"04.Prince of the Blood" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

Suddenly his mother turned on him and slapped him
hard across the face. Instantly, the women in the other
corner of the room ceased their whispers and stared in

Accusation 25

wide-eyed amazement at their Princess. Borric looked
at his brother whose astonishment matched his own.
Not once in the nineteen years of their lives had their
mother raised a hand to either boy. Eriand was more
stunned by the act than any pain from the slap. Anita's
green eyes revealed a mixture of anger and regret.
"Never talk that way about your brother again." Her
tone left no room for argument. "You have mocked him
and caused him more pain than all the unkind whispers
among the nobles together. He is a good boy and he
loves you, and all you have for him is ridicule and tor-
ment. Your first day back in the palace and within five
minutes of speaking with you he was in tears again.

"Arutha was right. I've let you go unpunished for
your trespasses too long." She turned as if to leave.

Borric, seeking to rescue his brother and himself from
the embarrassment of the moment said, "Ah, Mother.
You did send for us? Was there something else you
wanted to discuss?"

Anita said, "I didn't send for you."

"I did."

The boys turned to see their father standing quietly
at the small door that opened between his study and the
family room, as Anita called his part of the royal apart-
ment. The brothers glanced at one another and knew
their father had been observing long enough to have
witnessed the exchange between mother and sons.

After a long silence, Arutha said, "If you'll excuse us, I
would have a private word with my sons."

Anita nodded and indicated to her ladies they should
come with her. Quickly the room emptied, leaving
Arutha with his sons. When the door was closed, Arutha
said, "Are you all right?"

Eriand made a display of stiff muscles and said, "Well,
enough, Father, given the 'instructions' we received