"Raymond E. Feist - Kingdom of the Isles 2 - The King's Buccaneer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

many years, he was sitting watching the sunset. I knew then that we would
eventually journey west, toward the sunset." Nakor yawned. "I'm going to beet
now, Prince."

Arutha only nodded as the strange little man let himself back into the hallway
that led to the balcony. The Prince of Krondor stood silently for a long time,
leaning against the wall

26

Raymond E. Feist

as he pondered what had been said. Nakor's words echoed through his mind as he
attempted to sort out the conversation. One thing he knew, as he knew his own
heartbeat: of all those whom he loved, Nicholas was die least able to care for
himself should he travel in harm's way. It was many hours before Arutha at
last went to his bed.

2

VOYAGE

7he palace was in an uproar. Arutha had spent a quiet morning with his wife,
and by the time they were finished with breakfast, she had agreed that a year
or two with Martin might be the right thing for Nicholas. She had lived at
Crydee as Arutha's guest during the last year of the Riftwar and had come to
think fondly of that modest town on the Far Coast. Rough by Krondorian
standards though it might be, it was the place where she had come to know her
beloved Arutha, with all his dark moods and worries as well as the lighter
sides of his nature. She understood Arutha's concerns over Nicholas, and his
fear that the boy could find himself in over his head widi the fate of others
in the balance; she also knew that Arutha would view such an occurrence as a
failure on his part. She relented—though she would miss her youngest
child—because she understood this was for Arutha as much as for Nicholas. Out
of deference to her, Arutha had protected Nicholas from many of the harsher
realities of the world he lived in. His telling argument was the simple
statement that Nicholas stood third in line of succession to the crown, behind
his brothers, and nothing so far in his life had prepared him for that awesome
charge should ill chance unexpectedly bring the crown to him, as it had to his
uncle Lyam.

28 Raymond E, Feist

Anita had also sensed something behind his words, more than simple anxiety
over a youngster leaving home for the first rime, but she could not tell what
it was. But most of all, Anita understood that her husband ached to be able to
take control, to provide guidance, protection, and support for Nicholas, and
that to let him go was perhaps harder for Arutha than it was for

her.