"Feist, Raymond E - The Riftwar Legacy 02 - Krondor- The Assassins" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

Master of Ceremonies, he jumped from his mount and hurried to his
family. Embracing his wife, he then turned his attention to his sons and
daughter.

James motioned with this chin toward the welcoming guards and whispered
to Locklear, "Willie s on duty. " William, Pug s son, was a cadet, a
young soon-to-be officer who presently was learning his trade. He
exchanged glances with James, giving the squire a tiny nod.

34 The order was given for the company to fall out, and James and
Locklear dismounted. Grooms hurried over and took away the tired mounts.

Their duty required the squires to wait upon their Prince s need, so
they moved to stand at Arutha s right hand.

Anita gifted the young men with a warm greeting, then turned her
attention to Arutha. "I know I shouldn t worry. I know you ll always
come back to me. " Arutha s smile was both happy and tired. "Always. " A
small knot of court officials stood silently behind the royal family,
and Arutha nodded greetings. He saw by their expressions that he would
be needed in council before he would be permitted the pleasure of a long
visit with his family. He noticed the Sheriff of Krondor in attendance,
and sighed. That could only mean grave problems in Krondor, for the
sheriff, while an important officer in the city, wasn t properly a
member of Arutha s court. Glancing at Gardan, he said, "Marshal, see
what the sheriff and the others want, and meet me in my private council
chamber in a half hour. I will have this road-dirt off before I sit down
to another meeting. " He smiled at Anita. "And I ll steal a few minutes
to speak with my wife and children. " He leaned over and kissed Anita on
the cheek and said, "Take the children to our apartment. I ll be along
in a minute, dearest. " Anita herded the children away, and Arutha
motioned to James and Locklear. "No rest for the wicked, boys. " Looking
over at the palace guard, he added, "Young William looks as if he s
going to pop with news to share, so go find out what s on his mind. I m
sure I ll be hearing a different version of the same tale from my
officers in council. If something warrants some snooping around in the
city, do it, and be back no later

35 than the end of the evening meal. " Then he looked James in the eyes
and said, You know what you must do. " James nodded. As he led Locklear
away, Locklear said, "What does that mean? "

"What? "

"You know what you must do? "

"Just something Arutha and I have been working on since you were sent
north to Tyr-Sog for..."

"I know why I was banished to Tyr-Sog, " Locklear said in a tired voice.