurate, but neither
was it actually a lie. “You’re likely to be sorely tested here, until the others have accepted you. You will
be judged on how you react to that testing.” “I believe I can look after myself, my lord.”

Rove nodded. “From what I hear, you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself, but we’re not
like your father’s Palace Guard, full of mercenaries and men seeking fortune and position. Here, you are
expected to put your comrades and the protection of the queen above personal glorification.” “And you
think I can’t do that, sir?” he asked, a little offended.

“I’ve no idea if you can do it or not, your highness,” Rove said with a shrug.

“But it will be up to you to prove that you can.”




The training grounds of the Queen’s Guard were located inside the small keep that guarded the steep
access road to the palace. The shadow ofKalaradaPalaceloomed over the keep, its bulk concealing the
sun for a good part of the day and most of the night. Kirsh had found the gloom a little disconcerting at
first. He still remembered the first time Rove Elan had led him toward the high paling fence that
surrounded the fighting arena in the shadow of the gray stone outer wall.

There were two hundred or more men present, training in pairs with blunted practice swords, thick
quarterstaves or short, broad-bladed spears. Kirsh looked around with interest and the professional eye